: Your task in this assignment is to compare "first generation" and "second generation" feminist arts in the United States in a formal essay that thoroughly summarizes how each understood gendered id
Purpose: The purpose of this Formal Essay writing assignment is to clearly summarize, synthesize and reflect on important information concerning feminist arts in the United States that you have encountered in lectures, discussions and special topic readings and discussions. The specific skills that you will practice and develop are:
• Organized and thorough notetaking of lecture and reading content
• Clear, concise and well-organized writing that synthesizes and summarizes course content from lectures and reading assignments
• Employing interdisciplinary methods of visual analysis
• Analyzing relationships between art and its social, cultural, political, historical and/or spiritual contexts
• Reflecting upon art employed as an instrument for social change
• Citing sources properly
Acquiring and developing these skills will contribute to your success both in this course and beyond, particularly in an ever-increasingly visually saturated world.
Knowledge: This assignment will also help you to become familiar with the following important content knowledge in this course and the discipline of Art History:
• Social, cultural, political, historical and/or spiritual contexts of art
• How aspects of feminism impacted the visual arts in the United States
• How visually oriented artistic practices are developed and modified to promote socio-political change
• The stakes involved in visual representation, particularly in term of identity politics.
Task: Your task in this assignment is to compare "first generation" and "second generation" feminist arts in the United States in a formal essay that thoroughly summarizes how each understood gendered identity (or “subjectivity”), their respective social goals, and characteristic artistic approaches/strategies. To do this, we would like you to choose two artists from the "first generation" (Schneemann, Edelson, Mendieta, Chicago, or an example from Womanhouse) and one artist from the "second generation" (Kruger or Sherman). Then, chose one work for each your chosen artists (3 works total) as your main examples.
• Take thorough, organized notes of lectures and special topic reading assignments.
• Select the 3 artists and 3 works of art that you will employ as the main examples for your essay. Here, your selection should be made in consideration of which artists/examples will allow you to best show the depth of your knowledge of the subject.
• Write an outline, “map” and/or re-organize and synthesize your notes related to these works as the starting point or guide for writing your Formal Essay. It is entirely appropriate for you to adapt previous writing assignments for this essay.
• Write a thorough, well-organized essay that summarizes the content areas assessed in the rubric for this Formal Essay (see Canvas).
• Your essay should have an introduction that summarizes the socio-historical context women faced at the time, how each “generation” understood gendered identity, and leads to a thesis that clearly articulates each movement’s main goals.
• The body of your essay should thoroughly analyze your chosen examples and relate them to the overall goals of each movement. In other words, this analysis of your examples should support and enrich your thesis statement.
• Your conclusion should summarize the main points of your essay and include a thoughtful reflection on your informed views of the impact each “generation,” including the successes as well as shortcomings of each.
Criteria for Success: You will be successful in this assignment if your essay 1) is well-organized and thoroughly summarizes the main goals of these “generations” feminist arts in the United States through a thorough analysis of your chosen examples; 2) provides a thoughtful and informed reflection on their successes and shortcomings; 3) properly cites sources. Excellent work most often differs from adequate work due to levels content inclusion, thorough connection made between students’ specific examples and the overall goals of the movement, and the organization students’ writing.
Format: 5-8 pages (excluding title page and bibliography), double-spaced, 1” margins, 12pt Times New Roman font. Upload to Canvas as a Word .doc or PDF file.
Citations should follow the Chicago Manual of Style and include a bibliography. See the tutorial and supporting materials on Canvas.
Rubric
AH 270 Formal Essay #1--initial draft (1)
AH 270 Formal Essay #1--initial draft (1) | |||||||
Criteria | Ratings | Pts | |||||
This criterion is linked to a Learning OutcomeContent of Essay in relation to "first generation" feminist arts in the U.S. This category of assessment includes such content as: |
| 25.0 pts | |||||
This criterion is linked to a Learning OutcomeContent of Essay in relation to "second generation" feminist arts in the U.S. This category of assessment includes such content as: |
| 30.0 pts | |||||
This criterion is linked to a Learning OutcomeExplanation of "de-centered" subjectivity (particularly the use of Lacan's ideas) |
| 10.0 pts | |||||
This criterion is linked to a Learning OutcomeIntroductory paragraph |
| 10.0 pts | |||||
This criterion is linked to a Learning OutcomeBody paragraphs and examples |
| 10.0 pts | |||||
This criterion is linked to a Learning OutcomeConclusion |
| 10.0 pts | |||||
This criterion is linked to a Learning OutcomeCitations/Bibliography |
| 5.0 pts | |||||
Total Points: 100.0 |