TERM PROJECT

TERM PROJECT: As stated in the syllabus, you are required to complete a term project – an individual research project on a topic or issue related to Flemish or Dutch art of the 17^th–century. This will result in a written paper (10-12 pages text + references, images, bibliography), due on the 14^th of November. The purpose of the assignment is to incorporate the object or subject of your choice into the framework of issues of this course. Your project must follow certain guidelines and specifications, but you will have some latitude in choice, subject to my approval. Among the possible choices of theme will be that work of art in relationship to other works, or to a cultural or social issue. It is my hope that you will find a topic for which you have enthusiasm, and that you will pursue it with energy and pleasure.

Select a topic and present me with your topic choice, in writing, by September 14th:

Consider the work of any artist or a particular art movement or topical type, as represented by specific works, which appears in your text book or in other resource material you have explored. Research the work itself, its context of creation, in relationship to the artist’s life, their training, their known works, as appropriate. If you select a movement or type, focus on representative work. Consider the contributions of the artist or movement in depth, with regard to both the pertinent work and the legacy to other artists, including schools or groups with which they were associated, patrons, commissions, other pertinent circumstances. What were their influences – through their study and training, or previous stylistic periods, or any conceptual framework which was relevant to their development? Some examples might be Rubens, Van Dyck, Hals, TerBrugghen, Rembrandt, Jordaens, Goeltzius, etc; Genre, Altarpieces, Counter-reformation works, domestic works, landscapes, still lifes, Vanitas, moralizing works, Protestant bible stories, &C &C &C &C. The list is endless.

Discuss the ways in which the work exemplifies the Baroque period in art and/or is distinctive.

Consider how the work reflects the world in the Seventeenth Century and life at that time in specific ways, especially as distinct from other eras.

Each student will produce a 10-12 page research paper (with footnotes and a bibliography), plus images, on the topic you choose. This paper must show a good grasp of the subject matter and a thorough grappling with the range of potential research materials, including those which must be obtained through interlibrary loan. You should start your research now, since interlibrary loans materials generally take some time to arrive after they are ordered. If you do not know how to do an exhaustive search of sources, and how to follow a research trail, please come to see me about this.

Cite your sources. Your format for citations should follow that used in Art Bulletin¸ or refer to the Chicago Manual of Style (14^th edition or 15th edition). Be careful to give credit for any sources you read, ideas you gather, and information you use, WHETHER YOU QUOTE IT DIRECTLY OR NOT. Do not use more than 2 quotations for the entire paper, and neither of these may be longer than 12 words. Do carefully paraphrase what you think are significant observations by the authors of your sources and give credit for their ideas by appropriate citation in footnotes. More general observations gathered from your reading should be acknowledged by inclusion of all sources you consult in your bibliography.

PLAGIARISM – STEALING OTHERS’ IDEAS –

IS A SERIOUS ACADEMIC OFFENSE, AND WILL BE TREATED AS SUCH.

AND, IT IS ALWAYS MUCH MORE APPARENT THAN YOU THINK IT WILL BE.

(And I can easily check it)
: BE VERY CAUTIOUS ABOUT "INFORMATION" FROM THE INTERNET.; There is no requirement for anyone to have any authority to post something on the web.; Especially avoid ".com" sites as unlikely to have scholarly content and credentials.; If you do use info from a website, download and print it, and submit it with your paper.
Each paper must be typed, with all of the pages except for the cover, numbered.

IMAGES

Staple the photocopied images to the back of your paper, each on a separate sheet.

These must have:

artist’s name, title, date, media, size, and image source, page number or illustration number from source (abbreviated form -- e.g, Smith p.234) -- all neatly typed below the image

page number with regard to your paper

These should be large enough to be nicely framed on an 8.5 X 11" sheet, each.

Label them as Figure 1, Figure 2, Figure 3, etc. (arranged in the order they are introduced in your discussion) (See the samples displayed in my office window, use them as models.)

For each image, supply information about the source of the image in your bibliography, the same as you would for any reference.

You must not submit any other type of image besides a photocopy, regardless of its source. Submission of printed images, even if from your own books or magazines, is unacceptable. (If they are printed from downloads or scans, they are acceptable.)

NOTE: The use of commercially printed images from books or journals will automatically result in a grade of ZERO for the Term Project.

GRADING SYSTEM:

Intellectual Content/Artistic Relevance = 50%

Presentation/Following Directions = 25 %

Structure/Grammar/Writing = 25%

This paper is worth 100 of the 525 total points for the course.

All papers are due on November 14th at the beginning of class. No late papers will be accepted. If you do not turn the paper in at the beginning of the class period of the day it is due you will receive a 0.