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Week 3 Readings

2. The Motif-to-Meaning Toolkit (use in 3 steps)

2.1. 2-minute Practice: Motif spotting

Figure 1: Ming dynasty blue and white dragon vase.

A tall blue-and-white porcelain vase displayed upright, decorated with a large painted dragon winding across the body; the vase has a narrow neck, rounded shoulders, vertical decorative bands near the base, and a white background with cobalt-blue designs.

In 2 minutes, write:

  • 3 motifs you can name (even if simple)

  • 1 layout type (bands/panels / central/all-over)

  • 1 sentence beginning “I observe…”

Reveal (Example):

3 motifs: dragon; cloud scrolls; wave/sea pattern (water band).

1 layout type: bands (decorative bands wrap around the vessel).

I observe… a blue-and-white vase with a large dragon as the main motif, surrounded by swirling cloud forms, with patterned border bands and a wave band placed around different sections of the body.

Quick check: Are your motifs visible, not assumed?