Visual Art Critique
Order Description
FINE 1306
Introduction to Fine Arts
Assignment: Observation 1 – Visual Art Critique
Objective: Students will visit an art museum in order to view works of art in person. Students will then reflect upon their experiences, choosing one work of art that they found to be especially impressive, and will write a 3 page (minimum) paper discussing their experiences and reactions to that work. When composing their responses, students will attempt to utilize the critical perspectives that are explained in the course textbook in Chapter 3.
Purpose: Viewing works of art as they are represented in the textbook or online does not allow one to fully grasp the beauty or significance of the work. This assignment will allow students to see the work in its full size, from many angles, in the context of an artistic exhibition. Elements such as texture, reflection of light, weight, and other sensa can only be observed in face-to-face encounters with artworks.
Note: Students must visit a museum on their own time. Please provide proof of attendance in one of these ways:
• fax a copy of your ticket stub or museum brochure to my attention at 214-333-5323 (Be sure to include your name on the fax or scan.)
• scan your stub or brochure and paste the image at the end of your paper
• send your scanned image as an attachment to a separate email
• take a photo of yourself at the museum and attach your selfie to the end of your paper (or send as a separate email) Be sure to obey any museum regulations regarding photography – many museums will not allow flash photography inside or near the paintings, as the intense light might damage sensitive surfaces.
Plan to devote some space in your paper to describing the surroundings and ambience of the museum.
Preparing for your critique:
1. Review Chapters 2 and 3 in your text to assist your memory of subject > form > content and participation, and the three types of criticism. You should also review the three fundamental standards of evaluative criticism: perfection, insight, and inexhaustibility.
2. Use the chapter of the text related to your choice for help with professional vocabulary and insight regarding what to discuss. For example, if you have selected a sculpture, then you should review Chapter 5.
3. In most museums, it is OK to take a notebook or even a sketchbook with you as you examine the collection. When you have selected a work to focus on, take notes concerning the work itself and how it affects you as you participate with it. If it is not possible to take notes at that time, be sure to write down your impressions as soon as possible afterwards.
4. Do not wait long to begin writing your critique. Write while the experience is still fresh in your mind.
Writing Your Critique:
Use the following guidelines as you structure your paper.
1. Introduction: Describe the venue – where you went, what it was like, and your initial impressions of the place. Why did you choose this venue? Why did you choose this specific work of art?
2. Descriptive Criticism: Focus on the artistic form – what does this work look like? Describe the work of art. What is the title, and who is the artist? What medium does it employ? What, if anything, does it depict? Look for detail and structural relationships. What elements, like line, color, texture, etc. make this work stand out? Describe the subject matter – what was the starting point for this work? Good descriptive criticism will allow me to imagine what the painting looks like.
3. Interpretive Criticism: Focus on the content – what is the meaning of this work of art? How does the form reveal or clarify something about the subject matter? What meaning is the artist attempting to convey? What does the work mean to you?
4. Evaluative Criticism: Focus on the worth – what are the relative merits of this work? Why is it valuable? Does it meet the three standards of perfection, insight, and inexhaustibility? If so, explain how.
a. Does the work possess a sense of perfection, complete unity and harmony?
b. Does the work possess high standards of insight that inform and make a difference to the viewer?
c. What makes the work inexhaustible, resisting monotony? These are some questions you might consider: (Note: you don’t need to address all of these – just the ones that might be most informative.)
i. Has the work stood the test of time?
ii. How creative/original is the work?
iii. Has the work influenced other artists and their works?
iv. Does the work possess local, national, or international appeal?
v. Does the work appeal to different cultures/ages/types of people?
5. Optional: Discuss the historical significance, if any, of this work. In most museums, there will be some sort of sign next to the piece that indicates the artist, title, time of creation, medium, etc. Sometimes this will also include information concerning the history of the work, or its place in cultural history. There may also be information online that you could use, but you should be careful to make sure that the information is accurate and truthful – not folklore or of dubious reliability. If you use outside sources (including the museum’s information), be sure to cite your sources! Using the ideas or words of another person without proper citation is plagiarism. Remember, historical criticism is optional – but it can also be fun and interesting!
6. Conclusion: Describe your participative experience. Why did you choose this piece? How did it grab your attention? Sustain your attention? What do you remember most about this work of art? Have you learned anything from your participative experience with this work? Has your experience changed you in any way?
Additional Guidelines
1. The paper must be a minimum of three full pages in length, typed using standard 10- to 12-point font, double-spaced, with 1-inch margins. (2 ½ pages is not sufficient)
2. You should write your paper in 1st-person – this is, after all, your experience and your critique. However, avoid using language that is excessively casual, cute, or ridden with slang. This is an academic reflection paper.
3. Please note: this is not a research paper. Please do not fill your paper with historical or critical information quoted from outside sources. (see #5 above)
4. Having said that, it is OK to inform yourself concerning the historical context of the work, then reference that information while discussing the work (especially in the Evaluative Criticism portion). See # 5, above.
5. Avoid unnecessary wordiness. Think and react to the work, and express your ideas succinctly. In other words, get to the point.
6. Do not procrastinate. The due date will arrive before you know it!
7. Please let me know if you have questions.
Personal Note from the Professor
When we experience a work of art, we necessarily react to it. The assumption that a detailed technical knowledge about the art form or medium is essential for a proper critical analysis is only a half-truth. Part of the basis underlying this course is the argument that an understanding or enjoyment of any given work of art is readily available to educated members of our culture. In other words, as a college student, you should already possess a concern for our society and its values, faults, goals, and failures, which is a prerequisite for understanding its cultural products. An educated person has some minimum knowledge of our culture and the arts that define and reflect that culture.
As a professor, I will not attempt to grade your cultural experiences strenuously, nor will I expect your critiques to match those of experts in the field. I’m looking for your honest reactions to the work of art and your sincere attempt to use what you’ve learned in class to critique that work.
Additionally, what I will expect is accurate use of standard academic English. Please make use of spell-check and dictionaries as your write, and proof-read your paper before you turn it in.
Any student who makes a sincere effort to understand the work of art and successfully communicates this on paper will receive credit. You will not be graded on the accuracy of your interpretation, for I recognize that you do not have the tools or experience to engage in scholarly criticism. Nevertheless, a thoughtful, literate paper will generate a better grade than a hasty, ill-formed series of paragraphs. In my opinion, a good, sincere effort is worthy of a good grade. You will receive at least some credit just for going and trying. It is my hope, especially if you are trying this for the first time, that you will discover that you actually enjoy participating in the arts. Perhaps this assignment will open avenues in your experience for future engagement with the arts.
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