Written Paper on “Defining Art – Past and Present”

This assignment reinforces the concepts from Discussion #1 to build on a more comprehensive approach to understanding the definitions of art. This is an important activity that enables you to research a written concept (the definitions of art), visualize this concept (find an artwork), and then present your findings in a professional manner (written paper).

Task:

1. Read sections 1.3.1 Historic Development of the Idea of Art and 1.8 Key Concepts from Unit 1 and reference these when describing images. (these can be found in the pdf file attached)
2. Draft a paper in MLA format with a minimum of 500 words and 5 inserted images.
3. In your paper, briefly describe each of the five definitions of art from Unit 1 (Mimesis, Communication, Significant Form, Artworld/Institutional, Mind into the World).  Indicate a strength and a weakness of each definition.
4. Give a brief biography of each artist and a description (title, date, medium) of the artwork you present, as well as an explanation of how the artwork meets the criteria for each definition of art.
5. Cite your sources and include a Works Cited/Bibliography page in MLA format.
6. Save your paper as a PDF and submit it to the assignment folder by the deadline.

Wikipedia, Dictionaries, and Encyclopedias are considered open source or collective edited sources and should NOT be used in your paper.  Use signed sources from named authors. Proofread your paper carefully at least twice before you submit, correcting any errors in spelling, grammar or syntax and revising where your writing is unclear or needs further explanation.