Students will write a 7-10 page (typed, double spaces, 12pt font) independent research paper related to World Art. This is meant to be both an argumentative paper, with a clear and concise thesis/argument, AND a research paper, in which you back up your analysis with well-documented information from appropriate academic sources
(i.e. use the library book finder to locate appropriate academic texts
and/or research databases like Ebscohost and JSTOR, accessible via the
college library’s website, for appropriate academic journal articles).
You will select a topic of your own choosing, related to this course (thematic topics tend to work best, such as “The Influence of African Masking Traditions on Picasso’s Les Demoiselles d’Avignon,” or “Socialist Politics in the Work of the Realists, the Arts & Crafts Movement, and the Bauhaus,” OR “Readymades, Assemblages, and the (Neo-)DADA Movement(s)).” Your paper should include a minimum of three artworks and/or cultural objects to examine in depth, though it is possible to include many more artworks and/or artists depending on the topic you select.
Again, this assignment will require research beyond the assigned course readings. You are expected to do original and independent research (not just reference material from the course) and you
will need to use at least ten (10) appropriate bibliographic resources,
specifically published texts and peer-reviewed academic journal
articles. Certain websites are also acceptable (if used
sparingly), but should be from verifiable sources, such as museums,
academics/professionals, or university-level institutions. Encyclopedias
(whether traditional or online, such as Wikipedia) and most websites
should be avoided and will not count towards your ten-resource minimum.
Sources must be cited with properly-formatted footnotes, along with a
complete bibliography and any necessary illustrations/images. Within the
body of your Research Paper, use Chicago Manual of Style
Links to an external site. footnote documentation for noting paraphrased ideas and direct quotations.
Citational documentation should be present throughout your project in
order to demonstrate the quality and quantity of the independent
research you have conducted (this is a research project, emphasis on research). You should, of course, use your own words, as much as possible, but citation of your research is absolutely essential. Plagiarism will result in a failing grade for the assignment.
Please note that this is an extensive project and extremely important to your overall course grade. This
is not the kind of project that can wait until the last minute to
complete. You are expected to be working on this assignment throughout
the semester. Conducting independent research is particularly
time-consuming, as you will often need to read multiple books/articles
before you locate the information you need. If you have never written a
research paper before, I encourage you to go to the Writing Center and
to get assistance from the librarians in selecting appropriate reference
material.
Selecting ‘the right topic for you’ is crucial to building a good Curation Assignment. Don’t
necessarily limit yourself to ‘art’ topics, but think about your own
set of interests and branch out from there. For example, a student
interested in gender/women studies, might do an in-depth “History of 1970s Feminist Performance/Body Art,” or explore “Depictions of the ‘New Woman’ during the Weimar Republic” etc.
All students MUST
meet with the instructor via Zoom during posted office hours (or via
email, if unable to visit during office hours) prior to the deadline for
selecting a topic, in order to get help choosing an appropriate topic,
developing an argument/thesis, selecting an appropriate reading list,
and brainstorming possible organizational structures.
