To complete this assignment, you must visit one of the following museums:
Dallas Museum of Art (free)
Nasher Sculpture Center
African American Museum of Dallas (free)
Crow Museum of Asian Art
Meadows Museum of Art
This assignment is an opportunity for you to demonstrate what you have learned in this course by recounting your experience of visiting a museum and discussing a selection of artworks in its collections.
Plan to spend several hours exploring your chosen museum, taking notes and photos, and thinking about the many artworks you see. Allow several days to write responses based on your notes and to edit your document before submitting it.
Instructions
- Review the assignment instructions before you go to the museum. Take this document with you. Know the assignment requirements and be attentive during your visit.
- Check the museum website for open days/hours, location, parking, and cost. Expect that backpacks and large bags may be required to be checked.
- Required format: Word .doc or .pdf College level writing is required. Number each response. Write in paragraph form and in complete sentences, with correct punctuation and spelling. Edit your document carefully to eliminate mistakes.
Plagiarism = 0 = F.
Use of AI without museum visit and authentic voice = 0 = F
- Provide a Works Cited for outside research (3 sources minimum required).
- This assignment is divided into sections, which include prompts and instructions; follow instructions carefully. Use course terminology to the best of your ability. Push your ideas and your voice.
- Two selfies are required to demonstrate that you went to your chosen museum. Selfie #1 must show you in front of the entrance to one of the galleries (the name of the gallery must be visible). Selfie #2 must show you with one of the artworks in the museum.
Respond to the following 4 prompts:
1. Visiting the Museum: The Role of the Museum in the Community (10 points)Museums often present us with a diverse collection of art from different cultures and historical periods. When you arrive at your chosen museum, take a moment to visit the information desk and view / collect any provided materials, including museum maps. Continue your museum visit from there; consider some of the following questions in paragraph form after you have completed your visit:
- Does the museum seek to teach visitors to understand and respect cultural diversity? How so or how not?
- How do educational materials such as labels, videos, maps, and pamphlets enhance your understanding of people from other cultures and periods in history? Give specific examples.
- What role do you think this museum plays in our community? In other words, what is its purpose?
- In addition to exhibiting artwork, what other cultural events are hosted by this museum?
- Do you think this museum is user-friendly? Why or why not?
- Did the museum design and the museum staff do anything to make your visit a success? If so, what? If not, what could they have done to enhance your experience? (Consider your identity, desires, and needs in this response.)
- What do you believe this museum could do to better serve our community? Your may answer this question through the lens of a specific identity, if you would like to.
2. Formal Analysis (35 points)Choose one artwork from your museum visit.
Identify the artwork using the information on the museum label or wall text. Start your response by listing the information highlighted below.
Title:Artist’s name, if known:Region/country/culture:Medium/materials: Date:
Collection number:
Photograph of the work:
Write a long paragraph (3/4 to 1 page) analyzing your chosen artwork in response to the following prompts; BE SPECIFIC:
- Explain how and where the artist used visual elements of design, making specific references to your chosen artwork: line, shape, contrast, volume, mass, texture, value, space, color.
- Explain how and where the artist used visual principles of design, making specific references to your chosen artwork: unity, variety, balance, scale, emphasis, pattern, rhythm.
- Explain the media (materials) and processes the artist used to create your chosen artwork. (In other words, what is it made out of and how did they make it?)
- Offer an interpretation of this work of art based on / justified by this analysis; your analysis of elements and principles of design should “prove” your interpretation. Include an interpretation statement such as, “I think this work of art is about…” or “This work of art makes me think about….” or “This work of art makes me feel…”
3. History and Cultural Context (35 points)
The context of art is the set of social, historical, cultural, philosophical and/or religious circumstances in which the artwork was created. You can think of this as anything OUTSIDE of the work of art that helps us interpret it.
Choose one work in the museum that you identify as having contextual significance.
Identify the artwork using the information on the museum wall or brochure text. Start your reseponse by listing the information highlighted below If something is missing from the label, leave that part blank.
Title:Region/country/culture:Medium/materials: Date: Collection number:
Photograph of the work:
Read the museum information provided for your chosen artwork and read general labels in the gallery. Provide a Works Cited for internet research (3 sources minimum required).
Based on information from museum labels, wall text, brochure text, and your own research, but in your own words, write a long paragraph (3/4 – 1 page) explaining the context of your chosen artwork. Questions you might answer for this part include:
- What major historical events occurred at the time and place the artwork was created? How do these events relate to the work and vice versa?
- What technological developments or scientific discoveries may have influenced the artist or provided information necessary to complete the work?
- What were the key philosophical or spiritual beliefs of the time and culture in which this work was created?
- What were the social and cultural influences on the work? Consider: social structure (individualistic or collectivistic), gender and other identity issues, patrons, intended audience (for personal use, private collection, royalty, the public, other artists), and original purpose of the work (religious ritual, functional, ceremonial, memorial, political).
- How does the contextual information found in your research help you better understand the meaning or function of this work of art (be sure to discuss the meaning or function of the work)?
4. Intuitive Response/Cultural & Intercultural Awareness and Engagement (10 points)
What did you learn about yourself (your beliefs and interests), other cultures, and your own culture by engaging with artworks at your chosen museum? Discuss your experience visiting the museum in relation to your experience participating in ARTS 1301 this term.
5. Selfies at the Museum· Selfie #1 (5 points)
It must show you in front of the entrance to one of the galleries (the name of the gallery must be visible). Resize so it’s not too large.· Selfie #2 (5 points)
This selfie must show you with one of the two artworks on which you have written. The artwork MUST be in the museum’s permanent collection for you to photograph it. Resize so it’s not too large.
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Important Reminders:
– If you think you might have plagiarized, rewrite your assignment in your own words BEFORE you submit it. All assignments are checked for plagiarism and AI.
Plagiarism results in a grade of 0 = F.
– Be sure to save your document with your last name in the file name. Remember it must be a .pdf or .doc file. No other file formats will be accepted.
Your completed document must be submitted to Brightspace before the deadline. Emailed copies will not be accepted.
The following will be considered in the assessment of this assignment:
- Visual Description – the ability to engage in written discourse intended to convey a mental image of a visual media object.
- Visual Explanation – the ability to explain plausible meanings and/or purposes of the image.
- Visual Consequences & Implications – the ability to discuss the potential consequences and/or implications of the visual image’s meaning.
- Intercultural Competence – includes knowledge of one’s own culture and how it has shaped one’s world view, knowledge of significant characteristics of other cultures, the ability to compare and contrast different cultures and the ability to adjust one’s actions to successfully interact with someone from another culture. Culture includes history, values, politics, economics, communication styles, beliefs and practices.
- Knowledge of Civic Responsibility and Engagement with Communities – includes active participation in the public life of a local, regional, national, and/or global community in an informed, committed, and constructive manner, with a focus on the common good.
