Seminar on Composition: Developing as a Scholar, Author, and Individual
In a captivating exploration of history and politics, a first-year student at Princeton University has uncovered a significant link between modern-day artifact repatriation practices and government censorship in China.
Alexis Wu, Engineering Correspondent, delves into the student's intriguing journey, which began with a Writing Seminar course named WRI146 - Constructing the Past, taught by Dr. Emma Ljung. The student, driven by their interest in art history and East Asian studies, became a PUAM student tour guide.
The student's research revolved around a Guang, a dragon-headed bronze pouring vessel from the late Shang dynasty, housed at the Princeton University Art Museum. Through Professor Ljung's suggestion, the student mapped the connections between their scholars, which revealed new perspectives and helped them draw a richer argument.
An unexpected discovery was that the Guang was covered in distinctly 19th century Japanese lacquer, suggesting it represented more than covert art market trade during the Second Sino-Japanese War. This finding raised questions about the vessel's history and the role of repatriation in shaping narratives around cultural heritage.
The student's task was to enter a scholarly conversation by staking new claims, not regurgitating existing ones. In pursuit of this, they selected economist Claude-Frédéric Bastiat's Economic Harmonies as one of their sources, despite its lack of direct connection to art. However, the student's D2 feedback indicated a lack of a clearly-defined motivating question, prompting them to consider abandoning Bastiat's perspective.
Despite the challenges, the student persevered and wrote an R2 paper about the Guang. Their research has sparked a renewed interest in art history and East Asian studies, leading them to take several courses in these fields after their Writing Seminar.
The connection between modern-day artifact repatriation practices and government censorship in China is a topic that often arises in academic contexts. Scholars might analyse how repatriation is entangled with political agendas, including censorship that shapes collective memory and identity in China. However, detailed insights from Alexis Wu’s seminar or writings specifically addressing this connection are not readily available in the current search results.
Wu's discovery underscores the importance of encouraging students to delve deep into their subjects of interest and question established narratives. It serves as a testament to the transformative power of education, inspiring curiosity and fostering a deeper understanding of the world's complexities.
- In their pursuit of uncovering the history and significance of the Guang, the student's research journey serves as an exemplary case for education-and-self-development, promoting personal-growth by challenging established narratives and deepening understanding of complex historical matters.
- The student's exploration of the connection between modern-day artifact repatriation practices and government censorship in China provides a compelling narrative that highlights the role of education and self-development in fostering personal growth, giving rise to intriguing perspectives on history and politics.
