You will visit an online museum to analyze a single work of art, and you will then write a paper analyzing the idea that you believe the artist is trying to convey. You will support your argument that this particular feeling or mood exists within the work using your observation and analysis of various aspects of the work of arts form, which you learned about in chapter 2 of your textbook.
Length: 4 pages (double-spaced, 1 inch margins, 12 pt Times New Roman font)
As you examine your object, you should do the following:
Before you even read the label next to the object, make some notes about your overall impression of the object. What feelings does it evoke? Why did you select it?
Write down the important information that is provided on the label accompanying your object in the online museum. This information might include the title of the piece, artist, material, date, patron, origin, etc.
Make notes describing your object. I also recommend that you sketch it because this will help you to observe more details. Don’t worry if your sketch isn’t artistic, the point is to observe details not to stress out about your lack of Michelanglo-like skills.
Use the Barnet book to help you further as you take notes on your object. Go through pages 80-97 if you selected a painting or pages 97-109 if you selected a sculpture to help you take further, detailed notes on your object.
Which formal elements are most prominent in your object? Perhaps line, color, and light? Try to come up with at least 3 of these before moving on to the next step.
Then develop 3-5 vocabulary terms related to each element (for color it should be pretty easy to get 5, for something like texture you might have less). For example, you might note a frequent use of cross hatching for light or that warm colors are used throughout the composition for color. Use the vocabulary lists from module 1 (list 1 Download list 1 and list 2 Download list 2 ) to help you as well as chapter 2 the Exploring Art text. You may use terms from Exploring Art in your paper even if they were not part of the vocabulary lists that I gave you.
Select 2-3 of the formal elements (line, light, color, texture, etc.) that you think are most important to understanding the object. Then make some notes about the following:
Of the terms that you know to discuss that specific formal element, which apply? For example, if you think line is most important, are the lines flowing or jagged (pg. 24)? Are there instances of implied lines that direct your eye to a certain area, etc.
What type of response do you think the artist was soliciting in using these formal elements?
How does each impact a viewer’s (your) overall perception of the object?
What does each tell you about how the object was used/ why it was created?
Use Barnets discussion of painting and sculpture (beginning on page 80) to take some additional notes.
Take some notes on the composition as a whole:
Is there a focal point? If so, where?
Is the composition balanced? How? What type of balance?
Thinking about the composition will be helpful as you try to formulate a thesis for your paper.
ORGANIZATION:
Introduction with thesis statement
Supporting paragraph 1first formal element
Supporting paragraph 2second formal element
Supporting paragraph 3final formal element (if applicableyou may choose to address only 2 formal elements in greater depth rather than introducing a third. Just be sure that your paper meets the word length requirement).
Conclusion
This should summarize your thesis statement (in a new way) and the formal elements that you discussed
It should then offer some concluding remarks about your impression of the work and how it fit into the museum/ related to objects around it/ etc.
Students are expected to be proficient in the use of Microsoft Word (or a similar word processing program).
All essays must adhere to the following guidelines:
Use a standard font (i.e. Times New Roman), 12 point
Double space, using 1-inch margins
Number pages of your paper
Spell check and proofread all drafts and papers before submitting them, students with un-proofed work may receive a 0 on their assignment.
Any work that you submit for this class may be read by other members of the class.
Essays should be submitted as .doc or .docx files. They must be submitted through Canvas. Please do not email essays.
Check your essay carefully against the rubric provided.
Do not plagiarize. Plagiarism is a form of cheating and is a violation of the Academic Integrity Policy. Students who plagiarize will receive a 0 for the assignment and will be reported to the Coordinator of Student Conduct.
