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Writing About Art

Art Historical Writing

Art historical writing requires that you utilize the analysis methods described in the previous content area. The Formal, Thematic, and Contextual (FTC) Palette is a good starting point for guiding your analysis, but you must look to the answers provided in the research from answering such questions and find connections between these various points to form arguments. These arguments form the thesis of your arguments as you write. Art historical writing is essentially argumentative writing with the specific connection between artworks, the stories they portray, and their context.

Art history survey courses require that students learn basics of formal, thematic, and contextual elements from various periods. To demonstrate knowledge, students must critically analyze such material and begin to make connections in the form of arguments. Professor Yavelberg also would like you to walk away from this course with more than a memorized knowledge of names, dates, styles, and terms. These facts often change based on new discoveries and images change based on the edition of the text. It is more important to know these but to know how to critically analyze the information and find answers where necessary. This short module will provide insight into expectations, several examples of how arguments are made and supported, and links to further resources for writing.

Writing Basics: Forming A Thesis Statement

A paper, discussion, or other argument requires that you form a strong thesis statement. The thesis often comes at the end of an introduction that "sets the stage" for what you are talking about. The thesis describes your stance on the topic and then provides some direction as to how you are going to support that argument. The body and conclusion of your writing or speaking, then comes directly out of this statement, thus it is the most essential part to any dialogue, especially in this class. The Purdue OWL has a wonderful resource to help you with writing your Thesis Statements as does Art History Teaching Resources.

Writing Basics: Argument about a single artifact

When writing for a specific point about a single artifact, typically a paper will take the following form:

    • Introduction: Description of the context, artwork, or theme leading up to an argumentative statement.
    • Thesis statement: Often a single sentence that outlines your argument and support.
      • Example: Stonehenge represents the power of an early prehistoric civilization through its scale, religious implications, and recent excavations of burial sites around the structure.
    • Body: The body of the paper is made of paragraphs describing the points made in the thesis. According to the example, the paragraphs will describe the scale, religious implications, and description of findings from recent excavations. Each of these points should utilize multiple articles found in academic research to assure that all research provided is accurate and accounts for all aspects of the argument.
    • Conclusion: A summary paragraph that ties all of the body to the thesis.
      • Note: Please do not begin the concluding paragraph with "In conclusion."

A discussion about a single artifact thus may refer to other artifacts that aid in supporting the argument. Always be sure that you are fully descriptive of your artifact, its theme, and its contextual connections. Assume that the reader is blind and has no prior knowledge of any of the information you are providing. Thus, continually ask yourself questions of who, what, when, where, why, how, etc. as you write and make sure that you are answering these. Also remember that you are not an expert. Any opinion you may have must be based on something that you are seeing or have read, so never write in first person. Lastly, always remember to work in MLA style

Here is a guide I made awhile back to help others out:Paper Format Guide.

Writing about multiple artifacts: Compare and Contrast

Often, to develop universal conclusions, you will be asked to look at multiple artifacts in relation to each other. This type of writing is called a compare and contrast essay. Compare and contrast essays require that you describe both objects, their similarities and their differences in order to form an argument about their relationship. A compare and contrast essay often varies somewhat in structure from making an argument about a single artifact:

    • Introduction: Description of the context, artwork, or themes of both artifacts leading up to an argumentative statement.
    • Thesis statement: Often a single sentence that outlines your argument and support.
      • Example: The Greek Kurous and the Egyptian sculpture of Kafre share many similarities in their execution stemming from the influences of Egyptian sculptural technique on Greek artists, however the two sculptures describe fundamental differences in the philosophy and religion of each culture.
    • Body: The body of the paper is made of paragraphs describing the points made in the thesis. According to the example, the paragraphs will describe the formal similarities, but will describe the thematic differences under the lens of the differing contexts of each culture. Each of these points should utilize multiple articles found in academic research to assure that all research provided is accurate and accounts for all aspects of the argument.
    • Conclusion: A summary paragraph that ties all of the body to the thesis.
      • Note: Please do not begin the concluding paragraph with "In conclusion."

Note the differences that are provided in the two essay styles. Compare and contrast essays require that you critically analyze two artifacts against each other, often bringing to light certain truths that may bridge between contexts such as how visual art demonstrates religion, power, politics, or other major theme. When looking at a single artifact, some of these points may also be argued, however essays about a single artwork often have a more narrow focus. As you write you final paper, you should consider it to be an essay comparing and contrasting multiple works with the goal of defining the theme of your particular exhibition space.

Further Support

  • University Library:: Yes, the library is the first place you should go for finding resources and learning how to form an argument. They often also have sections within the online library space dedicated to helping with research and writing within specific subjects, thus tailoring the library experience to your needs. It is the job of librarians to help with search terms and guide you to the information that you require. Utilize their chat and ask them questions, they are the best resource that your money can buy.
  • Duke Writing a Visual Analysis: This is a good quick guide.
  • Art History Rules!: This is a good, quick site that provides some of the basics to guide you through art history including how to analyze web resources, copyright, essay writing, and further information.
  • Sylvan Barnet's A Short Guide to Writing About Art: This is an excellent book for guiding your writing about any form of art. The book provides wonderful examples and goes into extreme detail on what makes for a good art analysis essay.
  • Henry Sayre's Writing About Art: Also a good book and similar to Barnet's book and ironically shorter than Barnet's "Short Guide."
  • Marjorie Munsterberg's Writing About Art: This is a wonderful resources that a New York art historian and Columbia University graduate produced and published in online, Kindle and paperback formats. The resource discusses how to write, but also how to analyze works of art using different techniques. The resource also has sample papers form her classes and tips on how to format and manage different types of art historical papers.
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