ART 1301 Art Appreciation Instructor: Zoe Gross Phone: 917-287-2278 cell phone Email: [email protected] Art in Context Essay: In this paper you will dig deep into a piece of artwork from history. Begin by choosing a piece of artwork from a specific culture or time period mentioned in any section of chapter three of our textbook, Gateways to Art. Conduct a formal visual analysis of the artwork wherein you analyze the artwork based on the elements and principles of art and design. Then broaden the scope of your analysis to include background information about the culture from which the artwork originates. Finally, connect your chosen artwork to one or more of the themes of art discussed in chapter four of Gateways to Art. Final Paper Due: Wednesday May 1st. This paper is worth 20% of your final grade Here is the detailed assignment: Choose a geographical area and time period from class that interests you and select one piece of artwork from that time period and location to write about. I suggest going through chapter three of our textbook and selecting one of the artworks mentioned within. This paper requires a clear thesis statement that ties your paper together. Your thesis is the main point of the paper, and should briefly address all three parts of the essay. A sample thesis could be as follows: The Standard of Ur from Ancient Sumer depicts themes of both warfare and community through the use of hierarchical scale, rhythm and contrast. In addition to an introductory paragraph including the label information for your artwork and your thesis statement, this paper will have three parts. They are as follows: Part 1: Formal Visual Analysis · Conduct a formal visual analysis using the Elements and Principles that are listed below, refer to the lectures and your notes from the first half of the semester to help develop this. This analysis is a clear visual description, and should be the starting point of your paper, imagine I don’t have the opportunity to the see the works you are writing about, your formal visual analysis should tell me exactly what the work looks like. Elements: Principles: Like ingredients how elements are used Color Contrast Form Emphasis Line Focal Point Mass Pattern Shape Proportion Space Rhythm Texture Scale Time and Motion Balance Value Unity Volume Variety · Remember that in this section you do not need to speculate about what the artwork is about, or why it was made. · Above all, be specific! If you mention that the artwork uses the element of color, explain what colors are used and HOW. Does the color create a focal point? Does the color scheme promote unity or variety? Explain! · Whenever possible, use class vocabulary. Part 2: Contextual Analysis “Contextual analysis looks at the making and viewing of the work in its context: it studies the atmosphere and ideas, often from a particular time or culture, which the artwork itself includes and reflects. Various aspects of context can be c.

1. ART 1301 Art Appreciation
Instructor: Zoe Gross
Phone: 917-287-2278 cell phone
Email: [email protected]
Art in Context Essay:
In this paper you will dig deep into a piece of artwork from
history. Begin by choosing a piece of artwork from a specific
culture or time period mentioned in any section of chapter three
of our textbook, Gateways to Art. Conduct a formal visual
analysis of the artwork wherein you analyze the artwork based
on the elements and principles of art and design. Then broaden
the scope of your analysis to include background information
about the culture from which the artwork originates. Finally,
connect your chosen artwork to one or more of the themes of art
discussed in chapter four of Gateways to Art.
Final Paper Due: Wednesday May 1st.
This paper is worth 20% of your final grade
Here is the detailed assignment:
Choose a geographical area and time period from class that
interests you and select one piece of artwork from that time
period and location to write about. I suggest going through
chapter three of our textbook and selecting one of the artworks
mentioned within.
This paper requires a clear thesis statement that ties your paper
together. Your thesis is the main point of the paper, and should
briefly address all three parts of the essay. A sample thesis
could be as follows: The Standard of Ur from Ancient Sumer
depicts themes of both warfare and community through the use
of hierarchical scale, rhythm and contrast.

2. In addition to an introductory paragraph including the label
information for your artwork and your thesis statement, this
paper will have three parts. They are as follows:
Part 1: Formal Visual Analysis
· Conduct a formal visual analysis using the Elements and
Principles that are listed below, refer to the lectures and your
notes from the first half of the semester to help develop this.
This analysis is a clear visual description, and should be the
starting point of your paper, imagine I don’t have the
opportunity to the see the works you are writing about, your
formal visual analysis should tell me exactly what the work
looks like.
Elements: Principles:
Like ingredients how elements are used
Color Contrast
Form Emphasis
Line Focal Point
Mass Pattern
Shape Proportion
Space Rhythm
Texture Scale
Time and Motion Balance
Value Unity
Volume Variety
· Remember that in this section you do not need to speculate
about what the artwork is about, or why it was made.
· Above all, be specific! If you mention that the artwork uses
the element of color, explain what colors are used and HOW.
Does the color create a focal point? Does the color scheme
promote unity or variety? Explain!
· Whenever possible, use class vocabulary.
Part 2: Contextual Analysis
“Contextual analysis looks at the making and viewing of the
work in its context: it studies the atmosphere and ideas, often
from a particular time or culture, which the artwork itself
includes and reflects. Various aspects of context can be

3. considered; for example religious, historical and biographical
analysis are all types of contextual analysis” (DeWitte, Debra
J., Larmann, Ralph M., Shields, M. Kathryn, 2015, pg. 176)
· Read about the culture from which your chosen artwork
originates in our textbook and online on Khan Academy. You
may use other sources as well, as long as they are credible
sources and you cite them in your paper
· How does this new information affect your view of the
artwork? Does more information about the culture, religion,
geography, or time period change the meaning of the artwork in
some way? How?
Part 3: Connect to Themes in Visual Art
· Finally, review the themes of visual art discussed in chapter 4
of Gateways to Art. Where does your artwork fit within those
themes? Do multiple themes apply? Explain which themes you
think your artwork relates to and how the culture, materials, and
visual elements and principles support that theme.
The themes in visual art listed in our textbook are:
·
· Art and Community
· Spirituality and Art
· Art and the Cycle of Life
· Art and Science
· Art, Illusion, and Transformation
· Art of Political Leaders and Rulers
· Art, War, and Revolution
· Art of Protest and Social Conscience
· The Body in Art
· Identity, Race, and Gender in Art
Guidelines
1. Length requirement is 1000 words, or approximately 2-3
pages. This must be double-spaced, 12-point, Times New

4. Roman font in MS Word format only.
2. You must include a photo of the artwork you write about.
You must also include the label information for the artwork
along with the photo. Include Title of the Artist's name (if
known), Name of culture/tribe, Place of origin of artist or
object, Year produced, and the Medium (materials).
3. You are only required to use the class textbook for this
assignment, but you are welcome to also include research
information from Khan Academy or other online or print soures.
4. Complete & proper citations must be used where references
are required. Use APA format.
5. Late submissions must be approved 48 hours prior to the due
date and time. Otherwise late submissions will be reduced by 10
points, or a full letter grade, for each week the paper is late.
A Note about Editing
I am happy to help you with this essay if you give me a draft
well in advance of the due date. I cannot commit to editing your
paper the night before it is due! Additionally, I highly
recommend that you bring your essay to a writing tutor, or at
the very least be sure to carefully proof read and read your
paper out loud to catch grammar mistakes before submitting!
Assessment
You will receive up to 100 points for this assignment. You will
be graded on the following criteria:
Criteria
%
The essay includes a detailed visual analysis of the artwork with
correct use of class vocabulary and the elements and principles
of art.
25%
The essay includes research about the culture from which the
artwork originates and relates the meaning, material, and
purpose of the artwork to the culture.
25%
The artwork in the essay is discussed in relation to one or more
of the themes in visual art, and those themes are supported by

5. evidence based on cultural research.
25%
Report is well-written, with proper spelling, grammar, and
citations
15%
Report includes required photo and label information.
5%
Report meets 1000-word minimum requirement.
5%
TOTAL
100%
Works cited page
Textbook:
Last, F. M. (Year Published) Book. City, State: Publisher.
Our textbook: DeWitte, Debra J., Larmann, Ralph M., Shields,
M. Kathryn (2015) Gateways to Art: Understanding the Visual
Arts. New York: Thames & Hudson.
In-text citations
Textbook:
This object reflects the Japanese culture's interest in nature and
Shinto philosophy because of the emphasis on natural forms
such as the leaves surrounding the tiger (DeWitte, Debra J.,
Larmann, Ralph M., Shields, M. Kathryn, 2015).
1. Summary & Creative elements –costumes (or clothing in a
doc) can either enhance the movie or betray its intent. Colors
can be vivid and lift the atmosphere or mood in the movie or
they can be dull and make it seem depressing. Good sound
effects or music enrich the viewing experience while bad ones
only destroy everything. Moreover, camera movements and
angles also add elements to the story. Take notes of symbols in
the story, if any.

6. 1…..2…..3…..4….5
Significance to our class
Make sure you describe instances where the terminology from
our readings is shown.
1…..2…..3…..4….5
Make connections between your own research (i.e., your
annotated bibliography) and what you observe in the film.
1…..2…..3…..4….5
Describe how your film addresses any of the big questions we
looked at the beginning of our class.

7. 1…..2…..3…..4….5
· Creative elements –costumes (or clothing in a doc) can either
enhance the movie or betray its intent. Colors can be vivid and
lift the atmosphere or mood in the movie or they can be dull and
make it seem depressing. Good sound effects or music enrich
the viewing experience while bad ones only destroy everything.
Moreover, camera movements and angles also add elements to
the story. Take notes of symbols in the story, if any.
Significance to our class
Make sure you describe instances where the terminology from
our readings is shown.
Make connections between your own research (i.e., your
annotated bibliography) and what you observe in the film.

8. Describe how your film addresses any of the big questions we
looked at the beginning of our class.
movie review writing tips that may help you:
· Watch the movie twice and take notes of all major and minor
details, characters and such on a piece of paper. Don’t rely on
your memory only, that way you’d leave out some important
details
· Collect the information about the movie through research.
Find information about the director, theme, locations, plot,
characterization, and other important things that can help you
write your review
· Analyze the entire movie after watching it. This will require
more time, but in order to write a review, you have to
understand what you just watched. To do that, you’ll have to
evaluate it from the beginning to the end, just like you would

9. analyze a book
· Don’t insert yourself – you’re writing the review which means
it reflects your understanding and opinion of the movie you’ve
seen. Therefore, there is no need to write in first person all the
time: I noticed this, I saw that, I liked this, I disliked that,
especially without data to back it up.
· Include examples for everything you say about the movie e.g.
if the casting is bad, then why is it? If dialogues are good/bad,
then name an example or two. Make sure that everything you
mention in the review is supported with evidence. That way
your professor will know you watched a movie and developed
critical thinking skills
Directions for Film Review
· The title of the film/documentary
· Produced by
· Directed by
· Summary – of course, the whole point of the review is to
summarize the documentary or movie for people who haven’t
watched it yet. To make this as effective as possible, always
assume that your professor hasn’t seen it either. That way, you
won’t leave out some important details thinking he/she watched
it already so they won’t bother. As a reviewer, your job is to
explain what happened in the film and express whether the
filmmaker failed or succeeded. Again, saying you liked or
disliked it isn’t a viable comment. Your opinion has to be
supported by specific reasons and examples from the feature
itself
· Creative elements – filmmakers work hard to include creative
elements into their motion pictures. How are these elements
important to the plot and movie in general? For example,
costumes (or clothing in a doc) can either enhance the movie or
betray its intent. Colors can be vivid and lift the atmosphere or
mood in the movie or they can be dull and make it seem

10. depressing. Good sound effects enrich the viewing experience
while bad ones only destroy everything. Moreover, camera
movements and angles also add elements to the story. Take
notes of symbols in the story, if any.
· Significance to our class – How does the content of the
documentary or film fit into our course topic?
· Make sure you describe instances where the terminology from
our readings is show. For example, if you are reviewing
American History X, then look at the key ideas for that chapter.
There may be key ideas from other chapters that pertain to
Skinheads that you saw in your film. If your subculture was not
one we studied in class, such as Amish, and you are reviewing
the movie Witness, then look at the key words across all of the
chapter and determine which ones apply.
· Next, make connections between your own research (i.e., your
annotated bibliography) and what you observe in the film.
· Lastly, describe how your film addresses any of the big
questions we looked at at the beginning of our class.