Subject | Essay Writing | Pages | 10 | Style | APA |
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Question
VISA 1Q99: Writing Assignment
Worth 20% of final mark, due Wednesday, May 31st, 11:55 pm via SAKAI>Assignment
Comparison Essay
Please read this entire document before you begin and before you email me with questions! This writing assignment is designed to help you learn different ways to write and think about art. For this assignment you will write a minimum 4-5 page comparison of two artworks.
You may choose one of the following pairs for this exercise:
- a. Harriet Hosmer, Zenobia in Chains, 1859 (18-6), p. 481. b. Edmonia Lewis, Forever Free, 1867 (18-24), p. 494.
- a. Alfred Stieglitz, The Flatiron Building, 1903 (19-18), p. 525. b. Georgia O’Keeffe, City Night, 1926 (19-19), p. 527.
- a. Angelica Kauffmann, Cornelia Pointing to Her Children as Her Treasures, c. 1785 (17-8), p. 454.
- Dante Gabriel Rossetti, La Pia De’ Tolomei, 1868-69 (18-7), p. 482.
- a. Antonio Canova, Cupid and Psyche, 1787-1793 (17-12), p. 458.
- Camille Claudel, The Waltz, 1892-1905 (18-40), p. 508.
How to Write a Comparison Essay
A comparison is an essay comprised of two aspects: comparing elements (noting the similarities) and contrasting elements (noting the differences) of one work with another. The aim of this exercise is to learn more about each work by looking at them alongside one another, as such this is largely a visual exercise of looking. You will be using the types of observations discussed in modules but applying this specifically to two works of art. Your paper must have a thesis and through comparing and contrasting the two works you will argue (prove) your thesis and reach a conclusion.
There are two main approaches to writing a comparison: split or lump. This refers to the organization of your points on each artwork. If you want to compare and contrast a number of elements about each work this is splitting and if you write first of one work and then the other in separate paragraphs you are lumping. You may write either way but make certain that you have about the same number of points or observations for each work. Pay close attention to the organization of your paper, it should make sense and flow naturally back and forth between the works compared. Try to make a logical progression from one point to the next.
You will want to examine each work of art closely. Ask yourself questions about the artwork: Why was this work made, for whom, by whom, in what style, what context and when? What is the work about? How does it convey a story, event, or particular meaning? How does the artist use form, colour, space, perspective and line? How is the composition arranged? What is the size and condition of the work, does this convey further meaning?
Once you think about these types of questions for each work separately you will need to consider them together. Ask yourself, why is this comparison relevant, what becomes more apparent about the works when you look at them side by side? Consider the visual impact, but also the context of the artworks’ production and reception. Are they of the same style and time period or not, why does this matter, are values and cultural elements similar or different? Do
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VISA 1Q99: Writing Assignment
Worth 20% of final mark, due Wednesday, May 31st, 11:55 pm via SAKAI>Assignment
these works convey the same message or something different, how is this done, how do you observe this in the works?
Begin by making notes on each work and then the comparative/contrasting elements that you can write about for both works. From here begin to compose your essay by creating a thesis. Your thesis is a statement that gives direction to your analysis. Take care to organize, revise and edit your paper. Poor organization and lack of editing will detract from your observations and your grade.
Format
The paper must be 4-5 typed, double-spaced pages of your writing with the course name, your name, and student number on the first page along with a title. You do not need a separate title page for this assignment but if you use one this does not count towards the page length of this assignment. The length requirement is 4-5 written pages excluding title page and bibliography/ works cited. You might find it helpful to take a look on SAKAI>Resources>Written Assignment>Further Reading on Writing a Comparison. Links to websites with helpful information are posted there. If you have access to one of the optional resources for this course read Henry Sayre, Writing About Art: “How to Write a Compare and Contrast Essay” or Sylvan Barnet, A Short Guide to Writing About Art: “Writing a Comparison.”
Research
You are not required to do a lot of research for this paper--it is meant as a practice of looking, describing and evaluating. Begin by reading about the work in your textbook, if you find that you want to use further secondary sources, your paper must follow the Chicago Manual of Style citation format or MLA. Basic information such as title, artist, date, origin of a work and general factual historical information do NOT need to be cited. You do need to cite information and ideas that you take from the textbook. Please see the links on SAKAI under Written Assignment>How to Cite Sources/Bibliographies, if you need help with citations. You will find citation style guidelines there. All secondary sources used in your writing (books, articles, websites, textbook, videos, etc.) must be cited, failure to do so constitutes academic dishonesty and will result in a grade of zero and possible failure in course. Please remember to CITE the textbook if you take more than general information from it!
Due Date & Late Policy
Papers are due May 31st by 11:55 pm submitted online (via SAKAI>Assignment). You will find under Assignments “Written Assignment #2,” from there you will be able to upload your paper as an attachment in most file types (.doc, .pdf). Be aware that SAKAI does not recognize MAC pages, please convert your file to .pdf before uploading. If we cannot open your file you will receive a grade of zero for the assignment. Once you have uploaded it you will be able to see the originality report for your paper. You will not be able to make changes once you have submitted your paper. Please do not panic when you view the report, often the material that is highlighted is simply your references, names of artist, or artworks.
The penalty for late assignments is 5% per day. Failure to submit your paper on time due to internet difficulties is not a valid reason. Assignments handed in more than 5 days late will not be accepted. Exceptions to the lateness penalty for valid reasons such as illness, etc. will be judged by the instructor ONLY when supported by written documentation such as a medical certificate that are presented within 3 days of your absence.
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VISA 1Q99: Writing Assignment
Worth 20% of final mark, due Wednesday, May 31st, 11:55 pm via SAKAI>Assignment
A Word about Turnitin.com in Assignment
As it is the responsibility of the instructor to track and report plagiarism, we will be utilizing turnitin.com in Assignment on SAKAI. This is an anti-plagiarism tool that screens all assignments against a database of the internet, e-journals, e-books, and a range of other scanned material including other assignments and papers for courses at universities. This ensures that all assignments are graded on a level playing field and means the papers can be read for ideas and content rather than policed for plagiarism. If you should have concerns about the use of this anti-plagiarism tool these must be expressed to me via email before June 15th.
Grading
Your assignment will be number graded out of 20 with comments online and your numerical grade recorded under SAKAI>Gradebook. Please be aware because of the large number of students in this course it may take up to two weeks for your assignment grade to appear.
Helpful Information:
- Titles of artworks are italicized, dates follow in brackets i.e. Masaccio’s Holy Trinity (1425) is a
fresco depicting the Madonna and child enthroned.
- artists are referred to by full name initially and then subsequently by surname only
- Avoid the use of colloquialisms and contractions in your essay (i.e. I’m, don’t, isn’t, it’s)
- ‘its’ is a possessive form, ‘it’s’ is a contraction for it is
- You may use the first person or chose to write from the third person perspective. For
example: Immediately I noticed the use of saturated colour in the lower portion of the painting which gives a sense of ground and weight to the composition. OR: The use of saturated colour in the lower portion of the painting gives a sense of ground and weight to the composition.
- Footnote or use MLA citations for all secondary material. Include a bibliography or works cited page.
- You do not need to include images unless you refer to additional artworks.
- If you use quotations (which should be used sparingly and ONLY when they support your
thesis directly) cite them correctly and introduce them with your own text. For example: The bold use of Christian symbolism in combination with references to popular culture underscore what art critic Barbara Rose has named as “the religious mundane or popular icon.”1
- Paragraphs need a minimum of three sentences.
- Edit your paper for errors, sometimes reading your paper out loud will help catch small errors.
1 Author, Source (Place: Publisher, Date) page number. (For Book)
Author, “Article.” Journal Name Volume/Number (Month/Season Year): page number. (For Article)
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Answer
Art Comparison
The 18th and 19th centuries remain some of the most significant periods in the evolution of art. It is in this period that the various approaches to art came to fore such as classical and romanticism. Considering the approach of romanticism, it is centered on the artist production of images that reflect on their imagination and ideas. It is also the period when the naturalistic form of art was presented which provided paintings and scriptures that reflected on the natural events and issues that faced the artist and the contemporary world. Since the inception of art, it has evolved in various ways to include attractive features that are aimed at not only conveying the artist message but also spark various emotions from the viewer (Bergesen 299). To profoundly understand the distinctions in the arts, it is important to compare various paintings of sculptures that bring out different aspects and concepts in art. This paper, therefore, compares two arts, Angelica’s Cornelia Pointing to her Children as Her Treasures and Dante’s La Pia De’ Tolomei. Various aspects considered in the comparison include the impacts of the art, meaning, and context among others. While Kauffman’s art is characterized by equal scale of the elements in the painting and multiple colors to convey the message, Dante’s work focuses of the woman in the picture as the central figure and also uses multiple colors and elements to bring out the intended message.
The painting Cornelia presenting her children as her treasures was developed by Angelica Kauffman in 1785. The vivid description of the art is that there are two women where one who is seated holds her jewelry while the other woman who is standing is pointing at young ones whom from the description of the art are her children. Comparing the two scenarios, it is apparent that while the seated women use jewelry as her treasure, Cornelia, on the other hand, objectifies her children as the treasures (Perry 91). She does not consider her adornments as the treasures but uses her offsprings as one. The Pia de’ Tolimei, on the other hand, is an oil painting on the canvas which was produced in 1868 by Dante Gabriel Rossetti. In this art, the vivid description is a woman who is seated and appears sad (Rainof 875). Among the conspicuous aspects describing her include the long pink hair and the beautiful but sad face. She is looking down with her hands placed on her thighs
The interpretation of the paintings is a clear reflection of the neoclassical period where the artists developed their works based on the imaginations and the daily experiences. In Dante’s picture, one of the important aspects used to derive the deeper meaning of the picture is that she is saddened by something which we are led to understand is her husband who had imprisoned and later killed her. In this regard, it is evident that the background of the painting is not important to the viewer as compared to the appearance of the woman. The bottom line of the painting is that it was produced at a time when women oppression was common (Tsoumas 2). This presents the romanticism element of the painting where Dante leads us to believe on the central aspect which he was deluding himself regarding holding beautiful women as prisoners against their will. Kauffman’s painting of Cornelia presents a variation in people on what they regarded as their treasures. While the seated women hurriedly present jewelry as her treasure, Cornelia points at her children whom she values as more important than the adornment. Accordingly, Cornelia presents two of her children who have a political influence later. These are Tiberius and Gaius who make an attempt at reforming the republic of Rome.
Considering some of the similarities in the paintings they are centered on the use of multiple elements, colors, and form. Both paintings use various colors and combination of elements to represent several aspects of their work. For instance, Kauffman uses simplicity in the painting composition which makes it easy to understand. Various elements in the painting which are important in explaining the setup of the work include the robes of the different characters as well as their color. The two beams, and the type of attire and color of clothing are used to reflect on Roman approach and their way of living. Other colors that are relevant in this painting include orange, gray and yellow which are all integrated to convey the art’s message. Similarly, Dante uses multiple colors to represent various aspects of the painting. Such include the color of the hair which according to him is auburn tinge contrary to the represented woman’s hair, Jane, whose color of the hair was brown (Tsoumas 3). Similarly to Kauffman, the colors of the robes and the trees in Dante’s painting represent the background and surrounding of the individual in the picture. Among the major strengths of Dante’s painting is the ability to bring out the beauty of the woman in the picture as well as the sad face. Considering the aspect of form, both pictures are oil paintings on canvas which take a two-dimensional approach.
One of the major ways of distinguishing a painting is the presentation of the central message which may be done in various ways such as an event or a story. It is through such a presentation that we are able to understand the message of the artist. In this case, both images are representing a situation and are among a series of paint works that reflected on a particular story which had an impact on the specific artist. While Dante is concerned with presenting a story regarding the beautiful women who were at the mercy of the men, Kauffman reflects on the variation in how different women considered their treasures. The two images are a presentation of a specific instant in the story which is the oppression of the women in Dante’s painting and the perception of what held value to the people in the society between children and jewelry. Considering the size of a paintings, it is based on the main content in the image in relation to the background and other elements (Szombati, Ilona and Johannes 2). A major distinguishing factor in these two images is that Cornelia’s painting represents equality in the scale of the elements while that by Dante represents lack of proportionality in the elements. Here, Dante makes the woman in the painting as the central figure thus making the viewer disregard other elements in work such as the background. In Dante’s painting, the woman covers most of the space which denotes the main message. She is more conspicuous as compared to the trees among other elements such as the building. Kauffman, on the other hand, uses proportionality in the various elements in the painting from the women and children to the beams and the floor.
Distinguishing paintings is also based on the perception of the viewer who in this case must either conform to the artist’s message or have different emotions. One of the main aspects of the classical and romanticism approaches is the representation of the thoughts and ideas of the artist based on factors such as observation and natural events (Fuqua 1). The interpretation of a painting, on the other hand, is dependent on the intuition and perception of the viewer regarding the work. In this case for instance, without reading where the image emanated from or what the artist intention was, Dante is conveying a message of the challenges a woman goes through in their lives. Kauffman’s painting, on the other hand, intrigues the importance of children to a woman and the variation in value between children and ornaments. According to the first perception of the image is that Cornelia prefers having children as her important treasure as compared to the other woman who only has jewelry to show.
Conclusively, the comparison of various arts is centered on various aspects among them the context, vivid explanation and the composition of elements among others. Most important to consider in the comparison is the intention of the artist and the interpretation of the image. While Kauffman’s painting is considered a proportional picture whose strengths are based on the use of various colors and elements to bring out the intended message, Dance’s painting lacks proportionality as reflected in the woman in the picture being the central element although it also embraces the use of multiple colors and elements to bring out the artist’s message. The two images are produced at different times although their meaning is according to the classical and romanticism aspects being naturalistic and reflecting on the artist’s ideas and imagination. The above discussion is centered on the difference between Kauffman’s art and that by Dante based on vivid meaning, context, and story among other aspects.
References
Bergesen, Albert. "Postmodernism: A world-system explanation." Strukturelle Evolution und das Weltsystem. Springer Fachmedien Wiesbaden, 2016. 299-307.
Fuqua, Elizabeth. "Art and the Human Condition: Incorporating Visual Analysis of Artworks into an Undergraduate Pre-Medicine Curriculum." (2012).
Perry, Gill. "Women artists,”masculine rt and the Royal Academy of Art." Gender and Art. London: Yale University Press in association with The Open University (1999): 90-107.
Rainof, Rebecca. "George Eliot's Screaming Statues, Laocoon, and the Pre-Raphaelites." SEL Studies in English Literature 1500-1900 54.4 (2014): 875-899.
Szombati-Fabian, Ilona, and Johannes Fabian. "Art, history, and society: Popular painting in Shaba, Zaire." Studies in Visual Communication 3.1 (2017): 1-21.
Tsoumas, Johannis. "Love and melancholic art: the somber beauty of Jane Burden-Morris as the symbol of womanhood in Dante Gabriel Rossetti's works." South African Journal of Art History 30.1 (2015): 1-12.