Written Assignment 1: Four-Part Analysis of Islamic Art works
For your first assignment, you will analyze two examples of Islamic art. You have two options to choose your artworks:
If you have visited or intend to visit The Keir Collection of Islamic Art Gallery at the Dallas Museum of Art (DMA), you can choose your objects from The Keir Collection.
If you have not visited or do not intend to visit The Keir Collection of Islamic Art, you can choose your Islamic art objects from the artworks photographed and found in the collection of Islamic art at The Metropolitan Museum of Art. Below is the link to The Met’s collection of Islamic art. Choose your objects from the Met’s website:
https://www.metmuseum.org/art/collection/search#!?department=14&showOnly=highlightswithImage&offset=0&pageSize=0&perPage=20&sortBy=Relevance&sortOrder=asc&searchField=All
For each art object, you select and explain relevant terms relating to the four-part analysis method: physical properties (shape, size, medium/materials, techniques) formal structure (visual elements and composition), subject matter (natural subject and iconography), and cultural context.
For each work, select the relevant terms from each part of the four-part analysis. Copy the term into the box and justify in your own words your choice of the term. For physical properties, formal structure, and subject matter, explain where the term is visible. For cultural context, justify your selection.
For each, you will identify it, information about Title, Artist/Culture, Date. If you choose objects from the Met’s website, you need to provide the URL to their page on the museum website.
This is not an essay. You are creating a kind of glossary of relevant terms and providing evidence and justification of your selection.
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Instructions:
Use this Word document to complete your assignment. Save it to your computer or drive now.
Consult the rubric to understand my expectations.
Put all writing in your own words. Do not reuse/copy/plagiarize anything or anyone, including yourself. All writing for this class must be your own and original to this semester.
Include as many relevant terms/concepts as possible.
Cite any outside resources you consult. Citations should not just be a link; should be in Chicago/MLA/APA format.
Check spelling and grammar.
Save the document as a pdf file.
Upload to TCU ONLINE by the deadline listed in the syllabus. Start early. Late work is not accepted.
Sources of information for your answers:
Textbook
Terms and Concepts list.
External resources (museums, online encyclopedias, etc.). You must put this information in your own words and cite your sources.
Here are the terms to choose from (from the Terms/Concepts list plus a few extra):
Part of Analysis
Terms
physical properties
Calligraphy, architecture, miniature painting sculpture, illuminated manuscript, metalwork, painting, ceramics, glass, low relief, high relief, shallow relief, inlay, carve, carving, stone, engrave, incise, carpet, fabric
formal structure
Floral motifs, geometric, vegetal, calligraphic, muqarnas, arabesque, ornamentation, figurative, non-figurative, aniconism, hierarchic scale, colossal scale, composition, registers, ground, background, composite pose, composite view, characteristics, space, depth, three-dimensionality, naturalistic, lifelike, canon of proportions, ideal, idealized, idealization, style, stylized, conventions, representational conventions, traditional representational system, formula, visual language
subject matter
Secular, religious, narrative, storytelling, caliph, ruler, god-king, deity, god, symbol, symbolism, iconography, meaning, subject, attributes, guardian figures, composite creature, sarcophagus, ka, ritual, rite, ceremony, offering, tribute, hieroglyphs, cuneiform, inscription, portrait, likeness.
context
Islamic caliphate, sacred authority, polytheistic, ruler, god-king, deity, god, divine right to rule, social hierarchy, rank, class, city-state, complex, citadel, compound, timelessness, permanence, burial chamber, sarcophagus, tomb, necropolis, patron, commission, ritual, rite, ceremony, ceremonial, offering, tribute, traditions, funerary, cultural context,
Your Name:
Islamic Art Object
Title, textbook figure number, date
Culture
Select and explain the terms relevant to physical properties of shape, size, medium/materials, and technique visible in this work.
Select and explain the terms relevant to formal structure visible in this work. Point to specific locations in the work to justify your selections.
Select and explain the terms relevant to subject matter visible in this work. Point to specific locations to justify your selections.
Select and explain the terms relevant to cultural context in this work.
Cite sources consulted.
Islamic Art Object
Title, date, and
URL Link
Culture
Select and explain the terms relevant to physical properties of shape, size, medium/materials, and technique visible in this work.
Select and explain the terms relevant to formal structure visible in this work. Point to specific locations in the work to justify your selections.
Select and explain the terms relevant to subject matter visible in this work. Point to specific locations to justify your selections.
Select and explain the terms relevant to cultural context in this work.
Cite sources consulted.