Symmetries of Culture: Theory and Practice of Plane Pattern Analysis [Paperback]

Dorothy K. Washburn (Author), Donald W. Crowe (Author)

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Art historians have long been aware of recurring symmetrical patterns of form and color in ancient, tribal, folk and applied arts. Lately, anthropologists have begun using "symmetry anal y sis" as a tool to explain how art works reflect patterns of human behavior and basic valuesboth within one culture and among far-flung peoples. This richly illustrated study brings to light dozens of intriguing examples of symmetrical designs, for instance, in a Zulu loincloth, a Japanese chopstick case, a New England quilt, a Tibetan "Plaque of a Thousand Lamas," a Hawaii water gourd. The same pattern found in a fantastical drawing of lizards by M. C. Escher is echoed in a Fiji basket lid and an Egyptian wall mosaicbut what these similarities signify, if anything, is beyond the scope of this highy technical volume. Washburn, a University of Rochester an thro poloigist, and Crowe, a mathematician at the University of Wisconsin, outline a mathematically based classification system for specialists.
Copyright 1988 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.

About the Author

Dorothy K. Washburn is a visiting scholar at the University of Arizona. She lives in Titusville, New Jersey. Donald W. Crowe is a professor emeritus of mathematics, University of Wisconsin.

Product Details

• Paperback: 304 pages
• Publisher: Univ of Washington Pr (April 1991)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0295970847
• ISBN-13: 978-0295970844
• Product Dimensions: 11 x 8.6 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 3.2 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #805,881 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Most Helpful Customer Reviews

17 of 17 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Extensive scholarship!, January 27, 2001

By 

Helmer Aslaksen (Singapore) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Symmetries of Culture: Theory and Practice of Plane Pattern Analysis (Paperback)

Washburn is a mathematician and Crowe is an antrophologist. The book gives a very good description of both the mathematical ideas and the context around the art. The illustrations are great! As examples of the quality of the book, it gives the best description I've seen anywhere of the difference between p31m and p3m1 and a very interestig history of the study of patterns.

Only one minor complaint: On page 5 they mention that in 1987, all the 17 groups were finally found at Alhambra, but they do not give a reference. The place to go is J.M. Montesinos: Classical Tessellations and Three-Manifolds.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Book Nitty-Gritty, January 21, 2010

By 

Theseus "theseus" (US of A) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Symmetries of Culture: Theory and Practice of Plane Pattern Analysis (Paperback)

A handsome production from the University of Washington Press: large format trade paperback, 298 pp with something like 375 b&w illustrations. 12 p Bibliography. Index and Notation Index.

TABLE OF CONTENTS HIGHLIGHTS
I. History and Theory of Plane Pattern Analysis
- Crystallographic and Mathematical History
- Applications of Geometry to Design
- Symmetry Analysis in Anthropological Perspective

II. Mathematical Principles and Terminologies
- Symmetries of the Plane: the Four Motions
- Designs, Repeated Patterns, and Dimension
- Recapitulation
- Notation for One-Color Designs and Patterns

III. Color Symmetry
IV. One-Dimensional Patterns
V. Two-Dimensional Patterns
VI. Finite Designs
VII. Problems in Classification

Conclusion
Appendices 1-3