Exam 1

Question 1

In “Deriving Meaning” we learned how art communicates complex ideas and emotions and the ways in which this is achieved, as well as how writings about art enrich our experience of it. Select one artist from the chapter and discuss the meaning that may be derived from one artwork using two of the following philosophical positions: formalist criticism, ideological criticism, psychoanalytic criticism, structuralism, post-structuralism, deconstruction, feminist criticism, or relational aesthetics. How do the philosophical positions impact the meaning of the work? Do they contradict or complement each other?

Question 2

Using four examples from different societies and different historical periods, write an essay discussing the impact of religion on the content and style of art making. Make sure that you refer to the titles of the artworks and the page numbers in the textbook and briefly discuss the subject, content and style of all artworks you choose to analyze.

Question 3

Please write an essay explaining how the creation of artworks can be understood in light of human’s basic needs for survival. You should analyze at least three examples in different media (such as an architecture, a painting, and a sculpture) by combining formal analysis, content analysis, and context analysis. Make sure that you refer to the titles of the artworks and the page numbers in the textbook and briefly discuss the subject, content and style of all artworks you choose to analyze.

Exam 1 Answer

The way art communicates ideas and emotions to the audience gives it meaning relative to the experience of reality. Artists, in this respect, create a means or a channel for both them and the audience to have a connection through this experience. Edward Hopper, for instance, made a significant way to reflect his own ideas and emotions in his artworks towards the audience. In this way, the artwork becomes a vessel in which the meaning is transported to the audience according to how they perceive the work in its ideas and its emotions. Hopper’s “Nighthawks” can be viewed through two philosophical positions: psychoanalytic criticism and relational aesthetics.