COMPARATIVE STUDY ASSIGNMENT

This component is worth 20% of your FINAL IB EXAM SUBMISSION!

PART I (MIDTERM EXAM GRADE - No Exemptions!)

RESEARCH PRESENTATION: Compare and contrast 3 artworks by at least 2
artists from different cultural contexts.
Balance all written content with appropriate visuals, and ensure each slide is clear and legible
Acknowledge all sources on the final slide
Ensure you effectively use subject-specific language
Your analysis and interpretation should consider the role of the artist, the artwork, the audience,
and the cultural context.
SLIDE REQUIREMENTS: SUBMIT 16 TOTAL SCREENS (to be graded for your Midterm Exam) comprised of
a MINIMUM of 8 JOURNAL PAGES (due Week 8 for your 2nd 9 weeks grade). You must work in landscape
orientation or across two vertical spreads in your Journals. These pages will be scanned as you are working over
the course of the nine weeks to complete a minimum of 4-8 of your screens (1-2 Journal Pages per Screen). The
remaining 7-11 Screens can be entirely generated on google slides or any other platform. Progress
Checkpoints will take place at the end of Week 7 (25% = 4 slides), Week 8 (50% = 8 slides), and Week 9 (75% =
12 slides).
Select a type of comparison to make based on one of these categories:
Subject matter - For a comparison based on subject matter or content, you would choose two works that
apparently address the same subject, although you may find that they actually are very different.
Medium - For a comparison based on medium, you would compare two artworks that use the same medium to
very different ends.
Concepts - For a comparison based on concepts, you would look at two works that appear very different visually
but address similar ideas or concepts.

PART II (2ND NINE WEEKS STUDIO GRADE)

CONNECTING ARTWORK: Create your own artwork in reaction to the artists
you examined in the comparative study. It must reflect direct influences from
their art-making practices.
STUDIO REQUIREMENTS: This will fulfill your At-Home Studio Component for the 2nd Nine Weeks. A Project
Proposal must be submitted by the end of Week 6. The minimum size is 12in x 18in and the media is your
choice. Progress Checkpoints will take place at the end of Week 7 (25% due), Week 8 (50% due), and Week 9
(75% due). The Final Deadline on Midterm Exam Day to be presented with your Comparative Study Slides.
Select a type of connection to make based on one of these categories:
Subject matter - Your work apparently addresses the same subject, although it may be approached very
differently.
Medium - Your work uses the same medium, but to very different ends.
Concept - Your work appears very different visually, but addresses similar ideas or concepts.

Possible Structure of your Comparative Study Slides:

Introduction

(75-100 words)

Cultural
Context

(150-300
words)

Formal Analysis

(150-300
words)

Summarize the scope of your investigation from which

the artworks, objects and artifacts have been selected,
Introduce area of interest and any
common theme or concepts that underpin the
comparison.
Why did you choose these artists? What
drew you to them?

Discuss cultural contexts of artworks: where they come

from, when were they made, how does this context
influence the work?
Summarize your research from a range of
different sources.
Apply a range and combination of critical
theories and methodologies to analyze and
interpret the works including cultural, social,
political, historical,intellectual and personal.
What is the background around this
artwork? Dont forget to mention the name of the
artist and the date of the work!
What was happening in that place at the
time the work was made? What historical events or
cultural background influenced the work? You need
to locate each work within its own cultural and
historical context.
Explain how the artworks reflect aspects of the world in
which they were created
You will find that the works depend very
much on a historical contextual reading. Discuss
how this affects our perception of them. What does
it tell us about our time? How are conventions from
the past used by artists today? Why does it
matter?
What experiences of the world does the
audience bring to their interpretation and
appreciation of the artworks?
How has exploring these contexts
influenced your understanding and appreciation of
the artworks?
Describe the content without value judgments, analysis, or
interpretation. What do you see? Include the following:
Form: whether architecture, sculpture,
painting, light projection, or knitted sock..
Medium: How was it made? What
processes and techniques were used (whether clay,
stone, steel, paint, etc., and what tools)
Size and Scale: relationship to person
and/or frame and/or context
Orientation: whether axis is vertical,
diagonal, horizontal, etc.
Discuss the Formal Elements including design, line, shape,
size, space, color, texture, value etc. How have formal

1 screen

2 screens

2 screens

qualities, such as the elements and principles of design,

been used and to what effect (or affect)?
Palette: description of color and color
scheme
Shapes: general description and
identification of objects. Relationships between
shapes, e.g., large and small, overlapping, etc.
Lines: including contour as soft, planar,
jagged, etc. How line describes shape and space
(volume); distinguish between lines of objects and
lines of composition, e.g., thick, thin, variable,
irregular, intermittent, indistinct, etc.
Texture: surface quality or other comments
about execution of work
What motifs, signs and symbols have been used in the
works and what do these communicate to the audience?
Function and
Purpose

(75-100 words)

Conceptual and
Material
significance

(150-300
words)

Evaluate the function and purpose: Why was it made? What

was it made for?
Was this art made for religious, political,
commemorative, functional, decorative, expressive
purposes?
What is the works significance? Does the
story or the artist's intention contribute to your
understanding of the work?
How is the content understood within
different cultural and historical contexts of the two
works?
Explain specific meanings, motifs,
signs, mood, and symbols used in the work
How do you feel about the artists
intent?
Why did the artist use particular
features in the work to convey ideas? How did
they accomplish this?
Discuss how the meaning is communicated with
reference to material and compositional choices.
materials contribute to the meaning?
How do the use of materials contribute
to the meaning?
What elements or principles of design
contribute to the appearance and overall
concept?
Analyze the use of light, role of color,
e.g., contrasty, shadowy,illogical, warm, cool,
symbolic, etc.
Explore the treatment of space and
landscape, both real and illusionary (including
use of perspective), e.g., compact, deep,
shallow, naturalistic, random
What is the specific effect of particular
medium(s) used?
How does your perception of balance,
proportion and scale (relationships of each part
of the composition to the whole and to each
other part) influence your emotional reaction to

1 screen

2 screens

the work?
Interpretation: establish the broader context for this type
of art. Why did the artist create it and what does it
mean?
Main idea: overall meaning of the work.
Interpretive Statement: Can I express
what I think the artwork is about in one
sentence?
Evidence: What evidence inside or
outside the artwork supports my interpretation?

Making
comparisons
and
connections

(300-400
words)

Connecting to
own artmaking
practice

(300-400
words)

Sources
(10 or more)
Reference at
least 1
book/textbook others can be

Present your comparisons of the different pieces, clearly

identifying links between them. These comparisons
might include:
Cultural Context - How are they shaped
by their culture and time?
Formal Qualities - What similar sort of
lines, colors, shapes, textures, patterns,
composition are used? In what ways do the
works differ formally (visually)? Are they
different in scale, technique, construction? What
about viewpoint? Lighting?
Function and Purpose - How is meaning
communicated
Materials and Conceptual significance Are similar materials and techniques used?
How are materials used differently?
Make diagrams (venn, or with arrows over images, or a
page in your journal) that compares and contrasts all
that you have already discussed above
Reflect on your research outcomes and the extent to
which your own art-making practices have subsequently
been influenced by the artistworks, objects, artifacts and
their creators examined in the comparative study. These
influences and personal connections, which should be
evidenced in both visual and written forms, might
include:
cultural context
formal qualities
function and purpose
materials and conceptual significance.
When referring to your own artwork and practices, you
must be sure to identify and acknowledge your own
artworks with the same rigorous attention to detail as
with images from other sources.
List of sources used for investigation, (bibliography) Intext referencing is required throughout the comparative
study. You can label images throughout the Comparative
Study as fig 1 fig 2 etc. Be sure to include full citations.
Every image used within the comparative study must be
appropriately referenced to acknowledge the title, artist,
date (where this information is known) and the source,
following the protocol of MLA referencing style..

4 screens

3 screens

1 screen

primary or
internet
sources - NO
WIKIPEDIA!!!!)

Summary of the Marking Criteria summary

Marking criteria

Marks

What the examiner is looking for:

Analysis of formal qualities

At the highest level of achievement, the

work identifies and analyses the formal
qualities of the selected pieces from at
least two cultural origins and the
analysis of these formal qualities is
consistently informed by reliable
sources and effective.

Interpretation of function
and purpose

At the highest level of achievement, the

work demonstrates a consistently
informed by reliable sources and
appropriate interpretation of the
function and purpose of the selected
pieces within the cultural context in
which they were created.

Evaluation of cultural
significance

At the highest level of achievement, the

work demonstrates consistently
informed and appropriate evaluation of
the material, conceptual and cultural
significance of the selected pieces
within the specific context in which they
were created.

Making comparisons and

connections

At the highest level of achievement, the

work critically analyses the
connections, similarities and
differences between the selected
pieces. These connections are logical
and coherent, showing a thorough
understanding of how the pieces
compare.

Presentation and subjectspecific language

At the highest level of achievement, the

work clearly and coherently conveys
information which results in a visually
appropriate, legible and engaging
study. Subject-specific language is
used accurately and appropriately
throughout.

Making connections to own

art-making practice

12

At the highest level of achievement, the

work analyses and reflects upon the
outcomes of the investigation

consistently and appropriately. You

effectively consider your own
development, making informed and
meaningful connections to your own
art-making practice.

Tips for top marks:

Use exciting visuals, high quality images, and a mixture of graphic approaches: some journal pages, some
diagrams and notes, close up details, varied compositions, Clean, clear graphics, easy to read, with section
headers to help examiners understand which criteria you are addressing. Use art vocabulary, look things up if you
don't know! Use quotes from the artist where relevant. Cite all your sources properly. Make sure all the images
included are properly labeled and referenced!

Further advice:
Most students will complete the comparative study using a slide presentation software such as Microsofts
PowerPoint, Apples Keynote or Prezi Pro, and then convert the document to a portable document file (PDF)
for electronic submission. Avoid using animations within slides and animated transitions between slides that may be
lost when the file is converted, or may be missed if a moderator advances through your presentation prematurely.
When importing images for your presentation, resize them first to a maximum height or width of 1,500 pixels,
optimized for web and devices. This will significantly reduce the overall size of your file, without compromising the
image quality when viewed on a screen.
Use a consistent design scheme for your presentation. Use one or two fonts throughout the presentation. Sans serif
fonts tend to be easier to read on screen. Avoid narrow or cursive fonts. Make slide backgrounds subtle and
consistent and use high contrast between background and text colour.
Wherever possible, communicate with visuals and graphics in preference to text.
Check your grammar and spelling, paying particular attention to the spelling of artists names and subject-specific
terminology.
Your teacher is able to provide suggestions to improve your comparative study on your first draft only!

Sources:
It is strongly recommended that at least one of the works explored in the comparative study is a work that you
have experienced first-hand (eg through a visit to a museum, gallery or artist studio). The artwork itself should be
considered as a primary source.
Scholarly books on visual arts, artists, styles, movements, periods and themes are extremely useful. They can often
provide the quality reproductions of works that can be used as primary source material as well as reliable and
critical secondary source opinions about the intent and purpose of works, the cultural context of the work and the
significance. Exhibition catalogues in particular can provide models for constructing a comparative study if viewed
critically, considering why the curator has chosen to put certain works together? What associations and connections
are being suggested?
Arts journals and periodicals also provide a rich resource, and often reflect more up-to-date contemporary trends in
art-making practices than is available through other published works.

The internet is increasingly useful in investigation if used judiciously. Students need to find the the authors of sites
and determine if the information provided is reliable. Many art galleries and museums have great websites with
educational pages or forums. These are great starting points, as are the growing number of established
contemporary artists who manage their own websites.