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\centerline{MONT 109N -- Mathematics Across Cultures}
\centerline{Individual Paper 2 -- MFA Visit, April 16}
\centerline{{\it due:}  Wednesday, April 20}
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{\it Paper Topic}
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For this paper, aim for about 3 pages, with one or two
paragraphs in response to each of
the following questions about the objects on display
in halls LG32 and LG33 of the Art of the Americas wing.  

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\item{1.}  Many of the objects on display are
ceramic cups, bowls, and plates.  Do we know what 
purposes those objects served for their owners? 

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\item{2.}  The painted illustrations on some of 
these ceramics record specific events with precise dates.  
Describe one example of this, the associated date, and the 
event that is represented.
 
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\item{3.}  Others show representations of scenes from
Maya religious beliefs or the myths that were
a large part of their culture (e.g. the epic called the
{\it Popol Vuh}).  Describe one example of that sort.

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\item{4.}  What do these objects 
tell us about more everyday aspects of the lives of the 
Maya nobles -- what kinds of clothing did they wear?  How
did they style their hair?  What kinds of music might they
have made or listened to?  What kinds of food and drink 
did they enjoy?  If you know modern Mexican food, can you 
see any continuities?   Along related lines, 
two examples of current English words that can
be traced back to Mayan languages are mentioned
in these exhibits.  What are they? 

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\item{5.}  Many modern viewers of these objects find 
them {\it strikingly beautiful} and wonderful examples
of artistic expression.  Do you feel that way too?
How did the Classic Maya view artistic creativity?
And how did that relate to their writing, mathematics, and 
other parts of their culture?  What does the Maya word
{\it ts'ib} denote?

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\item{6.}  Now that you have seen more of the actual products
of Classic Maya culture, have the views you formed from
our earlier study of their mathematics and astronomy
and the ultimate fate of their civilization changed?  If so, 
in what way?  If not, can you say why not?  When a human 
culture (or civilization) collapses, what is lost?

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{\it Note:}  If you are not able to come on the trip, images
of many of the objects we will see and some of the explanatory
notes are available online at the MFA website:
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\centerline{\tt www.mfa.org/search/collections}
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Enter ``Maya ceramics.''  There are about 10 pages of 16 images
of objects that are accessible this way, including quite a
few that are not on display in the museum.  Unfortunately, 
some of the very informative text explanations we will see 
in the museum is not included in this.  However, you should be 
able to find enough material to answer (at least) 
parts of 1, 3, parts of 4, 5, 6.  To substitute for parts
that you cannot answer, pick any one object that is {\it not
on display} and describe that.  
\bye
