Posted: February 25th, 2015

Using the “How Do We Talk About Art?” section of the Introduction chapter of our text, identify and discuss 5 formal elements of art in detail, for each work

book- art across time vol 1 prehistory of the fourteenth century 4th ed. by laurie schnider adams

Assignment Topic:

You are required to view an original piece of art in your area and compare/contrast it to an ancient work from your text. Please note: If a museum is not available, try your public library, local community college, or an art gallery for sculptures, parks for statues, or government buildings for paintings. Also, don’t forget that architecture is an art form. Look around for a church or an interesting building. Art is everywhere!! This paper will be completed based on skills you have gained in this course and information from the Introduction chapter of our text.

Address the following in your paper:

1) Identification – Provide Identifying details for each work (10 points = 5 points for each work):
•Artist: Who was the artist?
•Title of the work: What is the title of the work?
•Date: When was the work created?
•Media: How/with what was the work created?
•Location: Where is the work from your area displayed? For the work from your text, tell where it is exhibited/stored.

2) Description – What does each work look like? (100 points = 50 points for each work):
•Describe the subject matter of each work, in detail.
•Using the “How Do We Talk About Art?” section of the Introduction chapter of our text, identify and discuss 5 formal elements of art in detail, for each work. For instance, don’t just tell me there were lines in the work, tell me what kind (straight, curved, horizontal, diagonal, thick, thin, implied, etc.) and tell me how they affect the composition.

3) Compare and Contrast the two works (70 points):

How are the works similar and how are they different? Discuss such things as subject, message, purpose (aesthetic, social commentary, propaganda, etc.), color palette, medium, technique, size of work, and effectiveness of the works.

Important Guidelines:

Format:
•Organize this material into a 4-5 page paper.
•The paper should be double-spaced with a 1” margin and type size should not exceed 12 pts.
•Art History, as a discipline, utilizes the MLA style.

Sources:
•Always cite your sources!
•Please read the document, “Important-Tips to Avoid Plagiarism” located in the Content section.