Midterm Project: In the Style Of, Part 1
Photography I
By three methods we may learn wisdom: First, by reflection, which is noblest; second, by imitation, which is easiest; and third by experience, which is the bitterest.
-- Confucius (551 BC - 479 BC)
One age-old method of learning about an art medium is to imitate an established artist. In order to understand your craft with depth and thoughtfulness, you must understand what artists have done before you.
For your mid-term project, you will research and present on the style/manner of a photographic artist that has been influential in the history of photography. Once you return in January, you will make photographs in the style of your artist for a separate project grade.
Below is a list of artists. You will each choose an artist that you'd like to research and (later) photograph in their style. Choose a few in case another student chooses your first choice artist. Artists will be assigned on a first come/ first serve basis.
PART A: RESEARCH -- Biography with bibliography and source images
Write a 3 page biography with at least 10 source artist images including dates and titles – MLA format, double spaced, 12 point font with a cover page. (Note: your images are not included in your paper length requirement). Write an accompanying bibliography with at least two sources (not including Wikipedia).
As part of your research, look at as many images of your artist as you can. Familiarize yourself with their work, their major themes, their material and process. Look for interviews online (check Art21), look for museums that have their collections, look for source references in the library, online, etc.
PART B: PRESENTATION -- 10-15 minute presentation on your artist, their biography, and their work
On Monday, November 28, you will each sign up for presentation dates during our last week of class. On the date you choose, you must turn in all parts of your Mid-term project.
DUE DATES:
Friday, November 18th — Choose your artist
Monday, November 28 — Presentation Date Sign-up
Tuesday-Wednesday (Block class), November 29-30 -- Artist Source Images (10) -- folder in Google Drive
Due in your Google Drive folder under Midterm Project folder. Label as lastname_firstname_artistname_01, etc. Make sure your source images are at least 500 pixels on the longest edge.
Thursday, December 1 -- Artist Biography Rough Draft (one page rough draft with bibliography)
Due in your Google Drive folder under Midterm Project folder. Create as a Google Doc and label as lastname_firstname_rough_draft.
December 5-9 — MID-TERM PROJECTS DUE (Parts A and B) on your sign-up date
Artists:
Sally Mann
Edward Burtynsky
Cindy Sherman
Hiroshi Sugimoto
Diane Arbus
Richard Avedon
Edward Weston
Robert Frank
Walker Evans
Dorothea Lange
William Eggleston
Gregory Crewdson
Arno Minkkinen
Jerry Uelsman
August Sander
Joel Sternfeld
Alec Soth
Andreas Gursky
Lori Nix
Francesca Woodman
Annie Leibowitz
By three methods we may learn wisdom: First, by reflection, which is noblest; second, by imitation, which is easiest; and third by experience, which is the bitterest.
-- Confucius (551 BC - 479 BC)
One age-old method of learning about an art medium is to imitate an established artist. In order to understand your craft with depth and thoughtfulness, you must understand what artists have done before you.
For your mid-term project, you will research and present on the style/manner of a photographic artist that has been influential in the history of photography. Once you return in January, you will make photographs in the style of your artist for a separate project grade.
Below is a list of artists. You will each choose an artist that you'd like to research and (later) photograph in their style. Choose a few in case another student chooses your first choice artist. Artists will be assigned on a first come/ first serve basis.
PART A: RESEARCH -- Biography with bibliography and source images
Write a 3 page biography with at least 10 source artist images including dates and titles – MLA format, double spaced, 12 point font with a cover page. (Note: your images are not included in your paper length requirement). Write an accompanying bibliography with at least two sources (not including Wikipedia).
As part of your research, look at as many images of your artist as you can. Familiarize yourself with their work, their major themes, their material and process. Look for interviews online (check Art21), look for museums that have their collections, look for source references in the library, online, etc.
PART B: PRESENTATION -- 10-15 minute presentation on your artist, their biography, and their work
On Monday, November 28, you will each sign up for presentation dates during our last week of class. On the date you choose, you must turn in all parts of your Mid-term project.
DUE DATES:
Friday, November 18th — Choose your artist
Monday, November 28 — Presentation Date Sign-up
Tuesday-Wednesday (Block class), November 29-30 -- Artist Source Images (10) -- folder in Google Drive
Due in your Google Drive folder under Midterm Project folder. Label as lastname_firstname_artistname_01, etc. Make sure your source images are at least 500 pixels on the longest edge.
Thursday, December 1 -- Artist Biography Rough Draft (one page rough draft with bibliography)
Due in your Google Drive folder under Midterm Project folder. Create as a Google Doc and label as lastname_firstname_rough_draft.
December 5-9 — MID-TERM PROJECTS DUE (Parts A and B) on your sign-up date
- You must turn in a typed and printed version of your biography with bibliography and image list. You will also turn in a digital version of this, saved as a PDF, under your Midterm Project folder in Google Drive labeled as lastname_firstname_biography_final.
- Your presentation must be uploaded to your Midterm Project folder in Google Drive labeled as lastname_firstname_presentation BEFORE you come to class on your presentation day. It is essential that you have this file uploaded so that everyone may give their presentation in a timely fashion.
Artists:
Sally Mann
Edward Burtynsky
Cindy Sherman
Hiroshi Sugimoto
Diane Arbus
Richard Avedon
Edward Weston
Robert Frank
Walker Evans
Dorothea Lange
William Eggleston
Gregory Crewdson
Arno Minkkinen
Jerry Uelsman
August Sander
Joel Sternfeld
Alec Soth
Andreas Gursky
Lori Nix
Francesca Woodman
Annie Leibowitz