Tips for Writing a Museum Paper

Mechanics and Grammar

Here are a few notes and helpful reminders as you write, review, and finalize your papers. Please refer to the Museum Paper requirements and rubric on pages 18 and 19 in your Syllabus. I use this rubric as a guide to assess and grade your papers.

Mechanics and Grammar A careful review of your work will catch errors (spelling, paragraph, format, etc.) Spend time proofreading your work or have someone else look over your paper before submitting. Length of Paper The required 3 pages should not include the title page, reference page or digital images you might include of the artworks that you write about. Please use an appendix at the end of your paper to include pictures if you choose to do so.

Introduction and Conclusion Excellent papers are organized and have well developed introductions and conclusions.

Personal Reactions Include your own personal reaction to the art that you chose to write about. Why did you choose it? What drew you to this artwork? You may also include personal reflective statements on the experience of visiting a museum and what you found interesting.

Artists Biographies While I am glad to see some background on the artists connected with the art that you write about. I do not want to see more than a paragraph on their biography.

Critical Analysis Analyze and critically think about the art you observe on your visit using art terminology; specifically, the elements of art and principles of design.

Research It is expected that you will research the art that you write about. This is critical to understanding and enhancing your discovery and experience in this assignment. Look for an exhibit featured at the museum you are visiting or an artist and their work that you know will be at the museum. Research the art movement, style and or period of art prior to visiting or another resource to learn how to format your sources correctly. This is also an excellent resource for college level writing of papers. Please refer to Centenary University policies on plagiarism.

Audio Guides (NA to online museum tours) If you go to a large museum such as the MET, MoMA, Guggenheim, or the Whitney they will have audio guides for a nominal fee. I highly recommend these rentals. I even rent them on occasion. They are insightful and will usually enhance your appreciation for the work that you view. They are a good source for detailed information using art terms, terminology, and enriching background on highlights of the exhibit collection.

Photos You may take photos in some of the museum exhibits but not all. Most ‘special exhibits’ usually do not allow photos as they are on loan for the exhibit and have some copyright issues. Permanent exhibits allow some photography and usually without a flash. There are usually signs posted or stated in the museum guide.

Museum Paper Submission Your paper must be submitted in the Assignments Area in Moodle which is connected to Turnitin anti-plagiarism tool and your Gradebook.

Assessment I will grade mark your paper with my comments as feedback which will be accessible in the Assignment /Turnitin area in our course. The Museum Paper Rubric (see below) is the instrument that I use to grade your papers. Please review each section carefully prior to preparing and submitting your papers.

Students will visit an (online) museum or gallery and write an analysis of 2 art works you select. It can be 2 works by one artist or different artists.

You can review the list of questions below to reflect on when preparing your paper. If you have any questions about preparation or finalizing your paper, please contact your instructor.

1. Title of the artwork
2. Artist’s name
3. Media (e.g., oil on canvas, drawing, watercolor, marble or bronze sculpture)
4. Size (if the size isn’t listed, approximate the size, or go online to find it)
5. Date (when the work was created)
6. Period (e.g., Medieval, Renaissance, Baroque, Rococo, Academic, Modern, Contemporary, Post-Modern)
7. Genre: Landscape, Still Life, Portrait, Figure, Historical, Mythological or Religious, and Realistic or Nonobjective.
8. Idiom: Mannerism, Rococo, Romantic, Impressionism, Abstract, Cubism, Futurism, Regionalism, Surrealism, Pop Art, minimalism, Photo-realism, Social Realism (Consult textbook chapter headings to research idiom styles)
9. Narrative: Does the art use folklore or history to tell a story? Do symbols lead you into an allegory? Are there mythological or religious references to describe a narrative – i.e., Gods/Goddesses or Jesus, Saints, etc.?
10. Briefly describe what you see and what the composition is made of
11. What is the texture? (e.g., smooth, rough, glossy, or matte)
12. Key aspects of the composition (e.g., is the composition symmetrical, or is it asymmetrical?
13. Are there only one, two, or three basic shapes and the rest of the forms incidental to support the principle idea?
14. Historical context: Is there an historical event that surrounds the importance of this picture? Is this picture itself an icon, representing a groundbreaking moment in art history? (e.g., Vincent Van Gogh’s Starry Night considered the first Expressionist work of art or Jackson Pollack’s Autumn Rhythm as the first Abstract Expressionist work)
15. What is your reaction? What feelings does the image stir in you? (e.g., sadness, humor, inquisitive)
16. What aspect of the works naturalism, realism, or narrative inspires you? If the image is abstract, does thework’s abstraction inspire your imagination and curiosity? Does the artist use symbolism to get a point across? Does the art reference an allegory? Is the image based on mythological subjects? Is there a narrative that delivers a metaphor?
17. What is your interpretation? Do you like or dislike the picture? State your opinion clearly, concisely, and emphatically.