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EXPECTATIONS |
WHAT TO INCLUDE, WHAT TO LEAVE BEHIND
The point of the paper is to show your skill at visual and historical analysis, that is, taking things apart, figuring them out—not just reporting, “What I found in the library.” The paper is the “story” of this adventure. Here’s a refresher: Visual Analysis – Explain the unique visual identity of your work of art, and how this identity is built up. Show how the artist combines color, line texture, etc. to create a distinctive pattern, a total visual effect, or send a “message” of sorts. In this part especially, it’s your ideas. You can use first person—“I think.” Background and History – Reconstruct the cultural context within which your work of art was produced. Help us see the work of art through the eyes of the artist and those around them who viewed or “used” the work. Note: Be very careful here. Don’t just pile up “facts.” Show specifically how each bit of history helps us understand the work of art itself. The “story” format is flexible. You can blend the visual and historical however makes most sense—for your reader. You will want two other pieces: Introduction – Briefly lay out the plan you’ll go by in your paper—a “map” (or “story outline”)—so the reader can follow along, think with you as you write. Tell us what “missing pieces” you’re hunting down? Or give us a taste of your conclusions, where you ended up—then the paper is the “how I got there.” Conclusion – Explain what you’ve “concluded” from your study. What did you come up with, decide, figure out? Wrap things up in a few words. Finally, harden yourself. Don’t’ fall back into “old” term paper habits. A traditional paper sticks pretty much to the facts—gathering lots of Who, What, Where, When (the raw material). It re-assembles other people’s ideas, cutting and pasting them into a smooth word puzzle. This process takes serious effort. An exceptional paper goes farther. It asks questions. It looks beyond the What to Why. It takes the sources you find, and explains the work of art in terms of those sources, tying it all together with your ideas. “Analysis” shows your mind in action—the detective work—, how you reasoned things out, and the results.
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