Assignment #1: Choose one of the portraits in the above image gallery and write a 500 word ‘catalog essay’ on the image. The essence of this genre is balancing generalizing contextual information with the specifics of the work at hand. That is to say, you should try and place the work within a meaningful artistic and historical context while simultaneously revealing what is unique and most significant about the specific work. Your essay should unite all aspects of your formal analysis around a focused thesis. You may want to consider locating one detail or specific visual aspect of the work that you believe embodies or thematizes your thesis. Due in class on Thursday, February 7.

Assignment #2: Pick a bird discussed in Audubon’s Writings and Drawings, (pp, 195-515) and write a 2-3 page essay that describes how the image may embody, represent, or be in dialogue with the emergent democratic culture of the United States. Ground your thesis is a vivid visual analysis of the image. You may draw upon any of the readings from the class and particularly those listed for this week. You may also integrate Audubon’s written account of the bird into your analysis. Due in class on Tuesday, February 26.

Assignment #3: Choose one painting by Lane or Heade and write a 500-word ‘catalog entry’ on it. See assignment one for more details. Due in class on Thursday, April 3.

Assignment #4: Write a 2-3 page essay exploring the representational philosophy posited by trompe l’oeil paintings? In particular consider how such works might reveal a paradigm or ideal for other representational systems (such as language, currency, and even human bodies). Focus on particular works of art and particular passages and details in the work for your primary evidence. Due FRIDAY April 24. (You can email me a copy of your essay any time on the 24th).

Assignment #5: Class Presentation: This is an opportunity to share your research topic and preliminary findings with the class. Ideally you will have formulated a provisional thesis and will be able to bring a few images to class as part of your presentation. The length of the presentation will depend on enrollment but should be around 10-15 minutes. It needn’t be written but can be. Most important, you should convey of what you plan to argue and some of the evidence you have found so far. April 29 - May 1

Assignment #6: A 10-12 page research paper of a subject of your choice. Papers can be based on previous written work submitted for the class or address an artist or work of art not addressed in class (although such topics should be approved by the professor). Successful papers will contain a focused thesis that is substantiated by vivid formal analyses coupled with external textual evidence, some of which should come from sources not included in the syllabus. The paper is due in my office mailbox (LIB 320) Thursday, May 15th at 5 PM.