FORMAL CRITIQUE

 

NOTE:  You must choose a work that you want to critique, virtually, and get it approved ahead of time.  A list of ideas is at the end of this assignment. Make sure you look back at the information you found in the chapters. Please be certain to complete paragraphs 4 and 5 as directed. Make sure that you support your personal evaluation as specified so that I have your opinion as part of the analysis. This essay should be more than 750 words including the name of the work you are critiquing.

 

 

YOU MUST USE ALL THE ELEMENTS AND PRINCIPLES FOR THE MEDIA/DISCIPLINE THAT YOU CHOOSE.  Again, refer back to chs. 1-4 depending on what you pick.  For example, if you choose a two-dimensional work of art (ch. 1), you need to discuss all of the elements and principles listed below.

 

The five elements

• line
• form
• color
• mass
• texture

 

The four principles

• repetition
• balance
• unity
• focal area

 

 

PARAGRAPH #1:  Descriptive Phase

Describe the artwork you have selected. Write your initial response (item A below) to the work.  What do you think the artwork is about (story)?  What message (idea) are you receiving from the work?  You may find both.

 

PARAGRAPH #2:  Analytical Phase A

Analyze the artist’s use of the Elements of this art in the artwork you select.  Locate and write about specific examples (item B below) in your selected artwork.  Think about how the artist’s use of the Elements affects your response to the artwork for Paragraph 5.

 

PARAGRAPH #3:  Analytical Phase B

 

Analyze the artist’s use of the Principles of this art in your selected artwork.  Locate and write about the specific examples (B below) in your selected artwork.  Think about how the artist’s use of the Principles affects your response to the artwork for Paragraph 5.

 

PARAGRAPH #4:  Interpretative Phase

Using the information provided by the book, event program, or museum label information as research, write about how your selected artwork fits in with the body of work and the intent of the artist.  DO NOT CONDUCT ANY ADDITIONAL RESEARCH FOR THIS ASSIGNMENT.  THIS IS NOT A RESEARCH PAPER.

 

PARAGRAPH #5:  Evaluative Phase

In CONCLUSION, state whether your personal response was changed by both your formal analysis (the Elements and Principles) and the research from the text.  Be sure to include more than this simple statement.  Qualify your response with reasons why (how), or why not, 2, 3, and 4 affected your first response.  ADDITIONALLY, by attending a visiting a museum, looking at a fine work of architecture, or listening to a musical performance, even virtually, you support the arts community. After your personal response to the work of art or event you chose, think about the work and where you saw it. Write a few sentences that demonstrate your understanding of the value of the work/event and its impact on the community.

 

NOTE on this assignment and on writing in general:

1. First responses should be just that. Resist the urge to over-think this. React and respond and describe that feeling or response in your writing.  If the artwork tells you a story, then communicate that story in your writing.  If it makes you sad, then express that in your writing, and explain why.
2. You MUST give specific examples of how and where the artist uses them in your selected artwork. Do not simply list the elements and principles used in the image. Additionally, the examples you provide must reflect the artist’s use and application of the Elements and Principles in the making of the artwork, NOT about story, meaning, or response

 

A well-constructed paragraph must be at least 5 sentences long.  Also, all material related to the topic of the paragraph stays in that paragraph.  You may refer back to that information in other places in your essay, but introduce the information in its appropriate place.

 

Essays and individual paragraphs have a beginning, middle and end.  In this essay, the beginning is your initial response; the middle represents your analysis and research (2, 3, 4), and your conclusion is paragraph 5 which ties back to your beginning.

 

NO CONTRACTIONS ARE APPROPRIATE IN FORMAL WRITING!  Do not use

don’t, use do not.  College-level grammar is expected.

 

Put your essay in MLA format and email to your instructor by the due date listed for your section in the What to Do List and the Calendar.

 

Acceptable Virtual Choices

 

 

ART

 

A work from the Dallas Museum of Art, the Meadows Museum, the Nasher Sculpture Center, the Crow Collection of Asian Art, the Kimbell Museum, the Amon Carter Museum of American Art, and the Modern Art Museum of Fort Worth.  They all have many works from their collections online.  Please let me know which work you choose.  Email me with your class, section number, and name as well as the name of the work and artist.

 

ARCHITECTURE

 

The Modern Art Museum of Fort Worth designed by Tadao Ando.

The original part of the Kimbell Museum designed by Louis Kahn.

The new part of the Kimbell Museum designed by Renzo Piano.

The Nasher Sculpture Center designed by Renzo Piano.

Dallas City Hall designed by I.M. Pei.

The Morton Meyerson Symphony Center designed by I.M. Pei

The Perot Museum by Thom Mayne.

Please let me know which work you choose. Email me with your class, section number, and name as well as the name of the work and architect.

 

MUSIC

 

Go to YouTube and search under Symphonic Performances.  Select a piece and send me the complete web address so I can approve it.

 

 

I am open to other ideas, but they must have my approval