Art 12 Essay's in Term 1

As art 12 students you need to demonstrate that you can describe and assess art and discuss it in a clear and logical fashion. Essay structures are designed to create clear and logical arguements. Thus, please discuss an art work in depth and construct an arguement about it from one of these two topics:

Essay #1: Art and Institutions of Power

Art works made during the Middle Ages and the Renaissance were created, at least in part, to serve the objectives of the dominant institution(s) of their day (e.g. the Roman Catholic Church).

Selecting an artwork, space, or monument from the Renaissance or the Middle Ages, explain how the work's aesthetics (form), symbols, and overall content served a particular agenda.

See Example (5mb /.doc format .. missing title page)

Essay #2: Art as proponant for struggle and change.

Referencing an art work from the Neo-Classical, Romanticist, or Realist era, demonstrate how an artwork can act as a timeless metaphor for a particular struggle. This can be done by using the artwork as a metaphor for a contemporary struggle. E.g. the Raft of Medussa as a metaphor for the plight of those suffering from AIDS in Africa.

This project may necessitiate that you make yourself educated in the art work's meaning and the conemporary issue you explore.

See example of a well written Essay:

-->Essay topic 2: Example 1, Example 2

Click here for a good comparitive essay structure.

 

Essay Form:

  • To be an essa, you need to follow a specifically worded thesis (A thesis is the point you aim to prove in your essay body). This may begin by stating the agenda, the instution, and the art work.
  • Your essay's body should comprise of three parts. Each part and its subparts only exist to defend the thesis -- no more, no less. Anything that doesn't do this is lint. Conversly, if there is a point you elude to in your thesis, there should be clear evidence backing it in your essay's body. Thus, in this instance, the body might address 1. the institution and its agenda 2. evidence from the artwork's form 3. evidence from the artwork's content
  • The essay body is not where the evidence is interpreted.. save your insights for the conclusion But do give us an indepth conclusion. Your insights and interpretations based on evidence is most important here.. The essay body needs to be completely free of your bias.
  • Conclusions... This is the best part. this is where your voice and authority should shine through. Please make good use of it. The aim of a conclusion is to tie up the evidence and point to how it proves the assertions made in the thesis. This is where the evidence is interpreted and implications are drawn out. Put your best thoughts in here.
  • length ~1000 words with citations & figures (images)

Your evidence needs to be defended with:

  • Footnotes or endnotes (MLA or APA.. your choice, just be clear and consistent)
  • Illustrations / figures / pictures: If you ever meantion an artwork, there should be a colourplate included in your essay that illustrates your point.

See criteria for your essay format and referencing artwork here

Use this resource for analysing art works

See assessment rubric here


Resources:

  • how to look at art handout
  • Introduction on pg X in annotated ML
  • Handout and links to image and reference citations.
  • Library

Essay Strategies

Writing about art:

In term one, you are to write at least 3 short (1000-1500 word) essays, each on a visual artist who demonstrates excellence (see links for names).

The objective of this paper is for you to gain a critical understanding of the art work, creative process, or impact of particular figures from art history while also strengthening your ability to write clearly and logically.

When you write your paper, tell your audience of the artist's aesthetic achievements, impact on society or art, and/or their creative process. Describe the aesthetic attributes of at least one, but ideally three of their art works. You might also discuss their role in a particular art movement while enlightening your reader of the movement's nature. Her biography is not too important, but it can be added if it fits the thesis statement (not to exceed a paragraph).

Each paper is to:

have a thesis statement and a body that ONLY aims to support the statement

  • be typed, 2X spaces

  • include a title page

  • clear from poor spelling and grammar

  • have numbered pages

  • included properly labeled images

  • include footnotes and a bibliography (APA or MLA)

  • use printed resources (books and journals) more than web sites for references. Web sites are not often credible resources. Acadia University has an exceptional library. Get to know it!

  •  

    Example of a well written paper is here!

     Labeling an art work:

    Figure 1: Tom Thomson (1877-1917). Northern River, 1914-15.
    Oil on canvas, 115.1 x 102 cm.

     

     Example of referring to art work in a sentence:

    As exemplified in in Northern River (Figure 1), Thomson offers us a voyeuristic view of the wilderness.

     

    Italicize or underline titles of art works.

       
       

      in a bibliography, an article would be listed as:

    HANSSEN, BEATRICE, Christo's Wrapped Reichstag: Globalized Art in a National Context.. Vol. 73, The Germanic Review, 09-22-1998, pp 351(1).