Art is rarely ever been without some controversy. Beyond simply just having debates over aesthetics or techniques, what artists have chosen to convey through their work has always been a source of conversation. This conversation has, at times, become quite contentious. The reasons why works of art become sources of controversy can vary, but whatever the reason, there was something there that tapped into someone’s emotions or views. This will be foundation of your class final.
Your assignment is to research a piece of art or body of work that is now or has been considered controversial in some way. Find a link to an article or story about the artwork detailing why it is considered controversial. Posting an image of the art in question is fine, but do not just post a picture of the artwork without an accompanying article. Do some research, do some digging for different points of view about the art. Write a 3-5 paragraph essay in the Discussion about what the article is about and why the piece of art is considered controversial and what your thoughts on the controversy are.
In discussing the work of art, consider some of the following:
What are you looking at? (What is the title of the piece? Who is the artist? What is it made from? Where is the art located or has it been lost/destroyed?)
Why did you decide upon this article? What made it stand out?
What formal elements stand out? (Line, color, shape, form, texture, etc.)
How do you interpret the work? What message do you feel it is sending? What is making the art controversial and, most importantly, WHY? Who is impacted by the art (Who is ? Was the art being censored or discouraged? Explain your conclusions.
What impact has the work had on the community or the viewers? Does the level of controversy seem appropriate to the work of art? Do you agree or disagree with the either the work of art or the controversy? WHY? Explain your conclusions.
Please make sure these are YOUR thoughts. Don’t plagiarize anything. I can tell when the ideas are yours and when they’re being copied/pasted from an artist or art critic’s page. I’m interested in what you have to say about the art controversy. It’s okay to cite or quote an article or story but please do give credit where credit is due.
The topic is CONTROVERSY. Please do not write only about how much you like the art or find it beautiful. It’s okay to mention it, but why is the art CONTROVERSIAL?
Keep your article contained to about the last 100 years. The art, artist, or situation in question can be much older, but why is it or was it an issue in much more recent times? I don’t want to read about how Michelangelo was a trouble maker in the 16th Century. I’ll allow it if maybe Michelangelo’s work was stolen or damaged during the 20th Century, or perhaps something sold for a lot a money. Again, keep the topic contemporary and relevant.
Please keep this about visual art. I know there are other forms of art like music and theater, but let’s please stick to the kind of visual art we’ve discussed this semester.
Articles should come either news/newspaper, magazine, or online art news website. Please do not post links to artists web pages, museum, or gallery pages. They are very biased and will not tell the story of how a work of art has been deemed controversial to someone. It’s fine to use them for reference in your research, but they are not article sources. If you gave questions about your article or its source, please ask me!
Examples of possible sources (this is a small sample of possible sources)–
Art News Websites:
Artsy.net
ArtNews.com
ArtInAmericaMagazine.com
Frieze.com
Hyperallergic.com
Glasstire.com
Magazine Websites:
Time.com
Vogue.com
NationalGeographcMagazine.com
People.com
RollingStone.com
TheAtlantic.com
News/Newspaper Websites:
NYTimes.com
WashingtonPost.com
USAToday.com
CNN.com
ABC.com
LATimes.com
Any nationally published news or newspaper website
Your local news station or newspaper’s website
DO NOT LINK TO A MUSEUM, GALLERY, OR ARTIST’S WEBSITE/WEB PAGE. These are not independent sources nor will they provide an impartial opinion.
**Post the link for your article to your Discussion so that your classmates can reference your source.** THIS IS REQUIRED (25% of your grade)
If possible, please post of an image of the artwork in addition to the article for easy reference in your discussion post.
Please respond thoughtfully to at least one of your classmate’s discussion posts. This has been a requirement all semester for discussions. Failure to reply to at least one other post will result in a 25-point deduction toward the grade on this assignment. As always, please be respectful of the opinions of others.
How I will grade this assignment:
50% — Complete sentences, 3-5 paragraphs. Ideas are thought out and supported. You have explained and backed up your ideas in a clear, respectful way.
25%– A link to the article has posted to the discussion. Links to display information, gallery, museum, or artist web pages do not count! Posting only an image will not count, either.
25%– A thoughtful reply has been left to at least one other student (I will not send out reminders).
Please write in complete sentences and paragraphs. DO NOT bullet point or number your answers.
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