Justin M. Boucher
For the final project of this unit the students will have a choice between two potential assignments. The first asks them to create their own genre work in the medium and topic of their choosing, and analyze it in the same way that we have done in class. The second asks them to compare and analyze two paintings, which they have not seen. Both assignments will expect the students to put in their best effort, and will require a good deal of work.
Assignment 1- Create your own Genre Work.
Introduction
Over the last few classes we have discussed and analyzed genre paintings of the early 1800s. These paintings offer us a great insight into the past, as well as an opportunity to gain a deeper understanding of art. You have been exposed to a number of works by a number of artists, and you have viewed them on multiple levels; as art, as history, as a document, etc. By now you should have a pretty solid understanding of what a genre work is, and what elements go into its creation.
Assignment
It will be your task to create a genre work of your own. It does not need to be a painting specifically; it can be in any medium you choose. If you wish you might compose a song, write a poem, draw a picture etc. I only have 2 requirements. It must be original and it must deal with a topic or concept that is present in your life today.
I then want you to provide me with a 1-2 page analysis of the work you have done. Is it good history? Is it good art? You should answer these questions and more as you make use of the skills learned in class to evaluate your own work.
I expect nothing less than your best work, and you will be graded accordingly.
Rubric
You will be graded on the following criteria
1. Quality- (25 points)- I want this to be nothing less than your best work.
2. History- (25 points)- Do you convey to your audience a sense (even if it is a dramatized or idealized sense) of what you are talking about?
3. Analysis- (25 points) As stated above, you need to make use of the skills you have learned in this class to analyze your work.
4. Originality/Creativity- (25 points) I expect you to be both original and creative in a way that both makes use of what we have learned and adapts it to modern use.
Assignment 2- Comparing Works of Art
Introduction
Over the last few classes we have discussed and analyzed genre paintings of the early 1800s. These paintings offer us a great insight into the past, as well as an opportunity to gain a deeper understanding of art. You have been exposed to a number of works by a number of artists, and you have viewed them on multiple levels; as art, as history, as a document, etc. By now you should have a pretty solid understanding of what a genre work is, and what elements go into its creation.
Assignment
If you choose to do this assignment you will be given a choice of two available comparisons and asked to compare and analyze them in the way we have used in class in 3-4 typed pages. I expect you to look deeply into the paintings and analyze them as history, as art, and in terms of the artistic devices they use.
After the analysis, you must compare the two paintings in order to show the uniqueness of each work as well as the similarities of the two.
Comparison Choices
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1. Winslow Homer’s
Veteran in a New Field
Vs. Norman Rockwell’s
Willie Gillis in College
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2. Winslow Homer’s
Fog Warning
Vs. Norman Rockwell’s
Ticket Agent
Rubric
You will be graded on the following criteria.
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1. Quality- (25 points)- I want this to be nothing less than your best work.
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2. History- (25 points)- What historic facts do the paintings convey? How do they rate/ compare to one another in terms of their quality as sources of history.
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3. Artistic Analysis- (25 points)- What artistic elements are present? Are the paintings good art? How do they compare to one another?
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4. Insight- (25 points) Have you looked deeply into each painting? I would like to see that you have taken the time to really delve into each painting as opposed to simply describing the very basics.