Research Compare and Contrast Paper

Instructions 
You are required to view a contemporary, original piece of art in your area(St. Louis, Mo.) and
compare/contrast it to an ancient work from your text, after analyzing both pieces. For example, if
you choose a portrait of a leader, find one in your text; if you choose a building, like a church, find
one in your text to compare.
Note: If a museum is not available, try your public library, local community college, or an art gallery
for sculptures, parks for statues, or government buildings for paintings. Also, don’t forget that
architecture is an art form. Look around for a church or an interesting building. Art is everywhere!
Your paper should address the following:
1. Identification: Provide Identifying details for each work (10 points = 5 points for each work):
• Artist: Who was the artist?
• Title of the work: What is the title of the work?
• Date: When was the work created?
• Media: How/with what was the work created?
• Location: Where is the work from your area displayed? For the work from your text, please also
include the page number.
2. Description: What does each work look like? (100 points = 50 points for each work):
• Describe the subject matter of each work, in detail. Imagine you are describing the work to a blind
person; use that level of detail. For example, don’t just say there’s a house in a field.
• Identify and discuss five formal elements of art (Choose from line, shape, color, texture, space,
contrast, scale, balance, and emphasis) in detail, for each work. For instance, don’t just tell me
there were lines in the work, tell me what kind (straight, curved, horizontal, diagonal, thick, thin,
implied, etc.) and tell me how they affect the composition (lines dominate the left half of the work,
etc.).
3. Compare and Contrast the two (2) works (70 points):
• Compare and contrast the works (Do not compare the terms from part 2), and answer these
questions in your analysis: How are the works similar and how are they different? Is the message o
function the same? Is the intended audience different? Do they look alike or not? Has the meaning
changed over time?
• Also discuss such things as symbolism and purpose (aesthetic, social commentary, propaganda, etc.) and evaluate the effectiveness of the works.
Important Guidelines
1. Format
• Organize this material into a 4-5 page paper.
• The paper should be double-spaced with a 1” margin and type size should not exceed 12 pts.
• Art History, as a discipline, utilizes the MLA style.
2. Sources:
• Always cite your sources!
Examples of art covered in class:
Woman of Willendorf
Tutankhaten
Cyclades
Faience figurine
Minoan Art
Persian Art
Mycenaean Art