UMUC ARTH372 All Weeks Discussions Latest 2020 February

ARTH372 History Of Western Art

Week 1 Discussion

Visit the Metropolitan Museum of Art’s Helibrunn timeline: https://www.metmuseum.org/toah/

Select any artwork that will be covered in this course (Western Art: Ancient Near East to the Proto Renaissance (14th century).

Include the image and fully identify the artwork by providing title, artist, date, media, and location.

Based upon the readings, first provide a well thought out formal visual analysis of the artwork. At least four visual elements (light, space/mass, color, texture, line, design, media) must be included in your description.

Based upon the FTC chart, which of the 3 elements from the chart do you think is most important to understanding your selected artwork? Fully explain why in a well constructed paragraph.

To generate discussion, include one thought provoking question about either form, or theme, or context that you would like to ask the class.

Cite your sources.

ARTH372 History Of Western Art

Week 2 Discussion

Consider the concepts of life and death with respect to the art of the Ancient Near East and Egypt. Fully identify a work of art or architecture from both cultures and analyze this theme.

Provide a detailed description of your chosen works. Highlight elements such as materials used, size, form, color, line, texture, site and emotional impact on the viewer.

How does the work of art/architecture support the respective culture’s concepts of life and death? Based on the evidence at hand, how do the cultures’ perceptions appear to differ?

Incorporate captioned images to support your essay’s argument and respond to at least two peer posts this week. Properly cited sources are required.

ARTH372 History Of Western Art

Week 3 Discussion

After reviewing the week’s readings, discuss the depiction of the human figure in Ancient Greek art and compare it with Egyptian figural sculpture. Be sure to use specific examples to support your argument. What societal context underlies the difference in figural forms between the two cultures?

Be sure to work in MLA or APA format and provide complete image captions. Return and discuss the prompt with your classmates.

ARTH372 History Of Western Art

Week 4 Discussion

Based on your understanding of Roman art and culture, how do power and politics manifest in art and architecture? Describe 1-2 works of art or architecture and the context in which they would have been viewed. What message is conveyed to the audience? How is that message crafted? Be specific and support your examples with research.

Reminder - return and discuss the prompt with your classmates; include captioned images and properly cite your references.

ARTH372 History Of Western Art

Week 5 Discussion

Early Christian art demonstrates the importance of developing a symbolic vocabulary that mimics earlier cultural traditions. Choose a visual symbol (the halo, angel wings, Celtic knotting, etc.) and describe the possible origins of that symbol and how it has been adapted to illustrate a Christian concept. Use specific artworks to support your argument and explain the contextual significance of such design decisions.

This is a thematic response and may require more than one artwork to help support your description of how a particular symbol is read.  Make sure to include an artwork from the Middle Ages, and address the possible origin of the symbol (provide an image)

ARTH372 History Of Western Art

Week 6 Discussion

This week's material discusses both the Romanesque and Gothic styles.  There were various contextual influences that led to the differences of these two styles of art and architecture. Compare and contrast the differences in styles between the Romanesque and Gothic.  What are some contextual reasons for the differences? Include two examples: one from the Romanesque period and one from the Gothic period.

In your comparison analysis, do not discuss each work separately, but rather, provide a unified analysis of both cathedrals that includes architectural terminology.

Explain the contextual differences that would account for the stylistic variations.

Lastly, ask the class a thought provoking question.

Optional: There are many revivals of these churches scattered in American cities.  If you have visited any (or even the European originals), we would like to hear about your experience.

ARTH372 History Of Western Art

Week 7 Discussion

One of the major developments in the Proto Renaissance period, and one that will continue in the High Renaissance of the next century, was the artist’s interest in duplicating nature, to attempt a naturalistic visual representation of the world around them .  To not only look inward, but to actually observe nature.

Select one artwork from the Proto Renaissance, fully caption it with artist, title, date and location.

Explain how the artist has tried to recreate the natural world? 

What techniques has the artist used to create a sense of illusionistic space or depth?

And, finally do you think the Proto Renaissance artists are different than the artists and artisans that came before them?.  Include one other culture we have studied to contrast.

ARTH372 History Of Western Art

Week 8 Discussion

Post your completed Exhibition Project to the discussion forum and review the work of at least two colleagues. As you peruse your peers’ exhibitions, consider the following questions:

What elements best convey the exhibit’s goals?

In what ways does the exhibit further your understanding of the selected theme?

Is the exhibition logical and seamless?

Are there contemporary connections that come to mind when viewing the exhibit?

How can the exhibition be improved?