You have two options for your final paper, each emphasizing slightly different aspects of what we have learned in this class.
The first, Creative Art Encounter, follows the model of T.J. Clark (remember on the very first day of class when we read that guy’s observations about the painting with tiny, little human figures?). For this project, you will spend 2 1/2 hours visiting and describing one exhibit at the BAMPFA (over the course of at least three different days). You will then transform these observations into a narrative about the exhibit, following the model of a New Yorker art review. Your focus in this assignment is on honing your descriptive and narrative capabilities. The final essay does not need to have an argument. You should choose this assignment if you are interested in trying out writing in a different genre, and further developing your description and close-reading capabilities. (you also have the potential to publish this in a local Berkeley or Cal newspaper!)
The second option, Image + Text Critical Paper, extends all of the paper writing skills we have learned so far – close-reading, argumentation, narrative structure – to the scope of a comparative essay. For this project, you will close-read the use of image and text in two of the texts we have read this semester, and create an argumentative essay based on your findings. The final essay needs to have an argumentative thesis, just like all the papers we’ve been writing this semester. You should choose this assignment if you are interested in further developing your college level essay-writing skills.