SER CHARTS

Citation: Victoria and Albert Museum (n.d.) Kimono. Retrieved from

https://www.vam.ac.uk/articles/kimono

Summary: Provide a thorough summary of your source. Type the author’s main claim(s) and
identify the supporting evidence. Your summary should also include the author’s objective—to
inform, to persuade, evaluate, etc.

In the kimono, it is the pattern that holds a symbolic meaning. It identifies the social

status, personal identity and cultural sensitivity and are expressed through color and decoration.

Also, the elements of the natural world that are shown in the kimono usually hold a strong poetic

association. There are many patterns, colors, and fabrics that the kimono can be made of but all

hold a significance to the person that is going to wear it. It can be either male or female.

The author’s objective was to inform the reader about the specific patterns in the kimono

and symbolism behind it. The author, which is involved with the Victoria and Albert Museum,

main claim is that the kimono identifies the personal identity and cultural sensitivity through

color and decorations. Pictures of different kimonos with different styles and colors are provided

to help visualize what the text is talking about.

Evaluation: Determine both how convincing and how useful the source is for your research on
the issue. Your evaluation should explain how you have decided to use the author’s main claims
[in your paper].

This text is pretty useful as it includes the information needed to explain the importance

of the kimono and the symbolism behind it. It also helps understand why the kimono is worn and

to demonstrate what. I can use the information provided to explain some of the patterns that are

usually found in the kimono and why it is that specific pattern. It also explains some of the colors
that can be found in the kimono and the metaphor behind it. Overall, this text is useful in

explaining about the kimono and they symbolism behind it. Also, pictures are provided which

help visualize each individual section in the text.

Reflection: Explain what you learned (specifically) about your topic after you completed your
research.

By reading this text, I have learned that the kimono in the early 20th century, pictures of

planes, trains, airplanes, and skyscrapers where present in the kimono of younger boys to help

represent Japan's modernity and progression. Also, the introduction of the concept of the five

elements from China to Japan in the 6th century gave colors a cosmological dimension such as

fire, water, earth, wood, and metal. These were associated with particular directions, seasons,

virtues, and colors. Also, elements from the natural world are very common in the kimono such

as specific plants or animals. The kimono overall can have several designs that hold a poetic

meaning or symbolize Japan.