Introduction to Modern Art and Visual Culture 1660-1900
Introduction to Modern Art and Visual Culture 1660-1900
Essay Guidelines:
• Stapled, hard copies required. No late exams.
• Papers must follow the formatting guidelines (see below)
• You must properly cite all sources using the Chicago Manual of Style. Limit your citations to the assigned Works of art and Readings.
Note: You are encouraged to include images in your essay. Whenever you describe a work of art at any length, as you begin, ideally your reader should be able to see a reproduction of it (you choose the size) on the same page as your description (do this just once; no need to reiterate). Place a caption (in 9-point font) below the image stating the artist’s surname (only), the title of the work (in italics), and its date.
Paul Gauguin, The Vision after the Sermon, 1888
In general, your writing should follow these three principles:
(i) Place each work firmly within its social and historical context.
(ii) Drawing on your own observations, describe the way each image is constructed.
(iii) Relate your discussion to the relevant Readings and/or Lecture presentations. When you refer to a particular Reading, in a footnote write out the author’s name, the title of their chapter or article, and publication details (see the bottom of this page) – and to indicate your familiarity with the text, in the same footnote briefly summarize their argument.
Essay Questions
Discuss the changing representations of work (of people working) in the period covered by the course, tocusing your discussion on at least five works of art. Place each work firmly within its social and historical context. Drawing on your own observations, describe the way each image is constructed. Relate your discussion to the relevant Readings and/or Lecture presentations. When you refer to a particular Reading, in a footnote provide a complete reference, and mention briefly summarize their argument.
