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M1-Journal Prompts

Module 1 - Introductions & Definitions

JOURNAL PROMPTS

Directions: Choose one or more of the following prompts and update your class journal by responding to the question or questions in the prompt. Try to write roughly a page on each prompt you select. Refer back to your journal as the course progresses to see if you are experiencing progress in meeting your goals.

Journal Prompt #1: Expose Yourself to Art!
What has been your exposure to visual art? Has it been primarily from your family? School? Social activities? Personal explorations? Do you make art? If so, what kind? What is the medium you use? What kind of style is it? Look under "style" in module 1 to get a better idea of what it might be.  Who is your audience? If you haven’t made any art, have you ever wanted to? What kind?

Journal Prompt #2: A Definition of Art
Do you agree with the definition for ‘art’ as it’s explained in module 1? Why or why not? Can you add to the definition? Is your definition coming from a subjective or objective perspective?

Journal Prompt #3: Investigating Art
Using the external links as a resource, find a work of art to answer the following questions. The artwork can be from any culture or time period.

  • Provide the title, date and artist’s name. Make sure your source has all of this information.
  • What medium is used (painting, drawing, printmaking, sculpture, photograph or digital image, video, installation or performance)?

Give a short description of the work:

  • Is it realistic, abstract or non-objective?
  • What does it depict? What colors are used?
  • What category does it fall under?
  • What artistic role does it play?  Does it take on more than one role? Review the different roles discussed in Module 1 to help you decide.

Journal Prompt #4: Style, Form & Content
Artistic styles change over time and throughout cultures, yet some forms continue to be repeated despite the changes. Examining these forms helps in finding the meaning.

View the three works of art from the hyperlinks below. They are all from different time periods and cultures. Notice how each one has a repeated formal element similar to the others.

  • What style and category does each work belong to?
  • Do these similarities have ties to a common meaning between all of them, or do you think the meaning for each work is separate from the others? Why or why not?
  • What cultural, religious or other considerations do you take into account in defining your answers?

Here are the images to view:

Totem Pole Links to an external site.
Giotto Crucifix Links to an external site.
Minoan Snake Goddess Links to an external site.