Choose any image from any culture and time period that you would like to discuss from a critical perspective.
This can be any visual object, traditional or untraditional, across all media.
Architecture, painting, sculpture, textiles, photographs, jewelry, fashion, graffiti, public art, advertisements, daily objects, and all media are fine.
You can choose any artwork whether or not it is on one of our study guides.
If you choose an image we have discussed, provide more depth, consideration, and research.
Focus on one image and no more than two in order to go into more depth.
You can find artwork in local collections from Southern California Museums/Links to an external site. if you would like or choose an international piece.
Include your sources and a Works Cited section.
Cite with in-text citations and direct quotes.
include a Works Cited page at the end.
What your paper should include:
At least four pages of text with direct quotes from your research.
A Works Cited page (see the following page for information about this).
An Image Page at the end of your paper with identifying information (For example: Artist unknown, Head Hacha, ca. 400-800 CE, stone, Mexico.)
Visual description in your paper with the vocabulary from the Week 3 module.
A thesis statement in your introduction that takes a point of view and shows critical thought instead of offering a direct summary.
An introduction, body paragraphs (the number of paragraphs vary per paper), and conclusion.
Possible considerations: Please note that you do not have to discuss all of these points, but can consider any points below that might be relevant to your paper.
Formal concerns. This may include line, color, pattern, volume, balance, or other considerations from the Week 3 vocabulary.
Media and Technique. Is the medium of this work sculpture, painting, or architecture? Do you find something relevant about the technique with which this work was created?
Function. Does this art have a functional purpose or a more symbolic function, such as communicating a narrative?
Artistic Movement or style. Is this piece connected to an artistic movement such as Impressionism?
Content and Symbolism. What is the subject of this work? Can we understand it further through its use of symbols?
Context. What are the social, political, or spiritual factors influencing this work?
This may offer insight into why a work was created and takes the visual form that it has.
Consider how this art reflects the philosophical beliefs of an artist or their culture through visual ideals.
