assignment 1
Content curation is the gathering, organizing and online presentation of content related to a particular theme or topic. In these exercises, the class will be curating a collection of related materials by selecting content to share. The collection will be built around ideas drawn from the curriculum.
When it comes to summarizing the art of the twentieth century – there’s a lot to consider. The term modern art has come to denote the innovating and even revolutionary developments in Western painting and the other visual arts since the second half of the 19th century. Embracing a wide variety of movements, styles, theories, and attitudes, the modernity of which resides in a common tendency to repudiate past conventions and precedents in subject matter, mode of depiction, and painting technique alike – applies with particular force to the painting of the last 150 years.
Back in the early 90s a graphic artist named Joan Gratz decided to create a short film called Mona Lisa Descending a Staircase in which she sought to compile and morph 100 of the most recognizable artworks of the 20th century. It was a great success, and at the time, demonstrated a groundbreaking graphic design technique. Watch the video by clicking the link below:
The video is named in part for one of the more controversial cubist compositions by Marcel Duchamp (Nude Descending a Staircase). No doubt you recognized many of the art pieces we’ve looked at during the quarter as the images on the video morphed from one to the next. Overall, this is an interesting way to visually summarize the class content.
The Task:
1. Select an image of an artwork from one of your favorite modern artists – try not to duplicate each other. Post the image and include the artist’s name as well as the date of creation – share how this particular work displays power, influences society, and/or effects change. (20 points)
3. Your post should be a minimum of 250+ words and you should cite resources used. (5 points)
Journal exercises are all about reflective thinking. Not sure what that means? Well, reflection is a form of personal response to experiences, situations, events or new information. Think of it as a ‘processing’ phase where thinking and learning take place. College is pretty much a reflection period because you’re being exposed to new content.
In these assignments you select a prompt and respond. Each of these allows you to focus on a specific idea or example of art and then write your thoughts and reactions – essentially a reflection. Why do this? So you can see how your personal ideals and values influence the way you respond to art – which is the focus of this course.
Choose one of the following prompts:
#1: Nature & Technology
Look at Chris Jordan (Links to an external site.)’s digital images from his various themes: Midway, Running the Numbers, Intolerable Beauty and In Katrina’s Wake. Describe how you think his work reflects ideas about nature, knowledge and technology. In addition, make a comment about the aesthetic nature of his work. Can we find a sense of beauty in the underbelly of consumer societies? What about in destruction and over-consumption? Be specific in your answers. Give additional examples or references if you want.
#2: Costume, Decoration & Myth
Examine the two images Sitting Man With Pink Face (Links to an external site.) by Irving Penn and Land of the Free #25 (Links to an external site.) by photographer David Graham. Then write a one – page summary of comparisons and contrasts between the two images. Look for comparisons between form and content. Refer to any cultural or stylistic differences you find. In essence, how are they the same? How are they different? What is the subject? Does each image represent something within the context of spirituality? Or not?
The Task:
- Identify which prompt you selected. (5 points)
- Compose a written response to the prompt. Be thorough and address each point or question in the selection. You can choose to do this as an essay or use a question/answer format. (15 points)
- Your response must be at least 150 words. (5 points)
