ART HISTORY #2 . 6
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ThesisandoutlineinfoARHF20.pptxRESEARCH Paper Thesis and Outline
Art History
How to create a thesis and outline?
Read through your sources (E-books and articles) and write down important information as well as their arguments.
Take another look at your artwork and position yourself in relation to your authors’ arguments. Do you agree or disagree?
Come up with your CLAIM about your artwork
Create a list of formal characteristics that support your claim (formal analysis)
Create a list of iconographical characteristics that support your claim (iconography)
Create a list of iconological facts that support your claim (iconology)
Create your thesis and outline in the format on the following slides
RESEARCH PAPER OUTLINE
INTRODUCTION – THESIS PARAGRAPH
1. Formal Analysis - Description and contextualization of the works in your own words
2 Iconography – Explain meaning of your work
3. Iconology/Synthesis - Thesis of paper: SO WHAT factor
Your outline
INTRODUCTION – THESIS. Write a one-sentence thesis.
1. Formal Analysis - Description and contextualization of the works in your own words
Bullet point those aspects of formal analysis that are most important (i.e., use of color, line, composition, etc.)
2 Iconography –
Bullet point aspects of the work that reveal its meaning
3. Iconology/Synthesis
Bullet point your thesis
More on thesis statements
A thesis statement is an assertion/claim, not a statement of fact or an observation.
Fact or observation: There was a lot of religious art in the 16th century.
Thesis: The Catholic Church was a major patron of the 16th century, thus driving the subject matter to be religious in nature.
A thesis takes a stand rather than announcing a subject.
Announcement: The thesis of this paper is the difficulty being a woman artist through time.
Thesis: There are less women artists throughout western history because they did not have the same educational opportunities.
A thesis is the main idea, not the title. It must be a complete sentence that explains in some detail what you expect to write about.
Title: Pop Art and the Anti-War movement
Thesis: The Pop Art of the 1960s reacted visually to the anti-war sentiments of the United States.
A thesis statement is narrow and specific, rather than broad and/or vague. If the thesis statement is sufficiently narrow, it can be fully supported.
Vague: Norman Rockwell’s illustrations were popular.
Specific: Norman Rockwell’s illustrations reflected 1940s cultural concerns about the American nuclear family.
A thesis statement has one main point rather than several main points. More than one point may be too difficult for the reader to understand and the writer to support.
More than one main point: Alfred Stieglitz was instrumental in developing an appreciation of photography as fine art, and was also key in promoting Georgia O’Keeffe’s career.
One Main point: Alfred Stieglitz was instrumental in developing an appreciation of photography as fine art.
THESIS STATEMENT AND OUTLINE
The Taj Mahal’s visual extravagance is an expression of political domination at the court of Shah Jahan.
FORMAL ANALYSIS
Multiplicity of shape; pattern
Color of materials
Scale of structure
Play of light and shadow on structure
Mausoleum within the context of entire planned complex
ICONOGRAPHY
Related to identity of Nur Jahan
Visual Complexity – Islamic ideals of spiritual expression
Geometric perfection as expression of religious belief
Taj Mahal as connection between heavens and earth
Iconography of color of materials
ICONOLOGY
Political structure of the court of Shah Jahan
Spread of Islam into India
Courtly marriages and relationships in Mughal Empire
The Shah as power broker
Conceptions of romantic love in Mughal Empire
The Taj Mahal’s visual extravagance is an expression of political domination at the court of Shah Jahan.
FORMAL ANALYSIS
· Multiplicity of shape; pattern
· Color of materials
· Scale of structure
· Play of light and shadow on structure
· Mausoleum within the context of entire planned complex
ICONOGRAPHY
· Related to identity of Nur Jahan
· Visual Complexity – Islamic ideals of spiritual expression
· Geometric perfection as expression of religious belief
· Taj Mahal as connection between heavens and earth
· Iconography of color of materials
ICONOLOGY
· Political structure of the court of Shah Jahan
· Spread of Islam into India
· Courtly marriages and relationships in Mughal Empire
· The Shah as power broker
· Conceptions of romantic love in Mughal Empire
