For the final paper, you will utilize the comparative approach to study two works of art as conveyors of meaning, capable of shaping cultural identity and our historical understanding. You choose two works from two different artists that share a common theme. Your selected works are your choice. Your study will focus on how your chosen works deal with their shared theme as a product of their particular time. For the final step of your analysis, you will select an additional contemporary work from popular culture (visual artifact or social construct) and analyze that work for how it parallels the relationship between the works you have selected.
Provide as many details as possible, addressing each of the following major headings: Introduction, Visual and Historical Analysis, and Comparative Analysis. In addition, address the Parallels section by introducing a third creative work and explaining how that work parallels the relationship between the two pieces previously selected. This third work could be a specific contemporary work (created within the past ten years) belonging to any genre of the arts or even a contemporary social construct such as reality television or social media. For example, you could consider the presentation of self as a relevant and recurring theme on Facebook today.
Introduction
This section of the comparative analysis will introduce readers to the works you have selected to analyze.
For each work, identify the artist, the title (in italics), the date, the medium, the dimensions, the cultural origin or period of creation, and the current collection.
What is your main argument/thesis statement about the relationship between your selected works and their shared theme?
Visual and Historical Analysis
This section will provide a visual and historical analysis in which you will analyze the physical characteristics in each work as well as the connections of each work to its historical and cultural context.
Explain how each of your two selected works reflects the social or cultural identity of its day. Support your response with examples.
What influence have your two selected works had in the shaping of social or cultural identities?
What influence have your two selected works had on a modern or contemporary expression of the identified shared theme? Support your response with examples.
Comparative Analysis
In this section, you will compare and contrast your two selected works.
What formal characteristics are similar between the two works? What characteristics are different? Be sure to reference specific aspects of each work.
How did each respective culture’s traditions and ideologies influence the two works you have selected? Be sure to use examples to support your response.
How does each work represent its particular social, historical, and cultural climate? Be sure to use examples to support your response.
Parallels
In this section, you will introduce a third creative work and explain how that work parallels the relationship between the two works previously selected.
How do the shared historical themes and settings tie your two previously selected works to your work from popular culture?
Discuss how the theme is still relevant today, utilizing the popular culture work you selected to support your response.
*Do not use Wikipedia. Wikipedia is not a scholarly nor reliable source.*
Your paper should be 3-5 pages, double spaced, 12 pt font. Please write in MLA format and include citations when appropriate. Four total sources are required (two per artwork). A Works Cited page does not count toward the required 3-5 pages.
MLA Formatting Guide
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