art history essay
read the article and provide a summary of the article as well as your informed response.
Pasztory, Esther. “Paradigm Shifts in the Western View of Exotic Art, ” from Multiple Modernities
website, posted December 2010: http://www.columbia.edu/cu/arthistory/courses/Multiple -Modernities/essay.html
See response paper guidelines below.
Response papers are 2 page informal papers (a minimum of 500 words). These papers are designed to hone your critical reading and writing skills. To this end, avoid providing a simple summary of the readings.
Argument. The critical perspective readings are distinct from general textbook readings because their aim is to present a specific argument, interpretation or agenda. Many of the readings focus on a specific set of issues to persuade or provoke the reader. Provide an analysis of the argument(s) presented by the author.
First, do a close reading of the article. What is the main argument? What evidence (facts) is provided to support this argument (give at least 2 examples)? Are you convinced of the author’s perspective based on the evidence presented?
It is important to indicate your own responses to the readings and clearly articulate why you agree or disagree with the viewpoints presented. Remember this is not just a question of if you “like” the text or not, but whether an argument is analyzed and presented in an effective manner.
Language/Context. Think a bit about the text itself: what kind of text is it (e.g. autobiography, scholarly article, historical text)? Consider the title of the essay and ask what it reveals about the content. Are there any historical factors that inform the ideas or assumptions of the author? Does the writer make references to persons outside the immediate field of art? (i.e. psychoanalysis, literature, sociology, etc.) What does this tell us about the writer’s focus?
Please let me know if you have any questions.
