Unit Object Analysis Assignment: Art History

The Unit object analysis assignment is a short (2-page) research paper on the object of your choice based on the content of the Unit information. The object you choose must be part of the unit content or it will not be accepted.

Once you choose the object you should start with basic research from the course textbook. You can use online sources such as art history websites and Wikipedia to collect basic, common-knowledge information. Once you have learned about your object through these sources, you will need to move on to scholarship. Find articles written about your object through the library databases. The author of the article must be an expert (Professor/Ph.D) and the publication must be scholarly (typically published by a University). Be sure to read the original article as article/book reviews are not acceptable.

The minimum requirement is a reference to one scholar/article with citation. If you choose two articles, written by different authors to include in your final analysis, this will improve your grade and the strength of the essay. These articles must identify why your object is significant. The authors may agree or disagree either is fine. You are to identify their argument and how it relates to your object. Then, offer a concise explanation of how they agree or disagree and why.

Your object analysis essay should be organized as follows:

Introduce the object using relevant vocabulary (narrative, material/technique, location/time period, etc). This section will be based on common knowledge and should be packed with specifics (names, dates, events, vocabulary).

Next, discuss the cultural context. How does your object relate to the time/place in which it was created? Patron/original audience? Original location? Function?

Finally, Scholarship! You can use the following format

(authors name), professor of (?) at the University of (?), in their article (title) published by (publisher) in (date) states that the significance of (chosen object) is (thesis statement) based on (proof). (citation) In contrast, (authors name) professor of (?) at the University of (?), in their article (title) published by (publisher) in (date) states that the significance of (chosen object) is (thesis statement) based on (proof).(citation) Theses scholars disagree on the significance of the object due to (explanation). This difference is based on (new discoveries, date of publication, different methodology, etc.)

This assignment satisfies the research component of your grade, you must include a citation for the ideas/opinions (directly quoted or paraphrased) of you scholars (footnote is preferred) as well as a bibliography identifying the articles. These are required and essays not including these components will not be graded.