ASSIGNMENT UNIT TEN

Your Name Jay Docktor

ID Number 10895389
Your TA Milan Jilka
Date April 30, 2014

ASSIGNMENT DESCRIPTION
Like all of the assignments in this course, this one requires you to apply what you have learned
to the world in which you live. To appreciate art, you have to see it around you! Not all art is in
museums. The vast majority is out in the world.

This course consistently models how to analyze works of art and architecture for their function
and meaning in context as well as their form and materials. You will demonstrate your mastery
of course content by applying this approach to works from your community.

In this case, you will apply what you have learned about Indian Mughal painting to your own
life. Much like we considered how Akbars biography was chronicled in the Akbarnama, you
will create an illustrated autobiography that embodies the ideas and beliefs of modern
Americans. You will compare your findings to what you learned about Indian Mughal painting.

To do so, you may select photographs from your own collection or draw a series of
autobiographical images. You may tell the true story of your life or craft an ideal version that
reflects the ideals of modern American culture. Your challenge is to tell this story in three
images, so choose wisely. Whichever approach you choose, you will analyze the Function and
Meaning in Context of what you produce. We will set aside form and materials for this
assignment.

It can be challenging to analyze your own community. Dont assume that your reader
understands much about life in modern America. Explain thoroughly how the images represent
our culture and ideas. In this case, how do you tell the story of your life as a real or ideal
modern American?




ASSIGNMENT INSTRUCTIONS

1. Choose at least three photos or draw at least three autobiographical images that
summarize real or ideal American life.
a. Hint: We Texans are a bit sports-crazy. Wouldnt that photo of you scoring the
winning goal or hitting the homerun in Little League summarize one aspect of an
ideal American life?
2. Paste your photos or drawings into the spaces provided below. Resize, if necessary.
3. Compose your answers using a university-level, professional writing style.
4. Include relevant terms and concepts from the Terms and Concepts Worksheet for this
or previous units.
5. Proofread for errors and to insure completion.
6. Submit by the deadline.

Name your
autobiography.
For example, Life
and Times of an
American Girl.
Life and Times of a Successful American Boy
Explain the
function and
meaning of the
first image in its
context. In other
words, what does
it picture? How
does it represent
your ideas and
beliefs, and your
communitys?
What message is
it trying to
deliver? What
symbols does it
use to do so?
The first image I used was a drawing that I did of a report card. This drawing
represents public schooling, which in order to be successful, one must obtain
good grades. (Although that is not true, in the context of my autobiographical
images I used, it is). In elementary school through high school I was also hard
at work to obtain the best grades possible. This report card gives great
emphasis to what I strived for with the large A+s for each subject. The
message that this drawing is trying to deliver is that in order to see the A+,
which symbolizes a great triumph, for each subject, one must work hard to
obtain these grades. The second part of my first image is schooling after grade
school: college. This is a picture of the business building at the University of
North Texas, representing a divine institution in which one must also do well
at to be successful. The use of prestigious rhythm give the building a very
powerful look, representing a powerful education.
Explain the
function and
meaning of the
second image in
its context. In
other words, what
does it picture?
How does it
represent your
ideas and beliefs,
and your
communitys?
What message is
it trying to
The second image is a drawing on a prestigious businessman on his way to
work. The suit and suitcase represent professional attire, inferring that he is on
his way to work at a large company. This drawing represents what comes after
going to school and working hard to make the best grades, the job. The
suitcase in the drawing implies that he has papers he needs to carry, which
imply he has a professional job where he oversees paperwork at his job. This
drawing is the ideal spot where someone whose been going to school for such
a long time wants to end up at. The suit and suitcase only imply that the job is
very professional, he could be going to work at any high education-level
occupation.
deliver? What
symbols does it
use to do so?
Explain the
function and
meaning of the
third image in its
context. In other
words, what does
it picture? How
does it represent
your ideas and
beliefs, and your
communitys?
What message is
it trying to
deliver? What
symbols does it
use to do so?
The third image is a picture of a man and wife with their kids, the perfect
family. Ideally, once one goes through rigorous education and uses that
education to maintain a good-paying job, they would want to start a family.
The ideal American family would contain parents whom have good
educational backgrounds and great paying jobs because starting said family,
which this picture displays. The message this picture is delivering is that with
hard work and dedication, the ideal family is very obtainable. (Also, the
American flags give it a nice touch)
How does your
illustrated
autobiography
compare to the
Mughal
Akbarnama?
Like Akbar, my autobiography displays a very wise male, whom is open-
minded, taking his course on life to further better himself as a person.

PHOTOGRAPHS OR DRAWINGS:

Insert image #1 here:

(Drawing of a report card for public
schooling)









(Picture of Business Leadership building to represent college)



Insert image #2 here.
(Drawing of a businessman on his way to work at a large accounting firm)
Insert image #3 here.
(Picture of my high school calculus teachers family. This represents the ideal family that every
American strives to develop)




















(I did receive her permission to use this in my assignment)