The essay should be based on your observations of your chosen pair objects among those listed below, together with background reading in your texts. The descriptive labels and Getty web site are helpful, but you will probably also need to do some research of names, terms, and other background information. A good starting point is the Reference room of the Langson Library, and on the web (see links pages for useful sites).
The text of the essay should be three to four pages long, typed or computer-printed, double-spaced, with normal (one inch) margins and 12 pt font. Besides the content of the essay, spelling, grammar, and punctuation are important. Please proof-read your text carefully. Footnotes or endnotes should be used when you cite any books, articles, wall labels in the museum, or web sites, and you should follow a standard format in writing them, such as in the Chicago Manual of Style, MLA Style sheet, or Turabian's guide (all available in the Reference room of the Langson Library). See also the following pages, with guidelines for observations in the museum, and writing tips, and examples of fonnat.
Guidelines: Take notes while you are standing in front of the object. Return to it several times after looking at other items. Some points to consider (not all will be applicable to all items):
Date: What period in history was this made? How does that help us interpret it?
Material: Is the material hard/soft, hot/cold, fragile/durable, light/dark, precious/cheap, light/heavy?
What is the texture of the material?
What is achieved by using this particular medium?
Was it difficult or easy to make?
Technique: How was it made?
Representation: How easy is it (for you) to recognize what is represented? How easy would it have been for its original audience or user? Is the representation naturalistic or stylized? Style: How is the form composed? Describe the quality of the lines, the use of color, decorative treatment, sense of volume, or modeling. Is there repetition of elements?
Scale: How do the parts of the object relate to one another and to the composition as a whole? What was the original position of the object? How does the object relate spatially to the user or observer?
Meaning: What can be deduced about the maker's intent? What is the significance to us of the object?