Modules 1-8: Short Essay Instructions

Due: Wednesday
Points: 25

In approximately one page (double-spaced), address the following question(s): [Insert Short
Essay Topic applicable to each module].

Your short paper should have an introduction and conclusion and your ideas should transition
between paragraphs. Your short essay will be evaluated for content as well as proper writing
mechanics, clear layout, use of art terminology, and academic tone. Cite and analyze substantive
information from our text in all of your paragraphs to support your ideas. Other academic
sources can also be cited. Examples of other academic sources are the Metropolitan Museum of
Art, the New York Times, the Khan Academy, PBS, The Smithsonian Magazine, etc. This
assignment should be formatted according to APA including title and reference page. The
expected formatting for this assignment is shown in the attached file: "HUM3610 APA Template
Short Essay." Download and use this APA template for your short essay.

Submit in MS Word (.doc/.docx) format only. Please refer to the attached grading rubric
and APA template.

(SLOs 1, 2, 3, EOs 1a, 1b, 1c, 1d, 2a, 2b, 2c, 3a, 3b, 3c)
__________________________________-

Module 1 (Living with Art & What is Art?):

Short Essay Topic: What are your goals for this course? What is the value of studying art for
understanding the human experience and human history? How can appreciating art and better
understanding of the human experience support your goals for this course? Choose at least one
work of art from chapters 1 or 2 to illustrate your ideas. Cite and analyze substantive
information from the Living with Art text book to support your ideas.

Module 2 (The Themes of Art):

Short Essay Topic: From the eight themes that are discussed in chapter 3, chose one theme to
explore (The Sacred Realm, Politics and the Social Order, Stories and Histories, Looking
Outward: The Here and Now, Looking Inward: The Human Experience, Invention and Fantasy,
The Natural World, Art and Art). Discuss what you think is most significant about this theme
and why you think it is valuable to study. As part of your exploration, chose one work of art
from chapter 3 and one work of art not from chapter three in Living with Art to illustrate your
ideas. What should we gain in understanding from studying this theme and the works of art you
have selected? Cite and analyze substantive information from the Living with Art text book to
support your ideas.

Module 3 (The Visual Elements):

Short Essay Topic: From the visual elements that are discussed in chapter 4, chose one work of
art from chapters 1, 2, or 3 from Living with Art to explore in-depth in regards to three or more of
its visual elements (line, shape, mass, light, color, texture, pattern, space, time, and motion).
Discuss how the visual elements you selected are reflected in the work of art you have chosen.
Explore how studying and being aware of those elements can enrich our appreciation of the work
of art. Your analysis should be specific and include discussion of what is written in our text
book as well as what you see and can describe in the work of art itself. Cite and analyze
substantive information from the Living with Art text book to support your ideas.

Module 4 (The Principles of Design):

Short Essay Topic: Chose one work of art from chapters 1, 2, 3, or 4 from Living with Art to
explore in-depth in regards to three or more principles of design (unity, variety, balance,
emphasis, subordination, scale, proportion, and rhythm). Discuss how the principles of design
you selected are reflected in the work of art you have chosen and how studying and being aware
of those principles enrich our appreciation of the work of art. Your analysis should be specific
and include discussion of what is written on this work of art in our text book as well as what you
see and can describe in the work of art itself. Cite and analyze substantive information from the
Living with Art text book to support your ideas.

Module 5 (Drawing & Painting):

Short Essay Topic: Previously in chapter 2, the question “What is art?” was explored through
the subjects of artist and audience, art and beauty, art and appearances, art and meaning, and art
and objects. Consider your specific role as the viewer (audience) of art by selecting one work of
art from this week’s readings (chapters 6 and 7) that you consider to be visually ugly, but still a
great work of art. Also, select an artwork from this week's readings that you consider to be
visually beautiful, but not a great work of art. Describe what you find to be ugly or beautiful in
each work of art and why. As part of your exploration, discuss what makes a work of art great
and whether a work of art must be perceived as beautiful by the viewer to be considered
great. Cite and analyze substantive information from the Living with Art text book to support
your ideas.

Module 6 (Prints & Camera and Computer Arts):

Short Essay Topic: Select one print from chapter 8 and one photograph from chapter 9 in the
Living with Art text to compare or contrast. Compare and contrast at least two aspects of these
two works of art. Theme, subject matter, the characteristics of the different mediums or
materials, visual elements, principles of design, historical context, the intentions of the artists,
and your own personal interpretations are all suggested as potential topics for analysis. Cite and
analyze substantive information from the Living with Art text book to support your ideas.

Module 7 (Sculpture and Installation & Arts of Ritual and Daily Life):
Short Essay Topic: In chapter 1 we read about the subjective and selective nature of perception
and the crucial role that our personal perception plays in our understanding and appreciation of
art. “Above all, the nature of perception suggests that the most important key to looking at art is
to become aware of the process of looking itself – to notice details and visual relationships, to
explore the associations and feelings they inspire, to search for knowledge we can bring to bear,
and to try to put what we see into words” (Getlein, 2016, p. 15). Keeping this in mind, select one
work of art from chapters 11 or 12 and describe in detail what you see in this work of art and
your perceptions of it. Discuss the nature of perception as part of your answer and address how
studying a work of art closely can enrich understanding and appreciation. Cite and analyze
substantive information from the Living with Art text book to support your ideas.

Module 8 (Architecture):
Short Essay Topic: Chose one piece of architecture from any chapter of Living with Art to
discuss for how it changed the world and why. As part of your answer, you could discuss its
historical context as well as its architect, patron, builders, etc. Cite and analyze substantive
information from the Living with Art text book to support your ideas.