Art Criticism Assignment #1

Gary Winogrand, Untitled

Page last updated: 27 January, 2007

Due dates

Topic choice: Your discussion section meeting during the week of February 12
Draft: Your discussion section meeting during the week of February 19
Final draft:Your discussion section meeting during the week of February 26

Please NOTE: Your final draft must be handed in as follows:

1. to turnitin: this is due the same day your final draft is due. Please submit the turnitin receipt that verifies you successfully uploaded your paper to this service. Information about submitting your paper to turnitin is available under the "Content" menu of d2l.

2. as a hard copy, with a photo or drawing of the work about which you've written AND the draft that was peer edited and signed by the person who edited it (please make sure the signature is legible). You will not be able to take photographs in most museums and galleries: you will have to either draw the work in question or find it on the internet or in a book or magazine.

Project Description

In a three to four page (700-1,000 words), typed, double-spaced paper, write about a work of art FROM THE LIST given to you by your discussion instructor. The list will come from the following exhibit:

• Human Interest: Photoessays from the Collection , an exhibition of narrative photojournalism at the Center for Creative Photography, on campus, hours Monday-Friday 9-5; Saturday and Sunday 12-5; admission free. The exhibit opens February 9. Please note that you must write about one of the photos on the list given to you by your discussion instructor. Essays written about other photos in the exhibit will not be accepted.
• Figuratively Speaking, an exhibition of paintings and photographs at Etherton Gallery, 135 S. 6th Ave. (just south of Broadway), hours T-Sa 11-5 (open until 7 on Thursdays); admission free. The exhibit is open until January 9-March 17. Again, please note that you must write about one of the artworks on the list given to you by your discussion instructor. Essays written about other artworks in the exhibit will not be accepted.

Your paper should interpret the work (i.e. derive meaning from it) by incorporating:

• an introductory paragraph in which you identify the thesis you will argue
• formal analysis of the art work
• analysis of the content (subject matter, symbols, and iconography)
• contexts of the art work (artist's context [such as other work the artist has made, what you can find out about the artist, etc.], relevant social context of when the work was made, context of where it is or has been exhibited, relevant contemporary context(s)
• an interpretation of the work that incorporates your voice and thoughts
• a conclusion to bring your paper to a close

Each of these areas should be discussed in terms of the interpretation you are building. The areas do not have to be in the order given, but should be clearly present. Your personal interpretation incorporating your voice and thoughts should be supported by the formal elements, the content, and the contexts. We suggest that you write at least several sentences, or a paragraph, on each of these areas.

Your paper should begin with an introductory paragraph in which you introduce the thesis, or main focus of your interpretation. In this paragraph also note the name of the artist and the artwork, date and current location of the work, and other information appropriate for an introduction to your paper.

Be sure to describe the main points of what you see in the art work. Your visual description should be accurate enough that a person unable to see the art work can form a mental picture of it from your description.

Please don't forget to give a title to your essay that is relevant to the content.

Include a conclusion to your paper in which you draw together what you have said about the artwork.

We suggest that your paper be organized as follows:

• Introduction to the work and the thesis you'll follow in your interpretation
• Description of the work (subject matter, medium, elements and principles of design as they support the thesis you are arguing)
• Interpretation and analysis of the work, supported by what you've seen and what you know about art, the context of the work, and your understanding
• Conclusions or final summary comments

Writing points

Your essay must be:

• typed
• double-spaced
• have a title

Writing about art is not the same as writing a scientific lab report. Your paper should not be an artist biography. It should be a well developed, thematic interpretation that is supported by what you see, have researched, and know or understand and feel. Writing about art can be thought of as an art in itself, in which the use of language counts. In other words, be interesting to read, but write well and develop your ideas well.

Please review spelling, grammar, and formatting! Refer to the grammar page developed from common college student writing errors.

Do not plagiarize

Be sure to credit the ideas of other writers! You may research the photographer's work, the photograph you have chosen, the era, or any other aspect you write about, but do not steal someone else's words or ideas! Credit them with an in-text citation and put that source in your reference list at the end of the paper (please see the grammar link for examples).

From the University of Arizona’s Code of Academic Integrity: "Integrity is expected of every student in all academic work. The guiding principle of academic integrity is that a student's submitted work must be the student's own. This principle is furthered by the student Code of Conduct and disciplinary procedures established by ABOR Policies 5-308 - 5-403, all provisions of which apply to all University of Arizona students." The Code of Academic Integrity, as well as other UA policies and procedures, can be found by going to: http://studpubs.web.arizona.edu/policies/cacaint.htm

Writing Help

Everyone can use an editor! Please use The Writing Center! It is free. For more information, please see the link.

W. Eugene Smith, from Spanish Village series, 1950

Grading

This paper counts 5 or 10% of your final grade, depending on which option you choose for calculating your grade (please see the class syllabus, grading section).

Your paper will be evaluated on:

• development of a supported and cohesive interpretation (using formal analysis, analysis of content and contexts, and your own ideas)
• success in "pointing" your readers towards looking closer at the art
• use of material learned in class and through readings
• literary merit: writing syle, grammar, punctuation

Meeting deadlines

Please note that we must enforce the following policies:

• late papers will not be accepted without prior approval of your discussion section instructor
• late papers that are accepted will be marked down as follows: one full letter grade for each class meeting (both lecture and discussion section meetings count) that the paper is late
• failure to hand in the draft of the paper (this includes missing discussion section on the day it is due) will automatically deduct 10% from your final grade, unless you have a written excuse to document illness or emergency.

Page location: http://www.arts.arizona.edu/are130/files/crit1.htm