art history formal essay

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Purpose: The purpose of this Formal Essay writing assignment is to clearly summarize, synthesize and reflect on important information concerning feminist arts in the United States that you have encountered in lectures, discussions and special topic readings and discussions. The specific skills that you will practice and develop are: • Organized and thorough notetaking of lecture and reading content • Clear, concise and well-organized writing that synthesizes and summarizes course content from lectures and reading assignments • Employing interdisciplinary methods of visual analysis • Analyzing relationships between art and its social, cultural, political, historical and/or spiritual contexts • Reflecting upon art employed as an instrument for social change • Citing sources properly Acquiring and developing these skills will contribute to your success both in this course and beyond, particularly in an ever-increasingly visually saturated world.

Knowledge: This assignment will also help you to become familiar with the following important content knowledge in this course and the discipline of Art History: • Social, cultural, political, historical and/or spiritual contexts of art • How aspects of feminism impacted the visual arts in the United States • How visually oriented artistic practices are developed and modified to promote socio-political change • The stakes involved in visual representation, particularly in term of identity politics.

Task: Your task in this assignment is to compare "first generation" and "second generation" feminist arts in the United States in a formal essay that thoroughly summarizes how each understood gendered identity (or “subjectivity”), their respective social goals, and characteristic artistic approaches/strategies. To do this, we would like you to choose two artists from the "first generation" (Schneemann, Edelson, Mendieta, Chicago, or an example from Womanhouse) and one artist from the "second generation" (Kruger or Sherman). Then, chose one work for each your chosen artists (3 works total) as your main examples. • Take thorough, organized notes of lectures and special topic reading assignments. • Select the 3 artists and 3 works of art that you will employ as the main examples for your essay. Here, your selection should be made in consideration of which artists/examples will allow you to best show the depth of your knowledge of the subject. • Write an outline, “map” and/or re-organize and synthesize your notes related to these works as the starting point or guide for writing your Formal Essay. It is entirely appropriate for you to adapt previous writing assignments for this essay. • Write a thorough, well-organized essay that summarizes the content areas assessed in the rubric for this Formal Essay (see Canvas). • Your essay should have an introduction that summarizes the socio-historical context women faced at the time, how each “generation” understood gendered identity, and leads to a thesis that clearly articulates each movement’s main goals. • The body of your essay should thoroughly analyze your chosen examples and relate them to the overall goals of each movement. In other words, this analysis of your examples should support and enrich your thesis statement. • Your conclusion should summarize the main points of your essay and include a thoughtful reflection on your informed views of the impact each “generation,” including the successes as well as shortcomings of each.

Criteria for Success: You will be successful in this assignment if your essay 1) is well-organized and thoroughly summarizes the main goals of these “generations” feminist arts in the United States through a thorough analysis of your chosen examples; 2) provides a thoughtful and informed reflection on their successes and shortcomings; 3) properly cites sources. Excellent work most often differs from adequate work due to levels content inclusion, thorough connection made between students’ specific examples and the overall goals of the movement, and the organization students’ writing.

Format: 5-8 pages (excluding title page and bibliography), double-spaced, 1” margins, 12pt Times New Roman font. Upload to Canvas as a Word .doc or PDF file.

Citations should follow the Chicago Manual of Style and include a bibliography. See the tutorial and supporting materials on Canvas.

Rubric

AH 270 Formal Essay #1--initial draft (1)

AH 270 Formal Essay #1--initial draft (1)

Criteria

Ratings

Pts

This criterion is linked to a Learning OutcomeContent of Essay in relation to "first generation" feminist arts in the U.S.

This category of assessment includes such content as: a) socio-cultural context b) how gendered identity was commonly conceived c) common goals d) common artistic strategies (such as collaboration, performance, "craft" materials, etc.)

25.0 pts

Essay thoroughly summarizes lectures and readings concerning the key characteristics and goals of the "first generation" of feminist arts in the U.S.

22.0 pts

Essay summarizes lectures and readings concerning the key characteristics and goals of the "first generation" of feminist arts in the U.S., but could minor additions/expansion

19.0 pts

Essay partially summarizes lectures and readings concerning the key characteristics and goals of the "first generation" of feminist arts in the U.S.

15.0 pts

Essay inadequately and/or innaccurately summarizes lectures and readings concerning the key characteristics and goals of the "first generation" of feminist arts in the U.S.

25.0 pts

This criterion is linked to a Learning OutcomeContent of Essay in relation to "second generation" feminist arts in the U.S.

This category of assessment includes such content as: a) socio-cultural context b) how gendered identity was commonly conceived c) common goals d) common artistic strategies such as collage, appropriation, deconstruction of stereotypes and cultural conventions, etc.

30.0 pts

Essay thoroughly summarizes lectures and readings concerning the key characteristics and goals of the "second generation" of feminist arts in the U.S.

27.0 pts

Essay summarizes lectures and readings concerning the key characteristics and goals of the "second generation" of feminist arts in the U.S., but could use minor additions/expansion

24.0 pts

Essay partially summarizes lectures and readings concerning the key characteristics and goals of the "second generation" of feminist arts in the U.S.

20.0 pts

Essay inadequately summarizes lectures and readings concerning the key characteristics and goals of the "second generation" of feminist arts in the U.S.

15.0 pts

Essay inadequately summarizes lectures and readings concerning the key characteristics and goals of the "second generation" of feminist arts in the U.S. and contains multiple misconceptions

30.0 pts

This criterion is linked to a Learning OutcomeExplanation of "de-centered" subjectivity (particularly the use of Lacan's ideas)

10.0 pts

The essay thoroughly explains "de-centered" subjectivity and its use by the artist

8.0 pts

The essay explains "de-centered" subjectivity and its use by the artist, but could use more specifics/expansion

6.0 pts

The essay partially explains "de-centered" subjectivity and its use by the artist

4.0 pts

The essay inadequately explains "de-centered" subjectivity and its use by the artist

0.0 pts

No serious attempt to explain de-centered subjectivity is apparent in the essay

10.0 pts

This criterion is linked to a Learning OutcomeIntroductory paragraph

10.0 pts

This paragraph guides the reader by introducing the contexts, articulating the main issues, and leading to a thesis that clearly states each movement’s conception of gendered identity and the artistic strategies consequently adopted

8.0 pts

Minor editing could improve the introductory paragraph so that it better introduces the contexts, articulates the main issues, and leads to a thesis that clearly states each movement’s conception of gendered identity and the artistic strategies consequently adopted

6.0 pts

Moderate reworking could improve the introductory paragraph so that it better introduces the contexts, articulates the main issues, and leads to a thesis that clearly states each movement’s conception of gendered identity and the artistic strategies consequently adopted

4.0 pts

Major reworking is needed to improve the introductory paragraph so that it better introduces the contexts, articulates the main issues, and leads to a thesis that clearly states each movement’s conception of gendered identity and the artistic strategies consequently adopted

10.0 pts

This criterion is linked to a Learning OutcomeBody paragraphs and examples

10.0 pts

Appropriate examples were chosen, and each paragraph clearly supports the thesis of the essay

8.5 pts

Appropriate examples may not have been chosen, and/or each paragraph does not clearly support the thesis of the essay

7.5 pts

Appropriate examples may not have been chosen, and/or much more attention to how each paragraph supports the thesis of the essay is needed

6.0 pts

Appropriate examples may not have been chosen, and much more attention to how each paragraph supports the thesis of the essay is needed

0.0 pts

No Marks

10.0 pts

This criterion is linked to a Learning OutcomeConclusion

10.0 pts

The conclusion summarizes the main points of the essay and includes a thoughtful reflection on the student's informed views of the impact of the movement, including its successes as well as shortcomings

6.0 pts

The conclusion partially summarizes the main points of the essay and/or includes a cursory reflection on the student's informed views of the impact of the movement, including its successes as well as shortcomings

4.0 pts

The conclusion does not summarize the main points of the essay and/or does not include a thoughtful reflection on the student's informed views of the impact of the movement, including its successes as well as shortcomings

10.0 pts

This criterion is linked to a Learning OutcomeCitations/Bibliography

5.0 pts

The citations and bibliography are properly formatted according to the Chicago Manual of Style and need no attention

3.0 pts

Some citations and/or the bibliography are improperly formatted according to the Chicago Manual of Style and need attention

2.0 pts

Many citations and/or the bibliography are improperly formatted according to the Chicago Manual of Style and need attention

0.0 pts

No citations and/or bibliography are present, or need serious work so that they conform to the Chicago Manual of Style

5.0 pts

Total Points: 100.0