Intro to history and visual arts

Front: What are the two basic human impulses that Aristotle says are the origin of art?

Back: The impulse to imitate and the impulse to create patterns or harmony.

Front: What is the meaning of formal analysis?

Back: Connecting effects with causes by showing how the described object works.

Front: What is the difference between description and formal analysis

Back: Description: "The pupils of the eyes are turned upward"

Formal Analysis: "The pupils of the eyes are turned upward, suggesting a heaven-fixed gaze, or, more bluntly, suggesting that the figure is divinely inspired."

Front: What are the two ways to organize a comparison in an essay?

Back:Block-by-block (lumping): Discussing all features of one artwork, then discussing all features of the other artwork

Point-by-point (splitting): Discussing one feature of both artworks at the same time

Front: What potential problem can occur if a comparison is organized by point-by-point?

Back: It can create a "ping-pong effect" that prevents the essay from coming into focus until the conclusion.

Front: What should a writer do to prevent an essay from breaking into two separate halves when comparing block-by-block?

Back: Remind the reader of the first artwork when discussing the second artwork.

Front: What are the three steps in the writing process?

Back:

Prewriting: Jotting down ideas in no particular order.

Drafting: Organizing prewriting notes for an imagined reader and fleshing out the ideas.

Revising: Rereading and rewriting drafts in terms of organization, evidence, clarity, and style.

Front: What are some ways to generate ideas during the prewriting stage?

Back:

Consider ideas from class discussions or lectures that you agree or disagree with

Ask yourself questions about the artwork, such as those provided on pages 77-131 of Barnet's "A Short Guide to Writing About Art"

Take notes while looking at the artwork, including any free associations that come to mind

Look at art in museums reproduced on postcards or the museum's website

Front: What is the difference between repetition and redundancy?

Back:

Repetition provides emphasis or coherence.

Redundancy is unnecessarily repetitive and can always be eliminated.

Front: How can one avoid redundancy in writing?

Back: Make sure you aren't unnecessarily restating the same idea multiple times.

Front: When is it appropriate to use the passive voice?

Back: When the doer is:

Unknown

Unimportant

Too obvious to be mentioned

Front: What is the most important thing to consider when subordinating clauses in a sentence?

Back: The less important element should be subordinated to the more important element.

Front: What are the four components of an effective paragraph?

Back:

Unity: All sentences relate to a single unifying idea17

Coherence: Sentences connect to each other through the use of transitions15

Development: Support generalizations with concrete details, evidence, and examples1518

Transitions: Let the reader know where the argument is going and how the points connect15

Front: How long should a paragraph be?

Back: Generally no shorter than one sentence and no longer than one double-spaced typed page, unless serving as a transition or summary of a previous paragraph.

Front: What are some strategies for writing an effective introductory paragraph?

Back:

Engage the reader's interest

Identify the work of art being discussed

Indicate the writer's thesis

Front: What are some strategies for writing an effective concluding paragraph?

Back:

Round out the discussion without being too obvious or repetitive

Draw an inference or offer a fresh perspective that goes beyond the previous points

Use a relevant quotation

Reference an idea or detail from the beginning of the essay

Front: What is the meaning of iconography?

Back: Identifying the subject matter of a work of art by recognizing symbolic visual attributes.

Front: What is semiotics?

Back: The study of signs.

Front: What are the three aspects of any sign situation?

Back:

Sign vehicle: What is perceived by the observer

Object: What the sign stands for

Effect: The meaning created in the observer's mind by the sign-object relationship

Front: What are the three basic types of signs?

Back:

Icon: A sign of resemblance

Index: A sign of co-occurence

Symbol: A linguistically defined sign

Front: What is a dicent index?

Back: An indexical sign that is causally related to its object.

Front: What is semantic snowballing?

Back: The process by which an index can accumulate layers of meaning by being experienced in different contexts

Flash Cards for Artists

Front: Who is the artist who painted The School of Athens?

Back: Raphael

Front: Who is the artist who painted The Triumph of Galatea?

Back: Raphael