For this assignment, you are required to choose a work of art in the collection of the Carlos Museum at Emory University on which to write your visual analysis essay.
This is the work of art “THE BODHISATTVA AS PRINCE SIDDHARTHA GAUTAMA Northwest Pakistan or Afghanistan, Gandhara. Kushan Dynasty, 2nd-3rd Century CE. Gray schist. Gift of Anne Cox Chambers.2013.14.1”
It is strongly recommended that you visit the museum to view your chosen work of art. I would likeyou to choose a work of art on display at the Carlos Museum that will be the subject of a visual analysis essay. You can chose a work from any time period or culture for your analysis. This assignment is designed to help you refine the visual analysis skills that we have been working on throughout the semester in class. This assignment will also require you to use your visual observations to create a cohesive and compelling interpretation of the work of art.During your visit to the Carlos Museum:1. Choose your work of art.2. Take several photos of the work from different angles and distances that you can use when writing your paper. Make sure to take a picture of the text panel. Every work hasone. Small objects in vitrines often share one label at the bottom of the case.3. Study your chosen work for around 15-30 minutes. Written requirements for your Visual Analysis Essay:1. This assignment is largely based on what you see in the work of art. It is not a research paper! You can use the wall labels in the museum or draw on any of the materialdiscussed in this course, but you do not need any more factual information about thework to write a good visual analysis.2. Your paper should be composed of a series of paragraphs. Each paragraph shouldhave its own topic sentence. Your paper should not simply be a list of the traits of the work of art. Instead, focus ofjust a couple of these elements (maybe 3 or 4) that apply most to your work. I suggest devoting a paragraph to each of the elements you have chosen to concentrate on. 3. Develop a larger thematic interpretation of the work. What is the larger message ofthe work? Consider why the artist chose to employ the visual elements on which youhave focused your discussion. How do these elements impact its meaning? You need touse the visual elements that you have discussed in your analysis as evidence to supportyour argument regarding the message of the work.4. Your essay must include a thesis statement. A thesis statement serves a road map foryour essay and aids the reader in understanding and following your argument. A goodthesis statement should include your larger interpretation of the work. Example Thesis Statement:In The Calling of Saint Matthew, Caravaggio uses light, space, and composition to add asense of drama to the religious event and connect the viewer to Saint Matthew and themoment of his religious transformation..5. Your paper should be between 2 to 3 pages in length (c. 800-1,000 words), 12 pointfont, double spaced, Times New Roman, 1 in. margins.6. Make sure to include the full title (or how it is described at the Carlos Museum) andartist of the work (if known) in your essay. You can use the information included on thewall label next to your work at the Carlos Museum.7. For this essay, you CANNOT use any form of AI to help write your essay. This includesthe use of ChatGBT or a similar program, Google Translate, or Grammarly. Any use ofthese AI resources will result in your paper being submitted to the Office of Academic Dishonesty for plagiarism.
