ART 102-01
-- Introduction to Art: Renaissance to Modern
--
Some Typical Paper Assignments
paper on painting
paper on sculpture
paper on architecture
permanent
operating instructions
compositionThis is an exercise in visual analysis, not a research paper. Much more important than choosing something you like or find interesting from a book is engaging with a REAL painting, however uninteresting you find it.
spatial organization
line
color
brushstroke
overall compositionThis is an exercise in visual analysis, not a research paper. I do not need to know anything about the person depicted. Look and think -- don't read.
disposition of mass & void [positive & negative space]
materials
surface treatment
Come to some conclusion about the sculptures effectiveness in fulfilling its function as a depiction -- in other words, the interaction between the sculpture as object and as person.
Some suggested sculptures:
Elizabeth Blackwell in the Quadback to top of page
the statue in Pulteney Park -- Main Street at Park Place [note -- she is not called "the Lady of the Lake" and especially not "Our Lady of the Lake"]
funerary sculptures in the cemetery
If you think of something else you'd like to write about (in or out of Geneva), just ask first. If you are going to write about something I cant go look at before I grade it you must bring me a photograph or postcard. You must take notes in front of the object, so no choosing something you saw this summer.
siteYou will also produce two drawings, an elevation and a simplified site plan, in addition to the written text. These drawings will be graded for their demonstration of your understanding of the building, not their quality as drawing.
basic shapes
elevation
plan
Come to some conclusion about the buildings effectiveness in fulfilling its public functions.
some suggested Medieval Revival buildings:warning:
This is an exercise in visual analysis, not a research paper. I do not need to know when the building was built, what style someone else says it is, or who owns it now. Look and think -- don't read.
First Presbyterian Church, Park Placesome suggested Classical Revival buildings:
Trinity Episcopal Church, Main Street
St. John's Chapel (a hard one!)
St. Peter's Episcopal Church, Genesee Street
St. Stephen's Catholic Church, Pulteney Street
St. Francis de Sales Church, Exchange Street (whatever you do don't go inside!)
Coxe Hall
the President's House
a fraternity house with a classical facade (i.e., not the Chi Phi House)
the Geneva Post Office
local houses with classical colonnade porches
The best introduction is a simple identification by name and location in one sentence of the building which you intend to analyze. You do not need an elaborate introductory paragraph connecting this building to the entire history of art. For a conclusion, follow my suggestion above about the buildingís effectiveness in serving its evident purpose. These papers are very short - you will never need to say "as I stated earlier," or "as we saw above" in a conclusion or anywhere else.back to top of pageDo not over-praise or condemn the building - your role in this paper is not as judge, but as analyst -- donít claim this is a very beautiful building and donít tell me how it makes you feel. Tell me what the architect has done, how the architect has used the buildingís design to communicate with the visitor, not that it inspires the visitor with awe.
This is a formal paper. Do not use contractions. They count as mispellings.
Avoid dull passive verbs!!!!
The doorway is placed in the center of the facade.
Let the architect do the work of the sentence, which will force you to use an active verb:
The architect placed the entry in the center of the façade.Save yourself trouble -- avoid empty words and phrases and I wonít have to mark them out of your rough draft or take deduct from your final grade. A partial list:
unique
aesthetic
simplistic
"basic" if what you mean is "simple"
"a look of" -- the verb "look" is appropriate, however
Grade Distribution (before my comments on style)A - excellent analysis of the work of art showing thought beyond the assignment to engagement with the artist's decision-making process. Fluent expression, especially in the apt use of the technical terms of art history.Point Deduction Schedule:B - good analysis of the work of art and clear engagement with the assignment.
C- competent completion of the assignment, but no more. Many aspects of the assignment dealt with in one sentence.
D - partial completion of the assignment, without evidence of thought or analysis. Signs that you wrote about a photograph.
F - no sign of effort or engagement with a real object.
For each correction ofgrammar*,I will deduct 1/3 of a letter grade
spelling (including contractions),
word choice,
word usage,
and awkwardness of construction
*run ons and sentence fragments are penalized more heavily -- a full 1/3 of a letter grade for each occurence.That means that a paper to which I would have given an A will receive an A- for 3 mistakes, a B+ for six mistakes, a B for nine mistakes.
YOU WILL TURN IN YOUR ROUGH DRAFT WITH YOUR FINAL PAPER
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