Art History visual analysis

ARTH 1500 Global Arts and Visual Culture, Fall 2020
Writing Assignment 1: Object Description (10% of final grade)
Due 9/18
I’ve worked with the staff of the CU Art Museum to select several objects from their permanent
collection for our class to work on over the course of the semester. You will be given a packet
with images and information about each object. You will also be introduced to these objects
during your sections during week 3. For this first writing assignment, choose one of the objects,
preferably one that appeals to you. I ask you to do the following:
● Describe this work, focusing on what you identify to be the salient formal feature(s)
of the work. I encourage you to take some time actively viewing the object, taking
notes and making sketches.
● Based on the salient feature(s) of this work, relate this to akin features in another
work in the Museum collection. This comparative work of art need not be from the
same time period or cultural tradition.
● Pose three questions that your observations raise that would warrant research.
Questions might relate to issues of historical context, of use, of meaning, of
technique, etc. The intent here is to formulate a hypothesis or issue to explore
through research.
There is no need at this stage to do any further research, or to situate your object of choice
within a cultural context. Rather, in this assignment you should identify and describe what you
believe to be the salient aspects of the object of your choice and relate them briefly to another
work of art. The insights you glean and the questions you raise within this assignment will
serve as a basis for your research on this object later in the semester.
The paper should be 1-2 pages double-spaced, 12 pt. times new roman font. Any citations
should be in Chicago style. All assignments should be submitted as a Microsoft Word document
through the course Canvas site. All assignments are due by 5:00pm on the due date. The course
policy on late assignments applies. This assignment will count 10% towards your final grade.
ARTH 1500 Global Arts and Visual Culture, Fall 2020
Writing Assignment 1 Rubric
A B C D
Description of your
object
Your object is described
in great detail. The
description is clearly
based on your close
observation of the
object. Vocabulary of
formal analysis is used
effectively.
Your object is described
with some details. The
description is based on
your close observation
of the object.
Vocabulary of formal
analysis is used with
some effectiveness.
Your object description
is present, but lacking
detail. The description
is not clearly based on
your close observation
of the object.
Vocabulary of formal
analysis is used, but is
used imprecisely.
Your object description
is brief and lacking
detail. The description
is not based on your
close observation of the
object. Vocabulary of
formal analysis is not
used accurately.
Comparison to a
second object in the
CU Art Museum
Many elements of the
objects are
compared/contrasted
and the significance of
the comparison is
clearly stated.
Vocabulary of formal
analysis is used
effectively.
Some elements of the
objects are
compared/contrasted
and the significance of
the comparison is
stated. Vocabulary of
formal analysis is used
with some effectiveness.
Some elements of the
objects are
compared/contrasted
and the significance of
the comparison is not
clearly stated.
Vocabulary of formal
analysis is used, but is
used imprecisely.
Only a few elements of
the objects are
compared/contrasted
and the significance of
the comparison is not
stated. Vocabulary of
formal analysis is not
used accurately.
Questions based on
your observations
Your questions are
clearly based on your
close observation of
your object. The
questions also clearly
relate that object to its
making, meaning, and
larger context.
Your questions are
based on your close
observation of your
object. The questions
also relate that object to
its making, meaning,
and larger context.
Your questions are not
clearly based on your
close observation of
your object. The
questions do not clearly
relate that object to its
making, meaning, and
larger context.
Your questions are not
based on your close
observation of your
object. The questions
also do not relate that
object to its making,
meaning, and larger
context.
Style and formatting The paper uses the
requested formatting (1-
2 pages, double-spaced,
12pt. times new roman
font), and proper
citation style (Chicago),
and is free of significant
grammar and spelling
errors.
The paper uses the
requested formatting (1-
2 pages, double-spaced,
12pt. times new roman
font), and proper
citation style (Chicago),
and contains some
grammar and spelling
errors.
The paper
inconsistently uses the
requested formatting
style (1-2 pages, doublespaced, 12pt. times new
roman font), and proper
citation style (Chicago),
and contains frequent
grammar and spelling
errors.
The paper does not use
the requested
formatting style (1-2
pages, double-spaced,
12pt. times new roman
font), and proper
citation style (Chicago),
and contains frequent
grammar and spelling
errors.