5-6 pages essay about naked body from the Renaissance to the present

Outline of the essay

Title Consider developing a clear and catchy title that captures the essence of the exhibition. You may actually want to think of your title after you write the essay and know what your focus and approach to the material are.

Introduction Your introduction should have a clear thesis statement about: •theme and objectives of the exhibition (also mention the time period and cultural tradition examined) •relevance to the public you are addressing (also mention your museum’s location and intended audience) Above (p. 1), I have specified a general framework about the objectives of your exhibition. In your introduction you need to develop this general idea into a thesis statement that spells out, in your own words, the specific theme and goal of the exhibition and how it relates to the audience you address –that is, the local community in the city and country in which your museum resides.

Main body of your text: Divide the main body of your text into three sections, each one discussing a pair of highlights.

Section subtitles: Introduce each section with a subtitle that identifies both the theme and the highlights that represent it (for example: The rare heroine and the ubiquitous hero: Judith and Holofernes, Donatello, mid 1450’s (1457-64?), bronze, 93 in. Palazzo Vecchio, Florence, Italy; Perseus and Medusa, Benvenuto Cellini, 1554, bronze, 128 in., Loggia dei Lanzi, Florence, Italy.) •Fully identify your highlight pieces in your section subtitles. Whether your highlights are class material or works from other sources, you have to identify them fully as in the above example, which includes material, dimensions and current location. If you cannot find all the relevant info in the class material or through an online search, say so in the footnotes. Remember that the dimensions are an important aspect of a work’s impact and function, so consider them in your discussion (e.g. small painting: for private and intimate viewing; public sculpture: addressed to a broader audience, usually from a certain distance and in a specific architectural context).

Section content: •Start each section by explaining what is the relevant topic and how the two highlights illustrate it through their contrast. What makes one piece traditional and the other nontraditional? In what ways do they form a meaningful pair and are set “in dialogue” with each other?

•Present a detailed visual analysis of each highlight piece in relation to the other in the same pair. Your visual analysis should shed light on the overall theme of that pair and should also take into consideration the meanings of the naked bodies depicted. •Consider the original commissioner and context(s) of each piece (if known) and how they have impacted the various meanings this piece had for its intended audience. (For example, it would be important to make a reference to the main locations in which Donatello’s Judith and Holofernes has been displayed over time and its frequent relocation or replacement by other works, as opposed to the permanent display of Cellini’s Perseus and Medusa, which was created as a “reply” to Donatello’s sculpture in the Loggia dei Lanzi. You should also consider the function of the Loggia as a stage for state propaganda.) •Your focus should remain on your six highlight pieces, even if you choose to mention comparative material (other images) to strengthen your discussion.

Cite your sources, whether they are class readings or other material (you don’t need to cite lecture notes or PowerPoints).

Conclusion: Offer concluding remarks that: bind together the three topics you chose to explore through your highlight pieces and offer a culminating observation about the goal of your exhibition and its relevance to your audience. Your conclusion should not be a repetition of the thesis statement you made in the introduction, but it should enrich that statement with insights that result from the main body of your essay.IllustrationsInclude images of your six highlights, captioned appropriately, at the end of your paper (photos are not part of your page limit).

Bibliography: Include full references to all the sources you have used, at the end of your paper. Bibliography (and endnotes, if you use them) do not count towards the word limit

Reminders: •Remember that writing is a social act: you write in order to share your ideas. Always provide all the information your readers need to follow your arguments and understand your thesis. Readers cannot “read your mind”, they can only read what you put in writing, so lay out your trail of thought fully and with clarity in your paper. •Keep in mind the audience of your essay (besides the instructor and the grading TAs): the prompt asks you to write an exhibition review for a general public, to encourage them to visit the museum and gain an understanding of the exhibition. You have to use clear language and provide all necessary information to somebody without prior knowledge of the material. •Do not copy-paste text from the powerpoints. You are expected to discuss the material in your own words.