Questions and Topics We Can Help You To Answer:
Paper Instructions:
This essay will be an evaluation of an artwork (painting, drawing, photograph, sculpture, etc.), or significant architectural site.
You may visit the online library database Artstor, an art museum (.org) website for art, or a city (.gov) website for historically significant architecture.
Format:
750 words minimum
MLA format
Typewritten
Double spaced
ESSAY REQUIREMENTS:
This essay is designed to check for understanding of concepts and achievement of goals established by the department, and will be used to assess your success in learning outcomes reported in Elumen.
Please submit your essay with the following information contained in the following specified paragraphs, so that your instructor can easily identify these goals:
Paragraph 1:
o Title of artwork
o Location (name of museum, gallery, etc.)
o Name of artist/architect (if known)
o Cultural context (Name the artist's nationality. In addition, you may discuss ethnicity, time period (i.e. the Renaissance), political affiliations, or any other aspect of the artist's culture that may have influenced the artwork.)
o Date it was made
o Art form (i.e. photograph, sculpture, installation, etc.)
o Style (Abstract, naturalistic, Impressionist, etc. This can also be characterized as a cultural style, such as Ancient Egyptian, Renaissance, etc.)
o Subject matter (A detailed description of what is literally seen or represented, such as a tree on the left and house on the right, square with three stripes for nonrepresentational art, etc.) For architecture, you will instead give a general description of the way the building looks.
Paragraph 2:
Medium (be specific, i.e. charcoal on paper, oil on canvas, wood, etc.)
Process: You may use textbook for information and vocabulary, i.e. impasto, glazing, additive, carving, lost-wax casting, applied with a brush, paint dripped on canvas, hatching, etc.)
Paragraph 3:
2 formal elements and how they are used (be specific- what kind and where in the artwork?)
2 principles of design and how they are used (be specific- what kind and where in the artwork?)
Paragraph 4:
What is the content?
How do the subject matter, formal elements, and/or principles of design create that meaning?
Paragraph 5:
o Impact on Culture/Society: Choose a Role of the Artist from Chapter One in the textbook, or the notes. What is the role of this particular piece in society?
Paragraph 6
Next, identify a theme in your work of art from Part 5 of the reading, at the end of the book (Chapters 21-27). Compare and contrast your artwork with another piece in the reading that is from a different culture, yet shares the same theme (culture can relate to geographic location or time period).
Also include:
5 extra vocabulary words. You must include at least 5 extra vocabulary words, highlighted. (Besides formal elements, principles, and other information already listed. For example, if you were describing the element of value, you could discuss highlights and shadows, or gradations between values.)
An image of the piece being discussed.
Small amount of library research (5 sentences only)with:
Sources: You may use the library database or visit the library in-person. The libguide for this course is linked here at: https://sacguide.libguides.com/arts1301_sberlfein (Links to an external site.) . You may use the museum's website as an additional source, but no other websites are allowed. See Need Research Help? Module in this course.
1-5 sentences of researched information only (no more).
Topics: Research may be based on a biography of the artist to be included in Paragraph 1, on the style, medium, or process the artist used, or on the meaning of the piece, based on the artist's biography or style used.
In-text citations at the end of the sentence. For example, you may write "According to Smith's essay on Art of the Americas......" at the beginning or end, or (Smith) at the end.
Bibliography (Works Cited page) at the end of the essay.
Plagiarism: Not citing information is considered plagiarism, which is academic dishonesty, and can result in no credit and requirement to fix the essay for re-grading and a late grade. You MUST cite any researched information (besides title, date, and artist’s name). If it is word-for-word from a source, include quotations. If you have summarized, then no quotations are needed, but citations are still needed.
When referencing information from the museum plaque, you can just write "According to the museum plaque". There is no need for an entry in the Works Cited page.
For help, visit THE WRITING CENTER website (Links to an external site.)or the Purdue Owl (Links to an external site.) website. (Links to an external site.) .
Spelling/Grammar:
Correct spelling and grammar are also a part of your grade. Use spell check and/or visit the Writing Center for help to improve your grade.
Avoid informal language, including use of the first person (I, me, my, we, etc.) This is a formal academic essay.
Examples of Art Museums (you may use others):
The San Antonio Museum of Art (free admission with student ID)
The McNay Art Museum (free admission with your student ID)
The Blanton or Austin Museum of Art (AMOA) in Austin
Museum of Fine Arts Houston (MFAH) in Houston
The Louvre (Paris)
The Guggenheim (New York City) (there are also other Guggenheim museums throughout the world- any will work)
The Museum of Modern Art (MOMA) (New York City)
Examples of Architectural sites:
Local:
Any of the missions (The Alamo, San Jose, Concepion, Espada, San Juan)
Tower Life Building
Emily Morgan Hotel (formerly Medical Arts Building)
Southwest School of Art (formerly Ursuline Academy)
The Magestic Theatre
San Fernando Cathedral
Tower of the Americas
The Central Library
King William District (focus on one building)
Art Deco District (focus on one building)
Olmos Pharmacy
Tobin Center for the Performing Arts
Elsewhere:
The Eiffel Tower (Paris)
The Vatican (Rome)
The Sydney Opera House (Australia)
The Empire State Building (New York City)
Chartres Cathedral (France)
Stonehenge (England)
