AP Japanese Unit 3 Essay Prompts

Overview 

In Unit 3 for the AP Japanese exam, we will be exploring the various ways in which beauty and art have influenced Japanese culture throughout history. We will explore beauty and aesthetics and other themes, such as personal and public identities, contemporary life, families, and communities, to provide a comprehensive understanding. 

Essential Questions

STUDY TIP: Use the following essential questions to guide your review of this entire unit. Keep in mind, these are not meant to be practice essay questions. Each question was written to help you summarize the key concept.

The main topic of this unit is exploring how beauty and art influence Japanese communities. Beauty and Aesthetics will be the main focus, although some previous themes mentioned make a reappearance.

As you work through this unit, think about these questions:

• How do ideals of beauty and aesthetics influence daily life?
• How does art both challenge and reflect cultural perspectives?
• How do communities value beauty and art?
• How is art used to record history?

Guiding Questions

Here are some questions related to the themes discussed:

• How does art shape the values and quality of life in a community?
• What is the importance of art in Japanese-speaking communities?
• How do the arts reflect the history of a community?
• How is the concept of beauty defined in a cultural context?
• How does art challenge and reflect cultural perspectives?

These questions can serve as starting points to further explore and understand the themes related to beauty and art in Japanese-speaking communities.

Theme

• Beauty and Aesthetics - Arts and Music,- Visual and Performing Arts,- Fashion and Design
• Personal and Public National and Ethnic Identities, - Alienation and- Identities- Assimilation,- Heroes and Historical Figures
• Contemporary Life- Lifestyles and Pop Culture,- Holidays and Celebrations- Families and Communities
• Social Customs,- Traditions- Values, Citizenship,

Past Free-Response Questions from Unit 3 Overview: Influences of Art and Beauty 

Its important to practice the FRQ portion, here are some sample prompts!

For more detailed information about the different FRQ's of the exam, read the AP Japanese Exam Format Guide (coming soon).

Write an article in which you compare and contrast a traditional form or Japanese art and a modern form of Japanese art.

Present your own view or perspective on Japanese beauty standards. Discuss at least FIVE aspects or examples of Japanese beauty standards. 

Present your own view or perspective on Japanese visual art. Discuss at least FIVE aspects or examples of Japanese visual art. (Sample Answer below)

Introduction:

こんにちは、＿＿＿＿＿＿と申します。これから日本の美術と芸術について話します。

Five aspects/examples:

まずは生け花です。生け花は花を美しくアレンジする事が目的です。他の人と話さないで自分で静かにお花を生ける事によって細かな部分まで気がゆきとどきます。

次は折り紙です。折り紙は小さい頃から遊びとして覚えます。大人になってからは遊びとしても気分転換としても両方のメリットがあります。

折り紙は切ったりマークをつけたりはしません。折り目だけで一枚の紙から様々な形を作り上げます。

最後はお習字です。お習字は筆と墨を使います。学校で授業の一部として教えたり、またお習字教室に行って学ぶ事ができます。

お習字は文字を書くだけではありません。一筆の太さや筆の運びで言葉の意味や書道家の伝えたい気持ちを変える事ができます。

My own perspective:

私は日本の美術と芸術が好きです。なぜならものすごく綺麗で歴史がこもっているからです。

Conclusion:

まとめに、日本には日本特有の素晴らしい美術や芸術があります。生け花やお習字は数ある中の二つです。日本に行って生け花を学びたいと思います。ご静聴ありがとうございました。

*Remember this is only an example and answers can vary!