Thanks to Kenny Jones for sending along sample projects from ART 221, General Survey 1. Students worked in teams to produce an 8-10 minute comparison of three artifacts, two from their survey of art history and one more contemporary example.

Here are a few of their projects with a summary of the assignment.

 

Student Examples

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Project Assignment

I. Choosing a Topic for the Podcast:

Our goal is the analysis of the form, iconography and technique of artifacts within their historic context, so as to visually demonstrate their main paradigm characteristics. Use the visual media of the podcast to make a visual argument for your thesis, of course you should include verbal material as well.

If you aren’t showing us visual information you are not taking advantage of this visual media – be sure to show us and not just tell us. Consider the fact that what you are really doing is helping us to envision information. That being said, do not interpret this as a invitation to overwhelm us with useless decorative or ornamental packaging, e.g. distracting chart junk, vacuous clip art, baffling special effects, etc. Be sure to check out this resource on envisioning information.

Compare and contrast two artifacts from our textbook. It may be any significant artifact found in our text, e.g. painting, sculpture, architecture, piece of furniture, etc. In addition to these two artifacts compare a current physical, artifact from your primary, normal cultural environment, e.g. artwork, architecture, or appliance, etc. (current means it was substantively made, not remodeled or made famous but actually made within the 21st century).

This means you will be comparing a total of three artifacts:

1. the primary artifact from our text

2. the artifact that is older or newer than the primary artifact, also from our textbook.

3. the artifact that can help you see your paradigm – that was made in 21st century and is a relevant, physical artifact from your primary, normal cultural environment. (Do not use artifacts that were remolded, refurbished or made famous in the 21st century, these do no qualify for having been created and constructed in this century and are therefore not relevant reflections of your current paradigm).

for more details, ART 221: General Survey 1 Blog

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