Due June 12^th, June 19^th, June 26^th, and July 27^th or 28^th

You will write 4 “Museum Object” Writing Assignments, with at least one of them being written in a museum or onsite. These each have four distinct phases of discussion:  Description of the visual/physical; a Formal Analysis; an Interpretation; a Personal Response/Judgment.

These should be 3-5 typed pages each, and will be submitted through the CourseDen DropBox.  More specific description of the phases may be found at

http://www.westga.edu/~rtekippe/4985museumsummer2009/museum_object_writing_assignment.htm

TERM PROJECT

Phases: Preliminary writing exercises, selection of works, seeking supporting research materials,  formulation of thesis, presentation of preliminary findings to your classmates, refinement of concepts, more research, more writing, annotations of bibliography in writing, refinement, more research, museum or site visit for examination of object (s), more writing, assembly of presentation with images, final presentation and final written document.

FRANCE: Sites from which you may select specific works of art:

(You will likely visit most of these, but few are guaranteed stops on your tour, so take that into account)

ATLANTA:  Likely choices:

·         High Museum of Art:  Meier Building, Piano Building; works from the permanent collections; works from Louvre/Altanta Masterpiece show

·         Fox Theater

·         Other Historic or Contemporary  architectural works

·         Oakland Cemetery

Preliminary writing exercises

Select a group of works from one of these 6 categories:

1.    Architecture &/or Architectural decoration programs

2.    Sculptural works, singles or cohesive groups

3.    2-dimensional works:  paintings, prints, drawings, photos, tapestry, stained glass, mosaic

4.    3-dimensional & decorative arts: Minor arts (liturgical objects, personal devotion items, games, other personal items), furniture, ceramics, glassware, silver, other metalwork

5.    Clothing, armor, weaponry, heraldry, livery

6.    Landscape, gardens, garden, garden features

They are grouped this way to help you to organize the theme/thesis of your term project.  If you have some idea that does not fit this framework, ask me if what you are considering will work.   

Any of these must have been created as major artistic statements – if you have doubts, ask me (NOT your mother’s rose garden, your uncle’s rifle collection, your sister’s paintings)  General parameters & guidelines would be that they are museum works or  major settings, like some portions of the grounds at Versailles or some such major landscape setting, a major work of architecture, works by a well-known master artist.   Your choice must meet with my approval, and you must be able to support it with scholarly research materials.

To get started, peruse the websites for these places, and start exploring how much research material you can find to go with a work or type so you can be sure to be able to create a substantial study. 

SOURCES FOR YOU RESEARCH: You will need at least 5 major scholarly sources (articles of at least 15-20 pages from approved scholarly journals and full-length books or monographs).  While texts or encyclopedia articles from such sources as Grove’s Dictionary of Art (online through our library) may be reasonable starting places, they are not major sources, and should lead into those or supplement them. 

Ultimately your project will be presented as either a term paper or a catalogue, with a carefully themed approach and a thesis that is clearly presented and carefully supported with images and material and ideas drawn from your research.   There are separate instructions for the thesis statement, for the Annotated Bibliography, and for preparation of the classroom presentation, and of the final document.  These will be posted separately.