THINGS I WILL BE LOOKING FOR IN YOUR PAPER:
1. AN ORIGINAL ANALYSIS—It is easy to look up a work on
the internet and provide me with a canned response regarding the artist’s
intent or an analysis by another writer. More than anything, I will be
looking for evidence of your personal thought processes. Be bold enough
to ignore what art history scholars have collectively determined is the
meaning of your chosen artwork, and have the confidence to disregard the
objective of the artist.
2. PROFICIENT APPLICATION OF THE ASSIGNED ESSAYS — This
item is one of the primary elements on which I will assess your essay.
You will need to demonstrate through the use of effective quotation and
synopsis how the appropriate assigned readings relate to the artwork you
have chosen. You do not need to use every essay, only those that make
sense to use in connection with your analysis. When quoting a text
successfully, you should provide greater context for the quotation by
relating it to the essay as a whole and to the artwork you are discussing.
3. THE ABILITY TO GO BEYOND THE CONVENTIONAL
NARRATIVE—Obviously, the icons and the narrative that an image conveys
are important. To remain within the boundaries of depiction
(conventional narrative) is to engage an image at an elementary level.
Instead, you will need to bring in the symbolic and the indexical in order
to make a compelling analysis and address the meta-narrative of an
artwork. What are the deeper issues at stake within the image and how was
it created? Here is a piece of advice; you will be able to pick up what
your image depicts within a minute. The symbolic and indexical will take
longer and may even involve a little research in the case of abstract
work. Artists do not want you to neatly categorize their work within the
space of a few seconds, they want you to spend some time with their
creations. Take time to consider your images carefully and realize that
many different and sometimes contradictory ideas can be addressed in a
single work of art.
THINGS TO AVOID IN YOUR PAPER:
1. PERSONAL EXPERIENCE—In your essay, you should not
include your personal, unedited thought processes regarding your
impressions of the artwork. It takes some considerable skill in writing
to be able to effectively harness the first person “I†in an academic
paper. Instead tell me what the painting accomplishing in terms of its
meaning using a neutral, academic tone.
2. DECLARATIONS OF TASTE—Please refrain from telling me
if you like a work of art (or dislike a work of art). Additionally do not
tell me that a painting is a “masterpiece†or the artist is a
“genius.†Again, simply communicate to your reader what the artwork
is conceptually doing. Remember that this is an analysis, not a posting
on Facebook.
3. EXCESSIVE DESCRIPTIONS OF THE ARTWORK—Though some
written description will be expected of you, do not indulge in lavish
portrayals of what the work looks like. Such writing is merely
“filler†as I am already familiar with the images.
4. OUTSIDE RESEARCH—This may seem counterintuitive to the
process of writing a college level paper, but I would like you to refrain
from using any research outside of the assigned readings for the course.
The only case in which independent research may be needed is in the case of
the abstract paintings featured in the slideshow. Some of the work has
been created using unconventional painting techniques that are not apparent
from a cursory glance at the work, and this indexical knowledge would be
useful in your written analysis.
5. BAD SPELLING AND GRAMMAR—I should not have to tell you
this, but please proofread your papers before submitting them to me.
Correct your spelling mistakes, improper grammar, sloppy syntax, poor word
choice, and unorganized essay structure. If you have difficulties in
writing an essay, I urge you to set up an appointment at the Writing Center
where you will have access to writing tutors that will help you with your
essay FOR FREE! IF THERE ARE MORE THAN 10 (TEN) GRAMMATICAL OR SPELLING
ERRORS ON YOUR PAPER, YOUR GRADE WILL BE REDUCED SIGNIFICANTLY.
