Paper Instructions This will be a Compare and Contrast paper; Required length: 6-8 pages, typed, double-spaced, 12-point Times New Roman font, MLA format, Word doc. Choose one example of painting, sculpture, and architecture, from two of the various styles included in your textbook which represent the time period from c.100 BCE to 1500 CE, Chapters 7-19. IMPORTANT: Compare one example of a Western style with one Non-Western style. Western styles include: Roman, Early Christian, Byzantine, Medieval Europe, Romanesque & Gothic. Non-Western styles include: Islamic, Medieval India, China, Japan, Africa and the Americas. The two groups of examples must be from two distinctly different styles and geographical locations (for example, you should not compare Romanesque to Gothic–both are Western Christian church styles).
Art works from local museum collections may be analyzed for the paper, but this is not required. Any museum works selected must be preapproved by your instructor, and correspond to the time period, cultures and styles described above. The three local museums that have works from some of the cultures and time periods are: the Kimbell Art Museum in Fort Worth, the Trammell Crow Collection of Asian Art in Dallas and the Dallas Museum of Art. Any local museum works selected must be currently on view in the museum, and should be illustrated with a photograph of you standing next to the installed artwork in the museum.
The introduction should include a full identification for each example of art mentioned in the paper (this should include culture/period/location of origin, artist if known, date of creation, medium, size and current location). Additionally, an illustration of each artwork should be referred to within the text with an in-text reference such as (see fig. 1) and then reproduced at the end of the paper on a plate page along with identification and documented source information in note form below the image.
Thoroughly describe each work of art with enough detail so that someone else can visualize what the artwork looks like from its description. Each work of art should have a description that is one full page to 1 ½ pages at a minimum. Describe how each example of art uses all of the formal elements of art and all of the principles of design (which are discussed in the textbook’s Introduction). Clearly describe the work in terms of the content and iconology or symbolism. Be specific; describe details and provide examples of how the work of art utilizes each element or principle. Use art vocabulary appropriately. Identify the style of each artwork. Clearly explain how each artwork does, or does not exemplify each style based on observations of specific details.
To compare the two artworks, clearly describe how aspects of each of the artworks are similar to each other. Be specific and provide an adequate explanation to justify your comparisons. Compare as many similarities between the two artworks or buildings as you can. To contrast each artwork with the other, clearly explain what aspects of each of the works are different from the other. Be specific when directly contrasting the same aspect of each artwork from the other, and provide an explanation for any observations, such stylistic differences. Provide as many contrasts as possible. Conclusion: What has this study of these individual artworks and their corresponding styles revealed about the role of art in society? How does each artwork relate to the context of its culture? Clearly articulate how and why you arrived at that conclusion.
FORMAT · Paper should adhere to MLA formatting guidelines and should be submitted as a Word document. A title page is not required for this assignment, however, and if provided, will not count as a page. The hard copy of the paper may be printed front and back of the pages. The pages should be numbered. · 6-8 full pages in length (not including the plate page(s) and works cited page). A partial page is not the equivalent of a full page. ·
Do not insert images of the artworks as part of the body of the text. Images should be placed on one or more plate pages. ·
The plate page or pages will be placed before the Works Cited page. The Plates page is where you include the images of the artworks labeled Figure 1 and Figure 2. Underneath each image, provide the full identification information for each artwork, the collection the work is in and the weblink where you found the illustration.
A minimum of one illustration should be provided for each artwork. Additional images may be included as details of the overall work if helpful to the discussion in the paper. They may be labeled Figure 1a, Figure 1b, etc. · Write in 3rd person and maintain a formal, professional and academic tone. · Do not use bullet points or a table to make comparisons and contrasts. (see Content Notes, below) ·
Sources need to be cited both internally within the text and externally on the Works Cited page. Interact with your quotations. Students should use parenthetical citations (in text citations) within the paper, following MLA format. WORKS CITED PAGE Must adhere to MLA format This paper should have at least 5 cited sources. One of them may be the textbook. Electronic sources should follow MLA format, and in addition include the URL web link at the end of the citation. Citations should be in alphabetical order.
Do not number your citations or use bullet points. Use the appropriate hanging indention per MLA format for the citations. Sources should be vetted and relevant. Do not use sources like Wikipedia, the dictionary and travel blog sites. Avoid using sources that do not provide an author’s name, and look for evidence that indicates that the author is a scholar, and not just a tourist. Museum and university websites are usually reliable. Textbook sites are sometimes helpful. Ask a librarian to help you use their resources if you are having trouble finding sources. CONTENT NOTES This is not a biography paper about an artist, while minimal biographical information might be included, biography is not the aim of the paper.
Descriptions should be made in your own words, whenever possible. Spend time analyzing each work critically, from your own perspective. Quotations should be used very sparingly, but if you do include a quoted passage, it must be followed by an in-text citation that is linked to a corresponding bibliographic entry in the Works Cited page. Use of paraphrased material should also have the source cited in-text and in the Works Cited page. Make direct comparisons and contrasts point by point in your sentences within the body of the paper. Do not compare a list about one work with a list about another work.
Do not use bullet points or a table to make comparisons and contrasts. Each college art history paper should have the following: Introduction, body of the text, conclusion, plate page(s), and Works Cited page. Use correct spelling, grammar, capitalization and punctuation. Use vocabulary properly, write in Standard English and avoid slang or loaded language. You are strongly encouraged to submit a draft of your paper to the staff in the Reading and Writing Center on your campus. Allow 1-2 days prior to the deadline for follow up with staff and so you can make suggested corrections. Plagiarism and collusion are forms of academic dishonesty that will not be tolerated and will result in a score of 0 for the assignment. The papers will be checked for originality, and proper acknowledgement of sources for paraphrased content and actual quotes must be provided through parenthetical notes (in-text citations) that correspond to sources included in the Works Cited page.
