ARTS1101: Art Appreciation (Online) 4

Case Study Part 1

In this first paper, you will apply the research you have done on the artist and their artwork to write a two page MLA style paper highlighting who the artist is and what kind of art they make. Some questions to keep in mind while writing this paper include:

 

What materials does the artist use to create their work?

Does the chosen material carry meaning in relation to the subject matter or content of the work they create?

Is there subject matter in the art, or is it nonobjective? What is that subject matter?

What is the art about, if anything (what is the content of the work)? Are there themes that appear throughout all or most of their art? Notice that content exists both with and without subject matter.

Is the artist a part of a particular art movement? What are the motivations of this movement?

What has the artist themselves said about their art? Do you agree with the artist’s assessment of their own work, or do you see other meanings in the art?

What have critics said about the art?

How many shows has the artist had, and where have they shown their work?

Are there particular shows of the artist’s work that would be beneficial to examine in depth as a microcosm of their larger oeuvre?

How does the art connect to issues we face today?

Don’t forget to tell me who the artist is! What’s their name? Where are they from? Where did they study, and was it under any other artists of note?

 

This paper should discuss the artist in specifics but the artwork in general terms. Your next paper will focus on one work of art in particular to illustrate the general points you make in this assignment. Remember that in MLA format, you are required to provide in-text citations and a works cited page for any information you provide in the paper that comes from the resources you found for the annotated bibliography. In fact, any time you provide information that is not common knowledge, you must cite the source. If you find more sources than those you provided in the annotated bibliography, that is fine. Just remember to include them in your citations.

 

*All assignments should be written in 12 pt Times New Roman font with standard margins in MLA format.

Assignment

Case Study Part 2

In your final paper assignment, you will have the chance to correct any mistakes you made in Case Study Part 1. I will provide feedback on Assignment 2 that you will take into consideration as you write the final paper. Building on the last assignment, you will take the two pages you wrote there and add an additional three pages looking at one work of art in particular, resulting in a five page MLA style paper that includes in-text citations and an additional works cited page. During this new three page section, you will use the four components of criticism you have been using in your discussion board posts to discuss the chosen work of art: Description, Analysis, Interpretation, and Judgment. You may include a photo of the art, but it will not count toward your five pages of writing.

 

Description: Tell what you see (the visual facts).

What is the name of the artist who created the artwork?

What kind of artwork is it, what medium is it?

What is the name of the artwork?

When was the artwork created?

List the literal objects in the painting (trees, people, animals, mountains, rivers, etc.).

What do you notice first when you look at the work(s)? Why?

What kinds of colors do you see? How would you describe them?

What shapes can we see? What kind of edges do the shapes have?

Are there lines in the work(s)? If so, what kinds of lines are they?

What sort of textures do you see? How would you describe them?

What is the overall visual effect or mood of the work(s)?

 

Analysis: Mentally separate the parts or elements, thinking in terms of textures, shapes/forms, light/dark or bright/dull colors, types of lines, and sensory qualities. In this step consider the most significant art principles that were used in the artwork. Describe how the artist used them to organize the elements.

How has the artist used colors in the work(s)?

What sort of effect do the colors have on the artwork?

How has the artist used shapes within the work of art?

How have lines been used in the work(s)? Has the artist used them as an important or dominant part of the work, or do they play a different roll?

What role does texture play in the work(s)? Has the artist used the illusion of texture or has the artist used actual texture? How has texture been used within the work(s).

How has the artist used light in the work(s)? Is there the illusion of a scene with lights and shadows, or does the artist use light and dark values in a more abstracted way?

How has the overall visual effect or mood of the work(s)? been achieved by the use of elements of art and principles of design.

How were the artists design tools used to achieve a particular look or focus?

 

Interpretation: An interpretation seeks to explain the meaning of the work based on what you have learned so far about the artwork, what do you think the artist was trying to say?

What was the artist’s statement in this work?

What do you think it means?

What does it mean to you?

How does this relate to you and your life?

What feelings do you have when looking at this artwork?

Do you think there are things in the artwork that represent other things/symbols?

Why do you think that the artist chose to work in this manner and made these kinds of artistic decisions?

Why did the artist create this artwork?

 

Judgment: After careful observation, analysis, and interpretation of an artwork, you are ready to make your own judgment. This is your personal evaluation based on the understandings of the work(s). Here are questions you might consider:

Why do you think this work has intrinsic value or worth? What is the value you find in the work(s)? (For example, is it a beautiful work of art, does it convey an important social message, affects the way that I see the world, makes insightful connections, reaffirms a religious belief, etc.)

Do you find that the work communicates an idea, feeling or principle that would have value for others?

Is the subject matter unappealing, unimaginative, or repulsive? How?

Rather than seeing the work as being very effective or without total value, does the work fall somewhere in-between? Do you think that the work is just o.k.? What do you base this opinion on? The use of elements of art? Lack of personal expression? The work lacks a major focus? Explore your criticism of the work (s) as much as you would any positive perceptions. Realize that your own tastes and prejudices may enter into your criticism. Give your positive and negative perceptions.

 

Remember that critics mostly write about artwork they think is effective and has value. (Why would you give publicity to art you don’t think deserves it?) You are selecting a work of art that illustrates the ideas you discussed in the first part of the paper, so you should write about a work that you think is effective.

 

*All assignments should be written in 12 pt Times New Roman font with standard margins in MLA format.