AH318A: Selected Topics in Art History: The Church and Cataclysm

Church and Cataclysm - Artist Presentations

Assignment

Prepare a five-minute talk on your experience of researching the artist of your choice. Be sure to tell us about the following, or tell us if you still don't have the information:

• Artist's name and commission(s)
  • check spelling and dates for accuracy; remember to include town and country
• Artist's faith position and/or political convictions
• Artist's response to the commission
  • quote artist if possible, or cite 2ndary source, or explain inference
• Tell us about your strategies, problems and successes with the research
  • give your sources for the info above (full citations in written report)
• Consider the contemporary relevance of your research
  • light touch here! Note: 9/11 is ASSUMED.
• Use your experience and expertise to support, develop or challenge this assignment in one way
• OPTIONAL: Add your own academic contribution to the topic (e.g. a relevant idea, suggested research strategy for next stage, added implications of topic concerning memorials or society or religion, etc …)
  • light touch here too!

Considerations

Use the list above as a checklist for basic content. If you have problems or wish to change the assignment, me first! (I will have to think about fair grading, so that is important).

Remember that a newsreader narrates at 140 words per minute, which translates to 2½" per page of double-line spaced text (roughly 350 words). So if you write a text you have TWO PAGES maximum.

Give sources for everything! All footnotes and bibliographic references on separate pages (additional to your two pages of text).

It would be a good idea to locate images of your artist's assignment(s) among the links on the class website, so that you can direct us to them quickly (e.g. "week 5, half way down, Assy, 3rd link")

If you aren't used to giving oral presentations in class, remember that everyone feels anxious (including your professor). It's OK to make mistakes - they'll only make everyone sympathetic or grateful. When other people are giving their presentations, remember how you feel about your own turn, and give them a courteous and supportive hearing.