“FORMAT: 700 words, double-spaced, 12 point Times New Roman font. Center your clever title above the body of paper. ***POINTS WILL BE LOST IF IT IS BEYOND 50 WORDS OR UNDER 700 WORDS***
THIS ASSIGNMENT USES TURN IT IN, PLEASE AVOID PLAGIARISM.
THE ONLY SOURCE REQUIRED: https://www.metmuseum.org/art/collection/search/266784
Cindy Sherman, “Untitled Film Still #21,� 19.1 × 24.1 cm, 1978.
INSTRUCTIONS:
– essay will describe and explain the art work to someone who appreciates art but does not know this specific work. There will be a formal reading of the work using appropriate art terms. At the heart of the paper will be a reading of the content: what does the artist intend through this work? Why did she make it this way? What do you think the work means? How does it make you feel? What formal means are used to generate these thoughts and feelings? If the work of art is more conceptual than formal, the formal part of the essay can be shorter, but the description and content reading will be longer and go into more depth.
– The essay will have a clearly stated thesis in the first paragraph. The first or second paragraph will have the work’s title, size, date, medium, and location. Before any analysis, there will be a clear, evocative, denotative description that allows the reader to visualize the work so as to better understand the analysis that follows. The description should fill a full paragraph.
– A short paragraph in the final section will locate the work in its art historical context or in comparison to the artist’s other work. Much of the final section will consist of a critical evaluation of the art work that develops out of your earlier comments. This is a reasoned judgement of the work (not mere opinion). You will state what you believe to be the artist’s goal in making this piece (you may quote the artist’s statement), and show if, if not, or to what degree she or he was successful. The conclusion should summarize your ideas. You can also add your subjective thoughts here.
– TIPS: Be sure the essay has an argument and structure that holds the paper together. Do not write the as if the professor is your reader. Imagine you are writing to someone like you. They know a little about art but have not seen this work. Subjective responses should not dominate the ‘voice’ of the paper. Usually, the first person (“Iâ€�) is reserved for the first and last paragraphs, or when you are describing a subjective encounter with the work. Only include biographical information if it advances your argument. Watch out for weak opening lines: “The painting that most jumped out at me in this exhibition.â€� Avoid empty and awkward hyperbole: “she is like the greatest master who ever lived;â€� “his amazing realism has dropped jaws all over the world.â€� Watch out for vague, general claims and hollow truisms: “There is more to this painting than meets the eye.â€� “Art makes you see the world in new ways and this watercolour is no exception.â€� Only refer to the work of art as a “pieceâ€� several times. Call it a sculpture if it is a sculpture. Using its title is better than calling it a piece—‘work’ or ‘work of art’ is acceptable. No contractions (ex. can’t) in a formal essay. It is a convention of essay that you mention the artists full name the first time and use only their last name ever after (though, it is common to have the full name appear in the conclusion). The convention for initially describing a work looks like this: In the exhibition, Lost Horizon, Ibrahim El Salahi’s “Dreamsâ€� (2017) is an oil painting on canvas, 120 cm x 200 cm. Expressed another way: In the exhibition, exhibition title in italics, artist’s name, “title of art work in quotationsâ€� (date of art work in brackets) is a what medium on what kind of support, the support’s size. When referring to the artist’s name for the first time use the whole name, ever after only use the last name. Reduce repetition. Proof-read and polish your prose before submitting it.
– This is NOT a research paper.Therefore, it should not be a report on what the artist or anyone else says it means. However, you may consult other sources. If you do, be sure to cite the sources of your quotations and paraphrases using MLA or Chicago Manual style.
PLEASE follow INSTRUCTIONS carefully.
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