Beyond the actual techniques and methods behind creating a sculpture is the understanding of the artist's purpose and an overall appreciation of the work itself. This activity will enable you to evaluate a piece of sculpture as a work of art and see its contribution to the human experience.
From the following choices, select one sculpture. Evaluate the sculpture using the critical analysis example at the conclusion of Chapter 3 as a guide.
You will need to do some research on the piece you choose in order to give the historical background, artist (if known), context, technique, etc.
You will also want to refer to Chapter 3 and the accompanying PowerPoint for the technical terms and concepts necessary in the analysis. Be sure to include all points of the outline (minimum one full page in length). Choose one of the following for this assignment:
Pieta by Michelangelo Buonarroti
Context of Pieta, Rome: St Peter Basilica light streams
Trajan addressing his troops (Aldocutio) by Apollodorus of Damascus:
Context of Trajan's Column , Rome
The Spoils of Jerusalem (from Arch of Titus)
Context of Arch of Titus , Rome
Terracotta soldier: Soldier Horse
Context of soldier, Lintong District, Xi'an, China: 1 terracotta army 2011 Interactivity buttonClick here to see the sculptures before you visit the web pages. Be sure to include a convincing, inclusive conclusion at the end of your critical analysis and a bibliography of at least two sources that you used to prepare your analysis, one of which may be the class text. Do not use and cite Wikipedia. Instead, visit the Excelsior College Library to learn about academic sources. The page on
Evaluating Information Evaluating Information (Links to an external site.)Links to an external site. includes helpful sections on "Print vs. Web Resources," Evaluation Criteria," Evaluation Scenarios," and "Media Literacy."
Write a 500-750 word critical analysis. Follow APA style, using the Excelsior College Library resources on learning to use APA Style.
Excelsior College Library resources on learning to use APA Style. Submit the analysis to the assignment dropbox.