Current Event in Laos
In January this year, Sombath Somphone was abducted in Laos. Sombath was Laos's leading development worker and founder PADETC, an organization that encouraged and empowered young people. Laos is a communist country, though when the country fell behind in growth, there were attempts to open up the economy. Currently, Laos is a one-party state dominated by the Lao People's Revolutionary Party, and because of such little opposition, civil society groups and aid agencies are treated with suspicion and sometimes hostility. It has been speculated that Sombath's abduction was by elements associated with the Communist authorities. This has not been proven, but the government had not made great efforts to find him. Even though there is footage of Sombath's abduction, police claimed they couldn't determine the license plate number, didn't release the footage to the public, and refused foreign assistance to enhance the video. After four months, the authorities have no leads and yet they say they need no foreign assistance.
This event is similar to Communist China. Like China, Laos is Communist and a one-party political monopoly. It, like China, also opened its economy, though it has mostly failed. Also, its one party, like China's, arose from the overthrowing of an unwanted government. Both seem to have attempted to spread fear through the opposition, and the abduction of Sombath (if it was as many suspect- having to do with the government) and the overall treatment of people like him in Laos is similar to how China was. In both countries, people who didn't agree with the government were treated badly and had little say, and the regular people couldn't do anything about it. Both made excuses for their actions and didn't want any foreign involvement.
Here is the link to the article: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-22338101
This event is similar to Communist China. Like China, Laos is Communist and a one-party political monopoly. It, like China, also opened its economy, though it has mostly failed. Also, its one party, like China's, arose from the overthrowing of an unwanted government. Both seem to have attempted to spread fear through the opposition, and the abduction of Sombath (if it was as many suspect- having to do with the government) and the overall treatment of people like him in Laos is similar to how China was. In both countries, people who didn't agree with the government were treated badly and had little say, and the regular people couldn't do anything about it. Both made excuses for their actions and didn't want any foreign involvement.
Here is the link to the article: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-22338101
National Art Museum of China & National Gallery of Art
The National Art Museum of China in Beijing, China contains ancient Chinese artwork through modern, as well as foreign works. However, the museum has a greater focus on contemporary and modern artistic works. The National Gallery of Art in Washington, D.C. in the United States contains the work of many American and foreign artists throughout history. Both museums are very popular, located in their nations' capitals, and display the works of artists in their own countries as well as the works of foreign artists.
Plum Blossoms and the Moon
This primary source is a woodblock print called "Plum Blossoms and the Moon" by Katsushika Hokusai, was created in 1803, during the Edo period in Japan. This print could be used in several types of different research. Probably the most obvious is in research about Japan's style of artwork during the Edo period. It could be compared to other works from this period to answer such questions as, "What type of artwork was popular in Japan during the Edo period?" It could also be used in research on woodblock printing, which was very common in the Edo period.
This print could also be used in research on the Japanese culture. Questions such as "How did Japanese artwork reflect the country's culture, beliefs, and views of the world?" could be answered through research such as this. A fourth topic of research could be on Chinese influence in Japan. The artist, Hokusai, had studied Chinese painting and was considered an expert, so therefore his artwork can be used in research of the question, "How did Chinese culture influence Japan?" as well.
Here is the link to the primary source: http://www.artic.edu/aic/collections/artwork/188987
This print could also be used in research on the Japanese culture. Questions such as "How did Japanese artwork reflect the country's culture, beliefs, and views of the world?" could be answered through research such as this. A fourth topic of research could be on Chinese influence in Japan. The artist, Hokusai, had studied Chinese painting and was considered an expert, so therefore his artwork can be used in research of the question, "How did Chinese culture influence Japan?" as well.
Here is the link to the primary source: http://www.artic.edu/aic/collections/artwork/188987