https://docs.google.com/document/d/1hmtPlGT5Icybg-7PLySKI1TUmkEBqph2IBBwzrCrZWg/edit?usp=sharing (this link for google docs open it so you know everything you need)
ASSIGNMENT DETAILS (please read carefully):
Written response to a selected artwork. Please select a single artwork from the images provided on the link. https://drive.google.com/file/d/15kGSTcBCxz8uqimLiQ7MD1X5c2K7R2xO/view?usp=share_link
Required length: minimum 1000 words double-spaced (approx. 3 pages), not more than 1200 words. Please note that word count does not include the works cited page.
Write about a single artwork selected from the images provided on Canvas. No direct comparison of artworks is allowed for this essay (except the two dishes).
If you are not happy with the selections, that is ok! Talk to me about a piece you would rather write about – it is more than likely I will approve it.
I am looking for your critical thinking and formal analysis on an artwork(s).
No more than five single sentence quotes from the course textbooks or other secondary source material.
Must include in-text citations and works cited page for all source material, including textbook. 40 point deduction if sources simply listed at the end of the essay.
Original thoughts only. See syllabus for class policy on plagiarism and the student code of conduct.
WHAT TO DO:
Formally analyze the content and compositional elements of an artwork from the images available on Canvas. If you prefer to write about something else, just let me know.
Please note: Formal art analysis involves the detailed description of compositional elements in a work of art to support your ideas. Describe elements as if the person reading the essay cannot see the work of art.
Most important in this assignment is to focus on an idea or critical element about the selected artwork (thesis statement), and support your thoughts with description of compositional elements (organization, line, color, light, space, etc.)
** Please review the resources in the final essay module. for assistance on compositional analysis. Including: ”Tips to analyze art,” “Information on thesis statements,” “analyzing book pages, painting and photography”
Composition – arrangement of the parts that form the whole
Stable composition – Forms are stable or peaceful. Largely based on horizontal and vertical forms.
Dynamic composition – Forms display tension or potentially in motion. Many diagonal or curving forms.
Consider if the whole artwork appears to be…
–Symmetrical – both sides of artwork are similar in size and shape
–Balanced – both sides of artwork are not alike, but appear to be weighted the same.
–Asymmetrical – (unbalanced) – one half appears to have heavier or lighter forms.
Rhythm – Orderly repetitions of similar forms.
An important method to create order in a work of art is rhythmic repetition of a form.
Predictability – repeated forms are almost identical
Variety – repeated forms are somewhat similar, but not identical.
The following are compositional elements to consider when viewing an artwork:
–Organization of the entire picture plane: Is it simple or complex? Geometrically ordered or free and seemingly accidental? Do some forms dominate others? Is there symmetry (similar parts facing each other on equal sides)? Is the painting crowded or spacious? Are the shapes similar or different? Do similar shapes repeat?
–Individual shapes or objects: Are there many or few? Are they large or small (in relation to the entire picture area)? What kinds of patterns do they form? Is the emphasis on the central area of the painting or marginal areas? Are forms multi-dimensional or flat?
–Lines: Is there a clear sense of line? Are lines clear or obscure? Angular or curved?
–Colors: Are they bright (‘saturated’) or subdued (‘low-key’)? Are there many colors or few (is the palette ‘wide’ or ‘limited’)? Are the dominant colors warm (reds, oranges, yellows) or cool (blues, grays, greens)? Are there moderate or extreme contrasts? Are there large areas of color or small patches? Are certain colors repeated?
–Light: Is there a consistent source? Is the source inside or outside the picture? Is light used to emphasize parts of the picture, to create mood? If it is a black and white photo, how is the photographer using light to emphasize certain parts of the photo.
–Space: Is the space shallow or deep, open or screened? Is the emphasis on solids or voids (intervals)? What kind of perspective is used (linear and/or aerial)? Is the main interest near or far?
Perspective:
Perspective is what makes a painting seem to have form, distance, and look “real”
Replicates the optical illusion that objects get smaller and become closer together with distance.
Linear Perspective – A method to present three dimensions on a two-dimensional surface. Simulates the recession of space.
Example of single point linear perspective:
.
Example of two-point perspective:
Aerial perspective – representing distant objects with less detail. Typically done with blue or grey colors.
Art is a provocative medium, and your challenge in writing about art may often be to define and evaluate the artist’s choices and techniques, which, according to your intellect and perception, arouse interest and convey meaning. In most cases you will be translating the visual (what you see) into language (what you write). In order to do this, you will have to be extremely attentive to the characteristics of the work—which means that description will incorporate a portion of your essay—and be attentive to the vocabulary of the discipline of Art.
You must also be able to develop a thesis statement with a detailed analysis and argument about the artwork you have chosen. Therefore, you must consider what it is you want to say, and use description to make that point. In many ways, writing an Art History essay is similar to writing other types of essays in the Humanities. It requires a clear and focused topic, an arguable thesis, an organized format and structure, clear and coherent paragraphs, and a command of grammar and style.
Thesis Statements
Most academic essays seek to persuade readers to understand a specific issue in a specific way—the writer’s way. The writer’s thesis statement offers this substantial but concise assertion of her/his understanding (usually in one to two sentences in the introduction or near the beginning of the essay), thereby providing an essay with its judgmental focus.
Perhaps, though, in writing about art you might want to offer a well thought-out central idea rather than an overtly argumentative statement. For example, “African art was a major influence on the work of Pablo Picasso” states a well-documented and widely shared opinion that is interesting but uncontroversial. Of course, a paper on this topic would have to fully elaborate on that relationship and offer examples of it.
The difference between an idea and a thesis statement is in their degree of contention. The above example of a central idea could be debatable, but mainly the disagreement would arise if the writer does not adequately explain and illustrate the idea through detailed description, intelligent criticism, and analysis, and not because of the idea itself.
However, in a thesis statement—such as, “Picasso’s treatment of women in his art mirrors the distorted vision he had of women”—it is more obvious that readers will either strongly disagree or agree, by the very nature of the claim itself. Moreover, even if the writer advances a stimulating argument with impressive evidence in defense of the thesis, because the claim is so contentious, a reader may still disagree.
Using Sources
A good research paper often includes evidence from both primary and secondary sources. Whether you are using primary or secondary sources, remember to explain and analyze the passages that you have chosen from the texts (or elements you have chosen from the works), and what those passages (or elements) mean in relation to your argument.
You must also prepare your reader before using passages (direct or paraphrased) by providing at least a brief background. Example: “Jane Doe, chair of the Philosophy department at Harvard states…”
1. Primary Sources
Primary sources refer to the original materials (not what another author says about them). In the case of art, primary sources will most likely be the artwork (paintings, sculptures, installations), or interviews with artists.
2. Secondary Sources
Interpreting and commenting on primary sources, secondary sources include books and articles in scholarly journals. These texts are extremely helpful as they deepen our knowledge of art and inform us of the many critical approaches to art that scholars and other specialists in the field have taken. Even though these sources are of great value, an art paper is usually not comprised entirely of secondary sources. Remember do not use Wikipedia or blogs.
Documentation
You are required to document all of your sources, including ideas, paraphrases, quotations, and references to a complete text. There are style manuals, such as The MLA (The Modern Language Association) Handbook that provide guidelines for documentation. I have provided links on Canvas for an example MLA formatted essay, bibliography, and citation assistance **Remember: If sources are consulted, they must have an in-text citation with the source included on a works cited page at the end of the document. Also, biographical information used in the essay must be cited to demonstrate the sources that have been consulted.**
ADDRESS THE FOLLOWING TOPICS:
Introduce the artwork, address the time it was made, the dynasty in power (if known), societal conditions of the time in which the artwork was made (if relevant), and any historical significance of the artwork. Consider how religion or regional style affects the selected artwork.
Evaluate the artwork through extensive formal visual description (line, shape, color, etc.) of the art object. Including description of appearance, subject matter (example: religious or secular text, etc.) the medium (ceramic, iron, etc.) and the significance to the work, scale (size), and briefly comment on what is satisfying and/or not satisfying about the work. (Do not overuse statements such as: “I think”, “I feel,” etc.). Please see “How To Write About Artwork” for more information on compositional analysis.
Interpret the work. What is it about? What is the meaning? Think about perspectives that are social, cultural, political, economic, or aesthetic. Get societal / historical information from the textbook(s) and/or another source.
Not sure what to write about? Experiencing problems with analyzing artwork? I am here to assist you, please contact me if you have any questions.
SOURCE MATERIAL POLICIES / PLAGIARISM:
1 academic is source required – from the textbook or other secondary source. No more than 3 sources are allowed.
No more than 5, one – two sentence quotes.
No more than 3 sources are allowed.
If anything in your paper has come from a source, you must cite it.
Use scholarly sources such as course textbook or book(s) from library. No Wikipedia, dubious online sites, blogs, or peer-reviewed papers. Wikipedia is publicly updated and not always accurate.
If using an Internet source, only use museum websites (MET museum / British museum), or reputable newspapers (for example: NY Times, Los Angeles Times)
No large quotes (over 4 lines) from source material.
See resources on source material and writing assistance for MLA format and in-text citations.
All source material must be acknowledged with an in-text citation within the body of the essay and included on a works cited page!
Listing sources at the end of the essay with no indication where they have been used in the essay is not acceptable and will result in a 30-point deduction.
What is an in-text citation?
Quite simply, if you are directly quoting or borrowing from another work, you should include the last name of the author followed by a page number enclosed in parentheses. In-text citations point the reader to more complete information in the Works Cited list at the end of the paper. Please know that I am more concerned with having an in-text citation listed, than I am with correct formatting.
Here is an incredible resource for information on in-text citations.
Quick overview of in-text citations
When you quote directly from a source, enclose the quoted section in quotation marks. Add an in-text citation at the end of the quote with the author name and the page number:
Example: Having the image be made in the readymade style, that of taking an already existing image and manipulating it with words, simplifies the work, making it more accessible to the viewer and “erases the presence of the hand of the artist” (Smith 765).
2. When you quote directly from a source and you refer to the author’s name in a sentence you do not have to include the name again as part of your in-text citation, instead include the page number (if there is one) at the end of the quotation or paraphrased section.
Example: Islamic Art scholar Robert Hillenbrand indicates, “Mamluk glass is closely related to contemporary metalwork in the vocabulary of its decoration” (17).
3. If you do not know the name of the author, then use an abbreviation of the title (the first 1-3 words of the title). Place quotation marks around the title.
Example: “Picasso made artwork that was grouped together in a so-called blue period” (“Man and Myth” 22).
4. When you quote from electronic sources that do not provide page numbers (like Web pages), cite the author name only.
Example: “Barbara Kruger relies on commentaries on society and manipulation of media as the focal point of her pieces, this interest and experience comes from eleven years of graphic design” (Russell).
5. When you quote from electronic sources that do not provide an author, use a shortened version of the title in your in-text citation surrounded by quotation marks.
Example: John Smith was born into a family of artists both his “mother and father attended the School of the Visual Arts in New York and graduated at the top of their class” ( “Young John Smith”).
Paraphrasing (scrambling words around from a source to make it your own)
This can be a problematic area for students when writing. Quite simply, paraphrasing is when you write information or ideas that come from a source in your own words. You must cite the source by adding an in-text citation at the end of the paraphrased portion.
Example: The Social Realism style of the Coit Tower murals, which depicted genre scenes often combined with political or social commentary, followed in the style of Rivera’s murals (SF Parks and Recreation). **In this example the writer took the information from SF Parks and Recreation and placed it in their own words**
Example: Liu was an American artist born in China who was a young woman during Mao’s Cultural Revolution. During this time, she was forced into labor in the countryside, using visual art and photography as an escape. When she immigrated to the United States in 1984 she advanced and evolved her work into reimagining historical images to reanimate her subjects and give them back their identity (Masterson 50, 55, 65-71). **Notice in this example the writer cobbled together information from multiple pages and placed it in their own words.**
Please note: The period goes outside the parenthesis, at the end of your in-text citation
