ARTH 121: What is Art About?: Reference Materials

Individual presentations should address the following topics:

1. An historical explanation of the work of art within its specific context of creation and reception to better understand why it was considered "controversial" at the time of its appearance;

2. A brief introduction about the artist's life, so one may verify the relevance of this particular work within the master's career;

3. Personal critical remarks about the piece (in conversation, of course), with ideas and interpretive hypotheses provided by at least two scholars who had studied the same work.

This seminar course is designed to introduce students to the nature of art historical inquiry. Through the exploration of a designated topic, the course will focus on a core set of artworks and relevant primary literature. The course will also introduce students to selected issues in art historical interpretation and argument, as well as theory and criticism.

Listed on this page are key reference resources that provide a general overview of a topic or help identify synonyms, related terms, or basic data. These sources often include references and lists of further readings.

You can set up an individual research consultation with a subject librarian for research help. Here are a few other things that we can do for you:

• Show you the best places to begin your research.
   
• Locate the information you need within our library or elsewhere.
   
• Help you cite information correctly (e.g. Chicago style).
   
• Judge the quality & reliability of information.
   
• Teach you how to use information ethically (e.g. avoiding plagiarism).
   
• Determine whether something is peer-reviewed.