HIST 211 Midterm Artwork Analysis Paper

 

[a] Art Work RL

The midterm assignment in all of my classes is pivotal in several senses of the term. Of course, the first thing students realize is that it is important—pivotal.  A solid chunk of the grade turns (pivots) on it. The next sense is even more significant, though. The midterm assignment is designed to encourage students to consider all of the work they have done in the first half of the course and to put it together in a midterm assignment that helps them to pivot to the second half of the course. For our course, the task of analyzing a work of art, both carefully and creatively, will form that pivotal foundation.
 

Drawing History and Culture
HIST 211
Midterm Assignment—Artwork Analysis

The Basics 

The assignment is very simple in terms of the basics. First, choose a work of art (broadly defined, which could range from a painting to a book to choosing the right "line" on a mountain bike descent). Do not be constrained by the term "art." Second, analyze it, using all of your writing skills and drawing skills. That's it—a six (minimum) to ten-page analysis of an art work with a half-dozen drawings.

 Preparation
Choose a work of art. In your notes (and sketches), look at it from as many different angles as you can. Then write an essay in which your opening paragraphs (about a page or so) introduces the "artwork." Follow that with analysis mixed with drawings. The goal is to have the reader appreciate the work, in much the same way that Nabokov does in his lectures (but with even more drawings).

Reminders 
1. This assignment is meant to tie together many elements of what you have learned up until now, both in terms of close reading, analysis, and drawing. 

[f] Forward RF

2. Don’t forget that I will be evaluating this assignment with the assumption that you are trying to explain these matters to “intelligent non-specialists.” That means that I do not want you to “skip” those portions that you might think I know. I want you to explain them. I want you to be the expert who is explaining these matters to someone who has not thought about your artwork (or even thought of it as a work of art).

3. Follow standard Chicago Manual of Style citation form, and use my writing guide as you proceed. This is a “formal” review essay, and the second section of the guide (grammar and style) guidelines should be followed closely.  

4. There should be a short bibliography of sources (class books and any outside materials that you have consulted) at the end of your document.

5. Good luck. There is more than enough material to write any number of essays. Choose several good points, scenes, or themes. Then write an essay. Please revise it before turning it in, and pay close attention to the grammatical points I mentioned in your letter.

6. Remember those illustrations. Merge them with your text.

Due by 5:00 p.m. on Sunday, November 10 at 5:00 p.m. (hard copy in MI 206).

Use the word count feature of your software and put the word total at the bottom of the essay, e.g. “2,862 words."