Art and Humanities final paper

FAS 202: Final Project: Analysis Paper Guidelines and Rubric

Overview The art history analysis paper will assess your knowledge of great works of Western art and culture and, in particular, your ability to think critically and contextually about the arts. Through comparing and contrasting two pieces of art, you will evaluate how two works with similar themes or subject matter can express very different styles, contexts, and cultural meanings. In the art history analysis paper, you will communicate ideas regarding Western art and culture from the Baroque through the contemporary periods using the specialized vocabulary explored within the fine arts and humanities content learned throughout the course. While the primary goal of this paper is not research, you are strongly encouraged to consult a few quality research sources to assist you in identifying your works and analyze their styles and historical contexts. Please see the Course Resources folder for suggestions on which sources to consult. This assessment will assess your mastery with respect to the following course outcomes:

 Obtain knowledge of great works of Western art and culture (art, architecture, music)

 Be able to analyze works of art in terms of subject matter and style

 Be able to communicate ideas about art using the appropriate vocabulary in both written and oral formats The project is divided into two milestones, which will be submitted at various points throughout the course to incorporate feedback and ensure quality final submissions. These milestones will be submitted in Module Three and Module Five. The final paper will be submitted in Module Seven. You will select two different works of art from two different time periods or style movements from the Baroque through the contemporary periods. The two works should have some common elements (such as subject matter, theme, or visual structure). Include at least one image of each work on the first page of your paper, before you start writing your introduction. If possible, provide multiple images of your chosen pieces (from websites and online sources), with different angles or views. In the paper, you will address how the style, theme, and meanings of a work of art relate to its various contexts (historical, social, political, philosophical, artistic, etc.). You will also examine the ways in which the style of an artwork affects the way it looks, and address how each piece expresses the visual features, formal elements, and thematic concerns of its particular style movement.

Recommended Resources:

The Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York Museum of Fine Arts, Boston Philadelphia Museum of Art National Gallery of Art, Washington D.C. The Louvre, Paris The Prado Museum, Madrid The Rijksmuseum, Amsterdam The National Gallery, London

The British Museum, London

The following critical elements must be included and addressed: Five Simple Steps

I. Craft an introduction that gives your reader the WHAT and the WHY. a) What? What are you comparing? What are you contrasting? Your introduction will include information about both works, indicating as fully as

possible the following: i. Identify the name of the artist and name or title of each of the works of art you have selected (keep in mind that these pieces need to

be from two different time or style periods covered in this course). ii. Identify the style movement or period of time and the closest date for each work of art selected for the analysis paper.

iii. Identify the location and origin of the selected works of art you have chosen to analyze. b) Why? Defend your chosen topic by explaining why the two pieces should be compared (in terms of their significance to the time period, the

cultural and historical context of the work[s], or the importance of the works to the development of art). What do you hope your readers will gain through your comparison?

II. Include a brief background and analysis of the works.

In the body of your paper, as you compare and contrast the works, make sure to provide the following information for each work of art: a) How does this work relate to its style movement and historical context? b) How does the piece express the visual and thematic features of its style period? c) Support your ideas with your objective observations on the work and what it reveals about the style movement and time period in which it was

created.

III. Compare and contrast the works. a) Identify the visual similarities and differences between the two works. b) Explain why the similarities and differences are important and how they relate to the style movements of the pieces. This section should expand

and refine what you included in your structured draft (Milestone Two). Your analysis should reflect further understanding of key course concepts and language used in the analysis of art history and the humanities.

IV. Include a brief reflection on your study of the humanities through your analysis.

a) How does your analysis reflect your own study of the humanities? What did you learn about yourself, other cultures, and other time periods through the study of these artistic artifacts?

b) How can the study of visual art, music, architecture, and other art forms help you in your own professional field or in your personal life? What is the value of humanities to you?

V. Sign off with a strong conclusion.

Use your conclusion to revisit what you have illustrated throughout your paper about the significance of your analysis and make a strong statement that emphasizes your main thesis and sums up your response to these two works.

Milestones Milestone One: Topic Proposal In Module Three, you will submit your topic proposal via the Discussion Board. After looking through the images in our MindEdge text and/or recommended resources, including the Web Gallery of Art, propose your topic, and post images of your two proposed pieces. Please keep in mind that you need to select two works of visual art from two different time periods or style movements. Lastly, your works must be selected from one of the style movements beginning with the Baroque and ending with the contemporary period. Once you have fully identified the two pieces (the complete identifications of the works), you also need to justify your topic by explaining why the two pieces should be compared. You may wish to consult the MindEdge resource on Writing About the Humanities, located in the Final Project section of the course, in preparation for this and other milestones. This milestone is graded with the Milestone One Rubric. Milestone Two: Structured Draft In Module Five, you will submit a structured draft. The prompt for this essay will help you begin identifying, contextualizing, and comparatively analyzing your two pieces of art. This essay is crucial to your success on the final paper because it will provide your instructor the opportunity to give you detailed, constructive feedback on your preliminary ideas. The feedback and suggestions you receive on this essay can then be incorporated into your final paper. This milestone is graded with the Milestone Two Rubric. Final Submission: Analysis Paper In Module Seven, you will submit your analysis paper. It should be a complete, polished artifact containing all of the critical elements of the final product. It should reflect the incorporation of feedback gained throughout the course. This submission will be graded using the Final Project Rubric.

Final Project Rubric Guidelines for Submission: Submissions should be 3 to 5 pages in length (approximately 700 to 1,500 words), not counting the title page, image page, and list of works cited. Make sure the paper is double-spaced and uses 12-point type in a simple typeface such as T imes New Roman or Calibri. The paper should be written in MLA style. Any information taken from another source should indicate the author and page number in parentheses (MindEdge 72), directly next to the information in the paper, and then the complete reference should be included in the bibliography. This project uses an integrated rubric in Blackboard. To view the integrated rubric in Blackboard, navigate to the final submission item, click on the title, and then click the “View Rubric” button. For more information, review these instructions. Instructor Feedback: Students can find their feedback in the Grade Center.

Critical Elements Exemplary (100%) Proficient (85%) Needs Improvement (55%) Not Evident (0%) Value

Introduction and Identification

Accurately identifies both works of art and presents main idea behind selection of these works with rich details and appropriate research sources

Accurately identifies both works of art and clearly presents main idea behind selection of these works with some specific details

Identifies both works of art with many accurate details and offers main idea behind selection of these works, but additional details are required to support idea

Does not accurately or sufficiently identify Baroque to the contemporary visual works or offer main idea behind selection

10

Background Analysis

Meets “Proficient” criteria and the information provided is supported by appropriate research and course-related vocabulary

Historical background information provided assists the reader to interpret the works of art and suggests how the information relates to its context in terms of subject matter. Describes how the visual appearance of the artwork reflects or expresses the larger qualities, elements, or features of its particular style movement

Historical background information provided insufficiently assists the reader in interpreting the works of art and/or insufficiently identifies how the information relates to its context in terms of subject matter. Partially describes how the visual appearance of the artwork reflects or expresses the larger qualities, elements, or features of its particular style movement

Does not provide historic background information for the reader, nor does the submission identify how information relates to its context in terms of subject matter and/or does not determine how the visual appearance of the artwork reflects or expresses the larger qualities, elements, or features of its particular style movement

20

Comparison

Compares variety of aspects between the two works in rich detail to illustrate how the works’ respective historical, cultural, stylistic, and/or philosophical contexts are connected to one another

Compares variety of aspects between the two works to illustrate how the works’ respective historical, cultural, stylistic, and/or philosophical contexts are connected to one another

Some comparison exists between the two works to illustrate how the works’ respective historical, cultural, stylistic, and/or philosophical contexts are connected to one another

Comparison does not address two Baroque to the contemporary works to illustrate how respective historical, cultural, stylistic, and/or philosophical contexts are connected to one another

20

Contrast Contrasts variety of aspects

between the two works in rich detail to illustrate the striking differences between the works despite the similarity in their respective historical, cultural, stylistic, and/or philosophical contexts

Contrasts variety of aspects between the two works to illustrate the striking differences between the works despite the similarity in their respective historical, cultural, stylistic, and/or philosophical contexts

Contrasts some aspects between the two works to illustrate the differences between the works despite the similarity in their respective historical, cultural, stylistic, and/or philosophical contexts

Contrast does not address two Baroque to the contemporary works and/or is unclear and does not illustrate the differences between the works

20

Reflection Meets “Proficient” criteria, and reflection is substantiated by course materials or other sources that document the importance of the humanities and/or artistic analysis

Provides a thoughtful and detailed reflection on how the study of the humanities relates to one’s personal life and/or professional field

Does not fully address the personal importance of studying the humanities

Does not include a reflection on the study of the humanities

20

Writing Mechanics Submission is free of errors related to citations, grammar, spelling, syntax, and organization, and is presented in a professional and easy-to- read format

Submission includes only minor errors related to citations, grammar, spelling, syntax, and organization, which do not impact readability and articulation of main ideas

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

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

10

Earned Total 100%