For A-plus Writer

Foundations of Modern Art: Museum Report Requirements

Due: May 6th, 2015

60 points (Late papers will be marked down 10%)

· Document your sources, both in a bibliography and in the essay.

· Does clarity of writing count? Yes, of course it does!

Objective:

Visiting an art museum is an enjoyable experience ( The main objective is for you to view artworks in person. Describe and analyze what you view in a clearly written essay, demonstrating knowledge gained in class.

I. Visit one of the museums listed below.

Phone ahead or check the museum’s website for days, hours, prices, parking information and directions.

· J. Paul Getty Museum Center: 1200 Getty Center Drive, Los Angeles.

· Norton Simon Museum of Art: 411 West Colorado Blvd., Pasadena.

· Los Angeles County Museum of Art (LACMA): 5905 Wilshire Blvd., LA

· Huntington Library, Art Galleries and Botanical Gardens:

1151 Oxford Road, San Marino.

II. View the European Early Modern Collections,

(Late 18th - 19th century Neo-Classicism through Post-Impressionism)

III. Write a 3-page report (typed, double-spaced, with a cover page and staple) on what you have viewed. Organize your report in the following manner:

Title Page:

Museum

Your name

Art 311

Date

Instructor’s name

Staple your museum ticket to your essay. If the museum does not have a ticket (example, the Getty Center), ask an employee at the information desk for proof of your visit.

Paragraph 1:

Introduce your topic, including the name of the museum you visited, its city and the date of your visit. Describe your overall impression of the museum, including the architecture, environment and collections.

Paragraph 2:

Discuss your initial impression of the European Early Modern Collections area (late 18th-19th century art). If late 18th-19th century American Art is displayed at this museum, discuss that area, too. Note the exhibition design (how the artwork is displayed). Highlight what impressed you (positively or negatively) regarding the exhibition design. Are the spaces well designed for the display of these important works? Consider lighting, spacing, wall color, crowd control, frames, labeling, and overall display.

Paragraph 3:

Note your overall impression of the Early Modern Art Collections (European, and possibly American). Briefly mention a few Early Modern artworks. Include the name of the artist, the title, century and medium). Don’t simply list the works; explain what about these works makes them most interesting to you. How do these works relate to what we have been studying in class?

Paragraphs 4 and 5:

Choose one favorite work from the European or American Early Modern Collection to analyze in detail. Be sure to choose a late 18th-19th century artwork by an artist listed on the Art 311 Slide List.

1. Identify the work by artist, title, medium, size and country-of-origin.

2. Describe the work in detail. Discuss the work both in terms of style and

content. (Style refers to what the work looks like. Content refers to the

meaning of the work, as expressed through the subject matter and

iconography.) What made you choose this particular work?

3. Apply appropriate terms and concepts that we have been studying in

class.

4. What was the artist’s (and perhaps patron’s) intent?

Paragraph 6: Conclusion

1. Note your personal opinions regarding the museum, its collections and

your chosen artwork. What was your overall impression of the

museum and your visit?

2. Note the website address of the museum. How did your museum visit compare to the website?

Final Page: Cite your sources!

This is not a research paper. I want your impressions of what you viewed, not an art-historian’s research. However, when you obtain information from the museum plaques, docents, website, catalog or from any other source (including your textbook or class lectures), you must note the source in both the body of your essay (parenthetical notation is OK) and in a Works Cited page at the end of your essay. Use the MLA format to cite your sources. Not citing ones sources is a type of plagiarism. If you do not cite your sources, you will receive no credit (a grade of zero) for your report.