Representations of the Human Body in Art

Representations of the Human Body in Art

Artistic representations of the human body have been a timeless source of inspiration, reflecting cultural aesthetics, societal norms, and individual creativity. This assignment challenges you to delve into the diverse ways the body has been portrayed in art, both historically and in contemporary contexts. Through thorough research and creative reflection, you will not only analyze various approaches to body representation but also envision your own artistic interpretation.

The final project will be presented as a well-researched PowerPoint presentation. Scholarly research is an important component of this project.

Directions:

Pick ONE of these following themes and find artwork:

• Beauty and Aesthetics: Explore the concept of beauty as represented through the human body and how cultural ideals have shaped artistic portrayals of physical attractiveness.
• Body in Photography and Digital Art: Analyze how digital media and photography have influenced the representation of the body in art.
• Human Body in Religious Context: Analyze the representation of the body in religious art, highlighting the significance of religious beliefs and rituals in shaping these depictions.

Utilize at least five scholarly sources that align with your chosen theme. Keep in mind that you will be focusing your research around a minimum of five artists/artworks. Use your textbook and course material for inspiration. Avoid simple Internet searches and Wikipedia entries.

Effective primary sources include:

• Artist’s statements
• Interviews with the artist
• Manuscripts, correspondence, and reviews written at the time that exhibitions of the artist’s work were held
• Artists’ own accounts of their life and work: autobiographies, memoirs, and oral histories recorded later

Effective secondary sources include interpretations and analyses of primary sources by someone else, such as:

• Reference books (dictionaries of art, encyclopedias)
• Books by scholars
• Scholarly journal articles
• Book reviews
• Museum websites*

The Internet is a rich source of information, but you need to be very careful to evaluate the legitimacy of the sites. In general, websites are unreliable if it is unclear who wrote the information or what contributors’ qualifications are. Many of the great museums around the world have their own websites, however, which are excellent and trustworthy sources of fascinating information. These websites are generally considered secondary sources, but may include primary source information, too.

Once you have done your research, you need to pull it all together to present a coherent interpretation of the artwork that shows that you understand the content and context. This interpretation should include your own opinion, carefully developed by considering your research findings. The strongest interpretations of an artwork combine the viewer’s formal analysis, factual evidence from primary and secondary sources, and support from the work of specialists who know about the topics being covered.

SLIDE INFO:

Create a PowerPoint (PPT) Presentation using the following guidelines to present your research.

You may choose to use other presentation applications other than PPT, such as Google Slides, or

, but if you do, you must save and submit your final work as a text-based PDF document in order to receive credit.

Slide 1: Title Slide

• Your title slide should include a captivating title that reflects your chosen theme.
• Also include your name and date.

Slide 2: Defining the Theme

• Write a concise explanation of your chosen theme. Introduce the artists and their cultural contexts.
• Provide an explanation of how this theme offers a unique perspective on body representation in art.

Slides 3-12: Artwork Analysis

• Present and analyze at least five artworks by at least five different artists that exemplify your chosen theme.
• Use your textbook and course material for ideas on where to start.
• Your chosen artworks should have two dedicated slides each as follows:
• An image slide which includes a high quality image of the artwork and its basic identifying information (artist name, title, date, medium, dimensions, and location if known). You may include detail images or alternative views.
• A separate slide where you discuss in a researched statement how the artwork reflects your theme and contributes to the discourse of body representation in art. Also consider how the artists choice of materials and/or processes may be relevant or meaningful.
• Remember, you will do the above for each artwork, so this section should be 10 slides (5 image slides and 5 researched statement slides).

Slide 13: Comparative Analysis

In a separate written statement (300 words minimum) you will compare and contrast the artists in terms of their interpretation of the theme. Identify common threads and variations in their approaches. Support your claims with research and informed examples/ideas, and draw upon concepts, terms, and approaches learned in class.

Slide 14 (or more slides as needed): Artwork Proposal

After conducting your research, you will now get a chance to think creatively and propose an imagined artwork where you envision your own representation of the body. This could be a self-portrait, but it does not have to be.

Do not worry if you are not artistically inclined! You are not expected to create an actual finished art piece; it is merely a proposal.

• Concepts: Describe the concepts and theme of your envisioned work. What emotions or messages are important to convey?
• Inspiration: Share what inspired your idea. Did the research influence your concept? Keep in mind that your artwork proposal does not have to relate directly to the artists or theme you chose for the main part of your research project. However, in your statement, you should make thoughtful connections to your artists and/or theme, whether this be through comparison or contrast.
• Details: What materials/medium would you use? Consider and explain the scale, location, style, and subject matter. Be specific and as vividly descriptive as possible, demonstrating an understanding of course concepts. Would it be figurative or would you represent the body (yourself if a self-portrait) through other ways?
• Visual Representation: Include any simple sketches, diagram, images, or visuals that may aid in the depiction of your proposed artwork. If you don’t want to sketch, you could include found images or a digital collage that may assist in helping to visualize your idea.

A fun part of this proposal is that since you are not actually expected to complete the work, you are not constricted by location, scale, or cost of materials!

Final Slide: Works Cited (References)

• On the final slide, include a properly formatted full reference list.

See the University’s library guide for

Remember to use in-text citations on the content slides.

***NOTE that on slide 13 it says a minimum of 300 words is required.***