Starbucks Cup and Greek Kylix Compared
Introduction
The purpose of this paper is to compare and contrast the modern Starbucks paper coffee cup with the kylix, an ancient Greek drinking vessel. The paper examines these two cups from the perspectives of form, function, and decoration. (Also please see Note on Works Cited page).
The Research
1. Form
The two subject cups (the Starbucks paper coffee cup and the Greek pottery kylix) have little in common with regard to form, other than that are both designed to contain a liquid. However, even in the simple definition of the shape alone they are quite different. The Starbucks cup (see Appendix 1) is a plain “beaker” type cup, tall in proportion to its width, whereas the kylix has a much flatter, wider aspect and a relatively shallow bowl above a short stem and central circular foot, with a pair of stylish handles on opposite sides of the bowl section. Also, the Starbucks cup is a mass-produced item of stiff paper construction, thinly lined with plastic to retain hot liquid efficiently, but the kylix is an individually-created, handmade, glazed and much larger pottery item. The example illustrated in the article “Black-figure eye cup” (n.d.) shown in Appendix 1 is about 12.5 inches diameter excluding the handles, and just under five inches high.
2. Functionality
The Starbucks cups (mass-produced in a range of sizes to accommodate different volumes of coffee) are designed to accommodate hot drinks, hence the use of a very thin built-in plastic lining. Because the products are often purchased from Starbucks outlets by people wanting to take the beverage with them to drink elsewhere, they are provided with a press-fit lid that has just a small slot in it, allowing the customer to sip from it through the lid without spillage – perhaps while walking or travelling by car, bus, or train. Additionally, the cup can be provided with a slip-on recycled brown cardboard sleeve, providing further insulation between the hand and the hot contents of the cup. In essence, the cup is a mass-produced drinking vessel designed for hot beverages, and for customers who mostly want to drink the contents elsewhere, either on the move or in their home or place of work.
In contrast, every kylix was handmade, specifically to contain beverages, though of a different kind. According an article: “Red-figured kylix (drinking cup) showing a Greek drinking party (n.d.), published by the British Museum, these vessels were typically used at a men-only drinking party called a symposion (or symposium) and contained either wine or a mixture of wine and water. The British Museum article describes that the handles on the cup were not just for holding it but also allowed the cup to be hung on a hook, and were part of the technique in a game called kottabos in which the cup would be held by just one of the two handles, then the cup swirled to launch the last of the wine at a target.
3. Decoration
In terms of decoration, the Starbucks cup decoration could be called minimalist, or even classically simple. On one side it has the Starbucks corporate logo, known as the siren. As described in an article entitled “Starbucks reveals new logo, drops wordmark” the design of the siren logo was changed in 2011, removing the brand wording “STARBUCKS COFFEE” that had previously been arranged around it. The picture in the Appendix shows the evolution of that logo over the last 40years or so. Note however that “STARBUCKS” still appears on the reverse of the cup where the only graphical items breaking up the otherwise plain surface are the small printed boxes where Starbucks staff can add “recipe” annotations, according to each customer’s order.
In almost complete contrast to the very basic decoration of the Starbucks cup, each kylix was individually and elaborately decorated by hand, often by well-known artists of the time. According to the referenced article “Black-figure eye cup” (n.d.), the large eyes painted on this kylix may be intended to keep away evil and symbolise a watchful guard. It is said that the design on all of these cups were meant to depict stories, often about well-known heroic figures. In the design shown, the figure shown is Herakles hunting the mythical Nemean Lion. Each kylix was decorated deliberately to remind the men attending the symposia of heroic deeds and mythical heroes. In many cases, the decoration painted inside the central base area of the bowl was meant as a “surprise” for the wine drinker when the disappearing wine revealed it.
Conclusions
Having compared the Starbucks paper cup and the Greek kylix in this paper, the most obvious difference between the two – apart from the distinctly different shapes – is one of function. The Starbucks cup is almost entirely utilitarian in design, and – mass-produced in billions each year – is simply an efficient and cheaply produced means of serving hot beverages to its many customers worldwide. In contrast, the kylix could be considered almost as a ceremonial vessel, used at men-only drinking parties. Because it was designed and made for those special occasions, each one was also hand crafted and individually designed and carefully decorated as a glazed pottery artefact. Surviving examples are highly prized as a consequence.
Works Cited:
“Black-figure eye cup.” (n.d.). The Classical World – Greek. Web. 25 October 2012.
“Red-figured kylix (drinking cup) showing a Greek drinking party.” (n.d.). British Museum. Web. 25 October 2012.
Challand, Skylar. “Starbucks reveals new logo, drops wordmark.” (January 2011). IDSGN Design Blog. Web. 25 October 2012.
Note: For some reason I could not access to the two pictures mentioned in the instructions, so downloaded from the Internet pictures of the two cup types. (Shown on the next page).
Appendix 1 – Photographs
Starbucks Cups 1971, 1987, 1992, and 2011
(Source: http://idsgn.org/posts/starbucks-reveals-new-logo-drops-wordmark/)
Kylix
(Source: http://dmaresources.org/teacherpackets/teachingpackets/TP/Classical/Artwork/ClaKyl.htm#)
