Here is a condensed version of what my instructor wants:
Please submit the docum
Here is a condensed version of what my instructor wants:
Please submit the document as a Word, PDF, or Google Doc file.
Much of art history involves closely analyzing the visual aspects of a work of art (its content and iconography, formal elements, style, medium, etc.), while considering the artwork within their original historical context (Who made this? Who wanted it made? Where was it seen? What were the popular societal, philosophical, political, religious tendencies at the time the work was made? etc.) In some instances, we also discuss the general processes used in order to complete a work (such as how a fresco is made, throwing pottery on a wheel, and so on.) After all, an artwork is created through some sort of working process, a series of steps that takes us from idea to execution to end product.
With most of the extant (surviving) works we analyze in this class, we have no record of the artist’s step-by-step working process, although the artist or architect would certainly have to plan and work through a series of phases to create an art object. Therefore, this assignment is for you to consider the working process of an individual artist in one of the eras we study for this course, to research information on that topic, and to “document” the artist’s experiences of creating an art work(s) in a journal- or diary-like format, using the research you’ve acquired.
Whether you write in either first-person or third-person, I encourage you to fully imagine yourself as the artist or architect creating and completing their artwork.
What will I discuss in the text of my paper? Well, consider such questions as: What materials are used in the work? Where did he/she get them, were they difficult to acquire? Were they expensive? What tools were used to manipulate the work? How did the person come up with the composition for the form of the work, and were there perhaps outside influences affecting his/her final design (an individual patron, certain cultural, societal, political, or religious influences, etc.)? What about the physical form and size of the object? Did it take a long time from the initial idea to completed work? What were the individual steps taken to create the work? How long did it take for the artist to actually complete the art object? Were other people required to help complete the work? Were there any triumphs or setbacks in the working process? You are not limited to these questions; hopefully they will serve as a springboard for other topics you’d like to mention in your artist’s journal.
This assignment will involve research outside of what we’ve discussed in class and what’s in your textbook, in order to better understand the historical circumstances and the working processes behind the production of your chosen artwork.
I expect a minimum of 5 separate sources listed in a separate annotated Works Cited page at the end of your paper. However, the more, the better, as multiple sources will only strengthen your understanding of your topic. Please note: this Works Cited page will NOT count in the paper length listed above.
Of these, one source MUST be a textual source other than an internet web link, such as a separate art history book (perhaps one related to the specific time period or artwork you’ve chosen) or an article from a scholarly journal or magazine. Your textbook may count as a second textual reference within your bibliography.
Your annotations need not be long: briefly summarize the thesis and/or argument of the author in 1-3 sentences and discuss how it was useful towards understanding your topic. This demonstrates that a) you read and understood the content of the source and b) you found it useful for this assignment.
I realize that many of you will turn to the internet for your research simply because of its accessibility and convenience. While I will accept some web sites as bibliographic sources, I expect you to be discerning, and use your better judgment when it comes to assessing the reputability of your source. Are you using a web source from a scholarly or informational site, or is it information from someone’s random vacation blog?
