Select a work of art from the museum visit and analyze it
The Museum Report is a research paper and should be 3-‐5 pages in length. Students should select a
work of art (must correspond to the movements discussed in this course) from the museum visit
and analyze it, forming a well thought out research, consideration and reflection/ideas / etc. of the chosen work of art. This initial analysis and consideration is further informed, enhanced and elaborated on by conducting scholarly research on it. You are expected to discuss the history, culture, Formalistic aspects, symbolism, meaning, style, and significance of the work of art.
CONTENT: 1) You must have an introduction, introducing your subject and stating the purpose of your
paper; 2) a summary of your research findings and your ideas or reflections in the body of your paper; 3)
end with a conclusion (this means, wrap it up! and include any of your closing comments). Always
include information that you have learned from the lectures and the assigned readings, and don’t forget to properly cite quotes used in your paper.
Do consult the library for your research, as well as proper formatting guidelines, including how to
compose a bibliography. In addition, you may be assisted by conducting on-‐line research, including
academic journals and arts magazines. However, be aware of always recording and listing the source of
your citation with name of the author, title of the article and date. Downloading information from the
internet without proper citation constitutes plagiarism. Also, make sure your online sources are
scholarly and academic. Wikipedia is not a suitable, academic source.
Bibliographical references must be included to demonstrate the sources you have consulted.
Remember, this is a research paper, so conduct research on the art movement, style, artist, the artwork,
and to include the formalist aspects of art object, etc. In short, everything that informs the artwork and
provides content and context for it. At minimum you should have 3 strong academic references, and for
this, books would be preferable, and supplemented by online research. Illustrations should follow the
bibliography. A museum ticket stub or other form of proof must be submitted with your paper. This
must all be stapled together.
The assignment requires a close consideration of a work of art of your choosing. You will combine your
perfected formal analysis with discussion based on research on the work’s meaning, background, and
place in a contemporary context. Good art historical research and writing should balance close analysis
of, and sensitivity to, the form, style, and technique of works of art; symbolism; exegesis (or critical explanation or interpretation), or attention to the work’s many meanings; and social history (an attempt to explain how and why these works can be seen as products of a particular time and place). A central question to ask is
why is a work contemporary, or of its time, and why is it a product only of that time?
To that end, it is necessary to try to situate the artwork and artist in the various contexts (artistic,
cultural, historical, personal) from which they emerged. You must be rigorous and disciplined in finding,
evaluating, and citing the evidence for your research and your discussion.
Evaluation. What am I looking for? I want you to select and frame a work of art (or two – to compare
and contrast) that can be handled in a short paper. Your research should bolster and encourage you to
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make some of your own discoveries and conclusions: this is not simply a report on what you have read,
but a presentation of your own thesis (ideas – statement – stance – interpretation) based on what you
have learned so far, your museum experience and personal observations, your research and subsequent further analysis of the artwork. I want
clear, well-‐written papers that reflect your own findings, voice, and organization. The criteria judged
include the following:
How do you address the topic?
Creativity and innovation in approach is always appreciated.
How well and how clearly do you present your subject matter and lead into your paper in the
introduction?
How well did you place the work(s) in an historical context?
If you decided to compare and contrast (2) works of art, how successfully did you compare the two
works of art and how successfully did you identify their points of departure. Discuss both in an art
historical and social context as well as all formal elements.
How clearly, sharply, and freshly do you analyze works and ideas?
How far and successfully do you advance into the basic art historical concerns of connoisseurship
(specialized vocabulary), exegesis, and social history?
How well, clearly, and smoothly do you write?
How do you order sentences? Paragraphs? Sections?
Are your transitions between sections smooth and helpful?
Is your work grammatical?
Do you use correct quotation, foot-‐ or endnote, and bibliographical forms?
Have you proofread the paper and checked all spellings?
Parameters:
The Museum reports needs to be 4‐5 pages long, properly formatted. You may chose formatting: MLA,
APA, Chicago, etc.
For this assignment: After choosing an artwork or two, take time to observe it, spend time looking at it,
take down any notes available at the museum or literature of the artwork. Then, begin the process of
conducting research. This will entail the use of the internet and the library. Do consult the library on
research techniques and database research. Then you will write a brief report of the findings (tell me
about it). Very important is that you include your own interpretations, ideas, perspective or conclusions
about the artwork. Be thoughtful, thorough, don’t be afraid to delve deep into the subject mater and
embrace curiosity. Also, write about your overall experience at the museum. In other words, I want to
hear your own voice in the report.
Paper must be typed: 12″ font (using an appropriate font)
Margins: 1″ margins all around
Double spaced
Pages should be numbered and stapled
Report should have a cover page that includes: Student name, date, course title, and assignment title
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