Communicative Arts Seminar 1117-497(01)

Fieldtrip Essay/Weblog Posting Museum Visit & Written Assignment

Part I
This assignment is to take an independent trip to a recognized art museum or gallery in the city. You
may take part in the scheduled class field trip, or you may select another museum. It must have some
academic, artistic, educational and/or intellectual value. In other words, it must have a serious
purpose. It must be a place to see Art!. Some suggestions:
National Gallery of Art West Wing
7th & Constitution Ave., NW

Freer + Sackler Galleries

1200 Jefferson Dr., SW

Hirschhorn Museum
701 Independence Ave., SW

Smithsonian American Art Museum

750 9th St., NW

National Museum of African Art

950 Independence Ave., SW

National Museum of Women in the Arts*

1250 New York Ave., NW

The Phillips Collection*

1600 21st St., NW

*admission charge

Other Museums may be selected, but you must

obtain permission from the instructor. You
must spend at least 30 minutes at the Museum
of your choice. Bring this sheet with you to
make your notes. Locate at least three works
of art that strike you as interesting. Describe
each chosen artwork in 60-80 words.

1)

2)

3)

Part II Answer the following questions in an essay format of at least 200 words.
How do these artworks comment on our culture? How does their medium or mixture of media
determine what and how the artworks comment on society? Which of the three artworks do you
think makes the best point? Why?

Name at least three familiar images or archetypes within your selected artworks.
What other works of art or TV shows/films or
advertisements do these inner images remind
you of? How do these inner images get
borrowed back-and-forth? Does this change
the Art!-ness of these images?
If Art! is defined as any form of media, which
makes you, think in a new way, how did your
three selected works challenge you to think
differently? How are they Art!?
Part III -- Before you leave, visit the Gift Shop of the Museum.
Answer the following questions in an essay format of at least 200 words.
What books and gifts can be purchased at the
gift shop? What does this say about the works
of art in the Museum?
Who decides what goes into this art museum?
Why did they get this privilege? Who paid for
the Museum? Who paid for the special
exhibits?
What should have been in this museum, but
wasnt? What should have been in the gift
shop but wasnt? Why do you think these
were left out?
How is the value of the artworks in this museum determined? What makes one piece of artwork
more valuable then the others? In a world where artworks can be reproduced (like the books and
posters in the gift shop) how does this change the original work of art?
Why is a reproduction worth less money than an original Can you
describe a type of artwork which doesnt have an original?
* some of these museums may have an admission charge
Answer Parts 13 in a single essay/weblog post between 400-800 words
All written assignments must be typed, double-spaced and follow
standard American English grammar conventions. Again, you must add at
least two images, and link to two websites. You may paste material from
other websites, provided you adequately cite them.
!

Art is difficult to define. Please refer to readings & class discussions.

Post your essays to your weblog by March 21st, 2016.

Tentative class fieldtrip will be to the Hirschhorn Museum

4-5:20pm, Wednesday March 9th