ARTWORK ANALYSIS PROJECT

Artwork Analysis Project

Objectives: Visit one of the museums on the approved museum list below. Observe and select

artworks to create a detailed analysis using this worksheet.

Museum List: Do not use any other museums or galleries except those listed

below. Below are links to the Houston area museums you can visit for this project. Check the

museums’ websites for hours of operation, directions, costs, etc. Some museums are free. I

can only accept work from approved museums. If you would like to visit a museum not on the

list below it must be approved 4 weeks in advance of the due date. This is in line with school

policy, and cannot be changed without documented department approval!

Museum of Fine Arts Houston

Contemporary Arts Museum Houston

The Menil Collection

Lawndale Arts Center Houston

Pearl Fincher Museum of Fine Art

Any Lone Star College Campus with an art gallery displaying professional work is permitted for

this project. Absolutely no student exhibits are permitted to complete this project. Using a

student exhibit will result in a "0" for the project. Please also note, any museum or gallery

visitations prior to this course’s start date do not qualify for this assignment, as you attended

prior to the actual dates of the course.

Requirements:

 Read the description and all the instructional documents online in the folder titled “Artwork Analysis Project Due on…START NOW!” This folder provides important information for your success for beginning and completing this project, including student examples of good and bad work, and a gallery guide concerning “do’s and don’ts” while attending a museum.

Failure to read this information can result in an automatic “0” for the project,

and/or failure of the course due to some restrictions.

 All parts of your project are required to be uploaded to the associated Turnitin drop box on D2L. Any parts not uploaded to the drop box will not receive a grade. Handwritten work will not be graded. These are for academic integrity reasons.

 You are required to submit:

1. One copy of your written analysis.

2. One good quality color image of the one artwork you selected for the worksheet

evaluation questions.

3. One official dated proof of visitation to the museum from the day of your

attendance.

*Note: While you will be viewing more than one artwork for this project, only one color image

is required. Acceptable forms of visitation proof include museum maps, ticket stubs, gallery

cards, admission stickers, etc. Be sure your proof of visitation is labeled with the date of your

attendance. If your proof of visitation does not feature a date, kindly request a member of the

museum staff to date the item for you upon your arrival or departure. Most of the museum

staff are happy to assist you. If you are using digital tickets obtained online as proof, these

must be printed out and brought with you to be signed and dated by a member of the

museum/gallery staff. This is strictly enforced! You must be able to prove your attendance to make this project count.

I cannot grade your project without all of the required documents. No exceptions!

Please keep in mind this project is mandatory. If you do not submit one, you

are not permitted to pass this course regardless of your overall course average.

That being said, most people enjoy their museum visit, and I hope you will too!

 Students Requiring Accommodations Due to Lack of Travel Ability:

 Students who are unable to travel for this project must contact the instructor by Week 8 to receive approved accommodations.

 You are still required to complete this project, but will receive an alternate version of it to accommodate difficulties in travelling. Be aware, the alternate project is nearly identical to the original, is no less challenging, nor is it less work.

 Under no circumstance, regardless of validity, will accommodations regarding travel be approved after Week 10. No exceptions!

Worksheet Instructions:

Part 1: Source List

40 Points (4 points per correctly listed artwork)

 While at the museum, select a total of 10 works of art to comprise into an organized source list. This list will serve as a guide for completing the project.

1. Your list must contain and identify 5 artworks you like, and 5 you dislike (or not like as much as others). You may include more than 10 if you so desire.

2. Number each artwork in the list. 3. Identify the artwork’s title, artist, medium, and date created. Some artworks

will not have all the information listed. If part of the information is missing, simply identify it as “unavailable.” If you do not state what information is unavailable, there will be point deductions; since I will believe you did not finish the artwork’s identification. Here is an example you can use as a template:

1. Title: The Starry Night

Artist: Vincent Van Gogh Medium: Oil on Canvas Date: 1889

 If you are attending one of the larger museums, select artworks from a variety of galleries within the museum. Each gallery within the museum typically has different themed artworks. I am familiar with all of the collections on your approved list of museums. Choosing works from the first gallery in the entry way of the museum to complete the entire source list is not acceptable, unless you are attending one of the Lone Star College campus galleries. The Lone Star College campuses which house an art gallery will typically only have one room to display artwork. Take your time and enjoy the visit!

Part 2: Written Analysis

160 points total (20 points per question)

 Choose 1 artwork from your source list, and then create a written analysis using the lettered question list below. Keep in mind, you can write your analysis using either an artwork you like or dislike.

 Remember to identify which artwork you selected from your source list before you begin writing. I need to know immediately which artwork you chose to write about to avoid confusion when grading your project.

 Write your response to each question in paragraph form.  Do not create a traditional research paper! This writing assignment has its

own type of unique formatting. You must, however, write out your responses in a well-developed paragraph (or two) for each question on the question list.

 You must identify each of your responses by copy-pasting the questions from the worksheet before writing each of your response paragraphs, or by indicating each question’s letter before each of your response paragraphs.

*Note: If your responses are not identified correctly, you will lose or (in some cases) not receive

points if I cannot find (or ascertain the content) of your analysis response based on its lack of

identification. Please reference the student examples online for additional illustrations of the

identification process.

 Use the terminology and concepts from the textbook frequently and correctly! You will be graded on how well you apply the information from the class to this project. Remember to use the terminology and concepts to describe the design of the art as well as the content. Incorrectly used terminology or concepts will be penalized. A common error is misidentifying artwork. For example, if you reference a painting as a photograph in your written analysis, you are misidentifying the artwork’s media. There can be very large penalties for misidentifications in relation to either the terminology or concepts, depending on the severity of the issue(s).

 Writing skills count greatly towards your project grade! Proofread your work very carefully! There are no second chances! If I cannot understand you through your writing, especially if your writing is poorly crafted, there will be penalties depending on the severity of the issue(s). Remember, I can only understand your thoughts and ideas in as much as you articulate them through your writing. If your written communication lacks clarity, I will not be able to determine your knowledge of the course material. We have many free resources on and off campus to help you proofread your work if you need assistance. Contact either myself or a tutoring center for additional assistance. Here is a link to the tutoring center: http://www.lonestar.edu/tutoring.htm

*Note: If you decide to include outside research (such as sources from the internet, a descriptive

placard from the museum, quotes, etc.), it must be cited or you will be penalized for plagiarism.

Your response to a particular question, or your entire paper, may default to a “0” depending on

the severity of the situation. Additional research is optional for this type of project.

QUESTION LIST:

A. Why did you choose this particular work of art for your analysis? Explain using plenty of details. (20 points)

B. Describe what the artwork looks like using terms and concepts from Unit 1 Fundamentals. Explain using plenty of details. (20 points)

C. Identify and use 1 mode of content analysis from Chapter 1.10 to personally interpret

the content of the artwork. You are permitted to identify and use more than 1 mode of analysis for this response if you wish to do so. (20 points)

Important!

 Do not use a description from the museum placard or internet source as a substitute for your own personal interpretation. Additional research information is supplemental, and not a replacement for this question. You may use factual information from an alternate source after you interpret the artwork. Citations are required if you do so.

 Do not dismiss this question by claiming that you do not know what the content is about. This will not be an acceptable response. You must interpret your selected artwork to the best of your ability using one (or more) of the modes of content analysis. Even if you are not 100% certain what the artwork’s content is about, your personal perspectives and interpretations are what is of value, and graded.

D. Describe how the artist used their medium in this artwork? And, do you feel the medium is effective for expressing the content? Explain using plenty of details. (20 points)

E. Do you think the artist is effective in relaying their message(s) to their viewing audience through the artwork? And, explain how the artist accomplishes or fails to accomplish this task. And, explain how the fundamentals of design are employed or not employed in these processes. Explain using plenty of details. (20 points)

F. Do you think the artwork is valuable and/or useful to you, and also to others? Explain your perspectives in regards to both your personal value and the value to others. Explain using plenty of details. (20 points)

G. How does the artwork you chose to analyze relate to other art viewed in this course? Identify and use a minimum of 1 specific artwork example from the textbook to compare and/or contrast to your museum selection using plenty of details. You may use more than one example from your textbook if you so choose. Remember to identify the name of the artwork(s) and the page number(s) from the textbook in this response. (20 points)

H. Obtain viewpoints from a minimum of 1 other person while you are at the museum (this can be a friend or relative accompanying you, museum staff, other attendees, etc.). Ask this person to give you their honest thoughts about the design and/or content of the artwork. Make a note of, at minimum, 1 of their thoughts to include in your response. Additionally, discuss and record a minimum of 1 idea that is new or different from your own that you learned through their observation. Lastly, identify in your response if any of your thoughts about the artwork changed after your discussion. (20 points)

Submitting Work:

 Label your written analysis! Please include the following information on the first page

of the written analysis:

1. Your Name

2. Course Name and Section Number

*This is important, because I teach multiple courses and course sections.

3. My Name (Professor Renee Justiss)

 All parts of this project must be uploaded to the associated Turnitin drop box on D2L in

order to receive a grade.

1. The proof of visitation can be either included in the Word or PDF document with

your written analysis, or in the form of a separate JPEG file.

2. The color image of the analyzed artwork can be either included in the Word or

PDF document with the written analysis, or in the form of a separate JPEG file.

3. The written analysis must be submitted in the form of a Word or PDF document.

Grade Scale:

Part 1 - Artwork Source List

*There are 10 items total in this category. Each item is worth 4 points each and graded using

the scale listed below. There are 40 possible points for this category.

4 points – Completed source list item (no improvements needed).

2 points – Partially completed source list item (information listed is incomplete).

0 points – Missing source list item.

Part 2 - Written Analysis

*There are 8 items total in this category. Each item is worth 20 points each and graded using

the scale listed below. There are 160 possible points for this category.

20 points - Excellent Work (no improvements were needed).

18 points - Great Work (minor improvements were needed).

16 points - Above Average Work (some improvements were still needed).

14 points - Average Work (moderate improvements were needed).

12 points - Deficient Work (large improvements were needed and/or work is incomplete).

10 points - Poor Work (significant improvements were needed and/or work is incomplete).

0 points - No work provided.

Total Points: 200