Finalize a Fashion Photography Paper

FAS 326 Final Project Guidelines and Rubric

Overview Photography is by nature so enmeshed in daily life that one tends to take a photograph as a self-evident cultural artifact. Most of us unconsciously and immediately absorb photographic images—looking through the medium to the subjects without stopping to ask, “How did this come into being?” In this course, we ask ourselves that question by exploring how technology has influenced our perception of the subjects of photographs, and how the eye of the photographer and the camera combine to change how we see the world. These phenomena are never more apparent than when one views an entire collection of images organized and displayed so that each one contributes to an overarching message or meaning. Indeed, this is what occurs when photographs are properly curated for an exhibition.

In this final project, you will select and curate at least six thematically connected images that support an identified thesis about a significant cultural issue. You will have the opportunity to demonstrate your command of visual analysis and historical research, while at the same time expressing your own passions, worldview, or personal interests. The product of your investigation and analyses will be documented in an exhibit prospectus.

The project is divided into two milestones, which will be submitted at different points throughout the course to scaffold learning and ensure a quality final submission. These milestones will be submitted in Modules Three and Five. The final project will be submitted in Module Seven.

In this assignment, you will demonstrate your mastery of the following course outcomes:

 Analyze the debated history of photography as a distinctly modern art form driven by technological developments  Classify photographic images according to period based on their expression of stylistic influences  Assess the role of the individual and society in personally and communally constructing cultural significance for photographic images  Analyze the subject matter of photographic images to determine thematic elements using appropriate terminology

Prompt Your exhibit prospectus should be a polished proposal for an original collection of photographs that are each carefully analyzed and that clearly demonstrate your overall thesis.

Specifically, the following critical elements must be addressed:

I. Introduction A. Set the stage for your exhibit by providing an overview of the various photographers and periods that you plan to showcase. Be sure to

comment on the thematic ties that bind your works together, as well as provide examples of how your selected works may not “fit the mold” of their time period or your audience’s expectations.

B. Identify a thesis for your exhibit that addresses a significant cultural issue. Make sure your thesis is specific enough to offer a unique perspective while still being clear and concise.

II. Selection of Photographic Images: You should include quality digital reproductions of all the photographs you have selected for your exhibit. They should be from an authoritative source (e.g., a museum, a gallery, or an academic institution) to ensure they have not been edited or manipulated from the original.

A. Select a minimum of six images that all contribute to the identified thesis. B. Your selected images should be sequenced chronologically according to period and should be purposefully organized to create flow and

continuity. C. Additionally, they must reflect at least three photographic technologies discussed in the course. D. Finally, at least three periods or styles discussed in the course should be represented.

III. Individual Image Commentaries: Underneath each of your selected images, include a detailed commentary. A. Identify the factual information available for the image, including title, date, photographer, dimensions, location, and medium, using

appropriately formatted citations. B. Situate the image within its historical context by explaining all the important and debated cultural and technological realities that are

relevant to understanding or appreciating the image, using specific details. C. Describe the subject matter in detail and identify all reasonably discernible formal elements that are present. D. Assess the image for its broader thematic elements or figurative meanings, based on your analysis of the subject matter and form. E. Interpret the image in terms of its cultural significance in a way that supports your overall thesis. F. Apply appropriate terminology for each of your individual image analyses.

Milestones Milestone One: Choosing a Theme In Module Three, you will submit a brief paper on your proposed final project theme. You will provide support for your choice and discuss its relevance to the history of photography. This milestone will be graded with the Milestone One Rubric.

Milestone Two: Proposal In Module Five, you will submit a short draft addressing the thesis and theme of your final project. The milestone will also include an analysis of at least two images. This milestone will be graded with the Milestone Two Rubric.

Final Submission: Exhibit Prospectus In Module Seven, you will submit your completed exhibit prospectus. It should be a complete, polished artifact containing all of the critical elements of the final project. It should reflect the incorporation of feedback gained throughout the course. This submission will be graded with the Final Project Rubric.

Final Project Rubric

Guidelines for Submission: Your exhibit prospectus should include 200–250 words for the introduction and 150–200 words per image. Use 12-point Times New Roman font, double spacing, and one-inch margins. Follow MLA style for citations.

Critical Elements Exemplary Proficient Needs Improvement Not Evident Value Introduction:

Overview Meets “Proficient” criteria and demonstrates a sophisticated ability to classify photographic images based on their expression of complex stylistic influences (100%)

Provides an overview of the various photographers and periods that will be showcased, commenting on the thematic ties and examples of how the works may not “fit the mold” or audience’s expectations (85%)

Provides an overview of the various photographers and periods that will be showcased but fails to fully or reasonably comment on the thematic ties or examples of how the works may not “fit the mold” or audience’s expectations (55%)

Does not provide an overview of the various photographers and periods that will be showcased (0%)

8

Introduction: Thesis Meets “Proficient” criteria and demonstrates keen insight into the cultural significance of photographic images (100%)

Identifies an appropriately clear, concise, and unique thesis for the exhibit that addresses a significant cultural issue (85%)

Identifies a thesis for the exhibit but fails to identify an appropriately clear, concise, or unique thesis that addresses a significant cultural issue (55%)

Does not identify a thesis for the exhibit (0%)

8

Selection of Photographic Images:

Contribute to the Identified Thesis

Meets “Proficient” criteria and demonstrates keen insight into the cultural significance of photographic images (100%)

Selects a minimum of six images that all reasonably contribute to the identified thesis (85%)

Selects a minimum of six images but fails to select at least six images that all reasonably contribute to the identified thesis (55%)

Does not select a minimum of six images (0%)

8

Selection of Photographic Images:

Sequencing

Meets “Proficient” criteria and demonstrates a sophisticated ability to classify photographic images based on their expression of complex stylistic influences (100%)

Images are accurately organized by period and into a purposeful sequence that creates flow and continuity (85%)

Images are organized by period, but there are inaccurate classifications or missed opportunities for creating flow and continuity (55%)

Images are not discernibly organized by period (0%)

8

Selection of Photographic Images:

Technologies

Meets “Proficient” criteria and demonstrates nuanced understanding of the history of photograph as a debated, modern art form driven by technology (100%)

Images are representative of at least three technologies discussed in the course (85%)

Images are representative of fewer than three technologies discussed in the course (55%)

Not all images are representative of technologies discussed in the course (0%)

8

Selection of Photographic Images:

Periods or Styles

Meets “Proficient” criteria and demonstrates sophisticated ability to classify photographic images based on their expression of complex stylistic influences (100%)

Images are representative of at least three periods or styles discussed in the course (85%)

Images are representative of fewer than three periods or styles discussed in the course (55%)

Not all images are representative of periods or styles discussed in the course (0%)

8

Individual Image Commentaries:

Factual Information

Identifies factual information for each image, including title, date, photographer, dimensions, location, and medium, using appropriate citations (100%)

Identifies factual information for each image but fails to fully detail all available information or use appropriate citations throughout (55%)

Does not identify factual information for each image (0%)

8

Individual Image Commentaries:

Historical Context

Meets “Proficient” criteria and demonstrates nuanced understanding of the history of photography as a debated, modern art form driven by technology (100%)

Situates each image within its historical context by explaining any important cultural or technological realities that are relevant to understanding or appreciating the image, using specific details (85%)

Situates each image within its historical context but fails to explain all important cultural or technological realities that are relevant to understanding or appreciating the image (55%)

Does not situate each image within its historical context (0%)

8

Individual Image Commentaries: Subject Matter

Meets “Proficient” criteria and demonstrates a sophisticated ability to conduct a visual analysis of photographic images using appropriate terminology (100%)

Accurately describes the subject matter of each image in detail and correctly identifies all reasonably discernible formal elements (85%)

Describes the subject matter of each image but fails to use sufficient, accurate details or to correctly identify all reasonably discernible formal elements (55%)

Does not describe the subject matter of each image (0%)

8

Individual Image Commentaries:

Thematic Elements

Meets “Proficient” criteria and demonstrates sophisticated ability to conduct a visual analysis of photographic images using appropriate terminology (100%)

Reasonably assesses each image for its broader thematic elements or figurative meanings based on the analysis of subject matter and form (85%)

Assesses each image for its broader thematic elements or figurative meanings, but claims are not fully reasonable or based on the analysis of subject matter and form (55%)

Does not assess each image for its broader thematic elements or figurative meanings (0%)

8

Individual Image Commentaries:

Cultural Significance

Meets “Proficient” criteria and demonstrates keen insight into the cultural significance of photographic images (100%)

Interprets each image for its cultural significance in a way that supports the overall thesis (85%)

Interprets each image for its cultural significance but fails to make fully reasonable claims that all support the overall thesis (55%)

Does not interpret each image for its cultural significance (0%)

8

Individual Image Commentaries:

Appropriate Terminology

Meets “Proficient” criteria and demonstrates sophisticated ability to conduct a visual analysis of photographic images using appropriate terminology (100%)

Applies appropriate terminology throughout each of the individual image analyses (85%)

Applies appropriate terminology in places but does not consistently use correct vocabulary for each of the individual image analyses (55%)

Consistently misuses terminology throughout individual image analyses, reflecting fundamental misunderstandings of critical vocabulary (0%)

8

Articulation of Response

Submission is free of errors related to citations, grammar, spelling, syntax, and organization and is presented in a professional and easy-to-read format (100%)

Submission has no major errors related to citations, grammar, spelling, syntax, or organization (85%)

Submission has major errors related to citations, grammar, spelling, syntax, or organization that negatively impact readability and articulation of main ideas (55%)

Submission has critical errors related to citations, grammar, spelling, syntax, or organization that prevent understanding of ideas (0%)

4

Total 100%