Humanities Homework Help

PAPER ASSIGNMENT:

Complete assignments that will lead up to a formal visual analysis of a work of art experienced in the museum. Using information provided by the museum (website, catalogues, curatorial files), the knowledge gained from lectures and the text, and research using multiple scholarly sources (available to access online—check out museum websites and the BMCC library’s resources), you will complete the assignment below. You may choose any artwork/object currently on display as long as it falls within the general periods/regions that will be covered in class. This is anything prior to 1400. Nothing after 1400 (like Impressionist paintings) will be accepted. If writing about Islamic art any time period is acceptable. If writing about African art you may select something up to 1600.

The final document you submit for grading should be a typed essay. The paper should be in standard format: Times New Roman, 12pt. font, double spaced, 1-inch margins. You MUST supply at least one clear image of the chosen artwork. The paper should be about four to five pages long, not including images, citations, and bibliography. Papers may be written in English or Spanish. 

Introduction: 

You will write an introduction identifying the object you have chosen from the museum galleries. In this paper you will explain why you chose the object, you will summarize its known function and iconography, and provide provenance. 

Description: 

You will write a description of your object. Consider how specific you need to be describing the object you have chosen to make sure the reader can get an understanding of it. Begin with a general overview of the composition and then provide specific description of the visual elements. This is to train your eyes to notice the details and develop the ability to write a complete yet concise paper. 

Visual Analysis: 

You will utilize individual research (minimum of 3 scholarly sources beyond the text, lecture notes, and museum information) to write a visual analysis on your object: a paper on context and content. For this paper, you will come to an opinion on the following to help organize your paper: does this object fit its function and its period style (does its look match the reason it was made and the typical characteristics of style for the period and/or culture in which it was made)? You will utilize research and observation skills to identify aspects of the period style, the artist’s style, technique, materials, known function, iconography, and provenance.

Bibliography and Grammar: 

You will be graded on grammar, spelling, and sentence structure, so please proofread, and also proper citation of sources used for research. Research the specific artwork and/or artist. Your bibliography must contain at least one book other than your textbook and one article (it may be an article found online, like through the Met’s Timeline of Art History). These could be referencing any and all information pertaining to the specific artwork, the artists, or the period/culture in which it was created. Your bibliography MUST be formatted properly—do an internet search to see how to do this!This art analysis form will help guide you through looking at the particular artwork you choose. It is important to explain in as much detail as possible to all the questions in order to give a complete representation of the work you’ve selected. This form should be filled out while you are looking at the work. You may use additional paper/space if need be. 

The final document you submit for grading should be a typed ESSAY version of your answers—not a question-and-answer form. The paper should be in standard format: Times New Roman, 12pt. font, double spaced, 1-inch margins. You MUST supply at least one clear image of the chosen artwork—preferably one you take of the work at the museum, and preferably multiple images with details. You MUST attach an image of your dated ticket stub/receipt from the museum as proof of your visit, or include a selfie with your object. Papers should be about five pages long and may be written in English or Spanish. 

You may choose any artwork/object currently on display as long as it falls within the general periods/regions that will be covered in class. This is anything prior to 1400. Nothing after 1400 (like Impressionist paintings) and nothing outside of New York City (like the Parthenon) will be accepted.

1. DESCRIBE

Any analysis of art begins simply by listing the general information about the artwork, which you should copy directly from the information card nearest the work—usually on the wall or on the base or stand of a sculpture. If any of the information is not provided, simply skip that part.

Artist’s name: 

Artist’s nationality/region the work is from: 

Artist’s birth/death dates: 

Title and date of work: 

Dimensions (measurements, size): 

Medium (materials used): 

Location of work (name of museum/gallery/collection): 

Info/Brief description given by museum (This may or may not be present on the card, if it is present, please copy it here):

2. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF WORK

Describe in precise detail the physical characteristics of the artwork as you see it. You are only describing exactly what you see, not providing information on history, meaning, etc. Start with the general description of the overall image, and then be very specific and describe every aspect of the work—no detail is too small! If there is a figure in the work, do not simply write there is a figure. Describe hair, facial features, expression, pose, clothing, etc. If the work is a sculpture and there is a crack in the material, describe it as well in detail and location. You should describe the work as if you are describing it to a blind person!