Let’s have some fun! You’ve just won a trip to Southeast Asia, Japan, China, or Korea to visit architecture! What would you see and why?
You may choose any example of architecture from chapters 33, 34, or 35 in our textbook (even if it is not on the study guide). Some examples may include: Forbidden City and the Hall of Supreme Harmony, Pha That Luang, White Heron Castle, Taj Mahal, the Namdaemun, or the Olympic stadiums in Tokyo.
In a short essay of 250-400 words (including an introductory statement/thesis statement), first-person account, please discuss what personally struck you about this architecture (its purpose or meaning, symbolism, color, shape, material, style, size, environment, etc.). Why would you want to visit it? How do you think seeing it in person would be different from studying (or learning about) it in a textbook?
Although this is an opinion-based (sort of fun?) essay, it should still include proper grammar and spelling and at least 5 factual and descriptive characteristics about the architecture/building (date, location, title, builder or whomever commissioned it), etc.).
Suggestions: I’m a big fan of Google maps and the little yellow figure that allows you to have street views. I just searched for the Pha That Luang and there are street views for the entrance. This tool gives you a good look at the surroundings and kind of demystifies the elegance of it when it is shown alone in a pretty photo in our textbook. Try playing with this feature to get an up-close and personal view of something (if you’ve never been there). Or, search Youtube for travel videos!
Good luck and bon voyage!