Critical Thinking
Unit 5: Critical Thinking Part 1
Enduring understanding: Analyze different interpretations of an artwork in order to judge self and peer work
Essential Questions:
Enduring understanding: Analyze different interpretations of an artwork in order to judge self and peer work
Essential Questions:
- What is the value of engaging in the process of art criticism?
- How does knowing and using visual art vocabularies help us understand and interpret works of art?
- How does one determine criteria to evaluate a work of art?
- How is a personal preference different from an evaluation?
- I can use descriptive language when speaking or writing about what is in the artwork.
- I can analyze an artwork by explaining how the elements, principles, and/or compositional guidelines are used.
- I can identify high and low resolution images.
- I can create a file, successfully select the file format, name the file and save appropriately in the correct location using a file manager.
- I can navigate the basic menus of photo editing software (Photoshop).
- I can use the appropriate tools to make editing choices with photo editing software (Photoshop).
- I can develop ideas for the projects in this unit.
How to Look At a Work Of Art
The Art Critiquing Process is defined as:
“A method of organizing the facts and your thoughts about a work of art.” Critiquing art is not saying “I LIKE it!” or “I HATE it!” It is very important that you are familiar with the Elements of Art and Principles of Design. You need to know and understand the art vocabulary necessary to critique art intelligently. Please remember that not all people are going to agree with what you say. Your opinion matters, but it’s not the only one. People bring in their own ideas and experiences that are unique to them.
The Art Critiquing Process is defined as:
“A method of organizing the facts and your thoughts about a work of art.” Critiquing art is not saying “I LIKE it!” or “I HATE it!” It is very important that you are familiar with the Elements of Art and Principles of Design. You need to know and understand the art vocabulary necessary to critique art intelligently. Please remember that not all people are going to agree with what you say. Your opinion matters, but it’s not the only one. People bring in their own ideas and experiences that are unique to them.
STEP 1: DESCRIBE
Describe the picture. Tell what you SEE, NOT what you THINK.
Talk about the SUBJECT, the ELEMENTS OF ART, the MEDIUM and any information you have gotten from the ARTIST. This is NOT the step where you give your opinions!
Here are some examples:
• The photographer took a picture of a cactus.
• A tree is the subject of this photograph.
• The vase is black with a large red dot on one side.
• The photograph is of a mountain scene.
STEP 2: ANALYSIS
Analyze how the work is organized.
How do the media, subject matter, and the Elements and the Principles relate to each other …break it down.
Here are some examples:
• The low angle of the image emphasizes the subject.
• The colors of the kayaks create a pattern.
• The columns place emphasis on the center of the image.
• The texture of the bark cast shadows that create movement.
STEP 3: INTERPRETATION
Explain what you think the artist meant.
Now you have the opportunity to discuss what this work means.
Ask yourself…
• What is the artist trying to say?
• What caused the artist to say it?
• What could be historical about the work of art?
• Why was the work of art created in this particular style?
• What symbols do you see?
• Why was it made?
• What are the possible feelings, moods, and ideas communicated by the work of art?
• What does it mean to you?
• What Theory of Art does it fall under? (See next page)
STEP 4: JUDGEMENT
What is the value or worth? What is your opinion of the work?
Here you get the chance to express your opinion but remember you need to be able to back it up with facts. You should be able to give reasons as to WHY you feel and think what you do about a work of art.
Ask Yourself…
• What do you think about this piece of work? WHY?
• Is it successful? WHY? HOW?
• Do you like it? WHY?
• Is it important to the history of art or an art movement? WHY? & HOW?
Describe the picture. Tell what you SEE, NOT what you THINK.
Talk about the SUBJECT, the ELEMENTS OF ART, the MEDIUM and any information you have gotten from the ARTIST. This is NOT the step where you give your opinions!
Here are some examples:
• The photographer took a picture of a cactus.
• A tree is the subject of this photograph.
• The vase is black with a large red dot on one side.
• The photograph is of a mountain scene.
STEP 2: ANALYSIS
Analyze how the work is organized.
How do the media, subject matter, and the Elements and the Principles relate to each other …break it down.
Here are some examples:
• The low angle of the image emphasizes the subject.
• The colors of the kayaks create a pattern.
• The columns place emphasis on the center of the image.
• The texture of the bark cast shadows that create movement.
STEP 3: INTERPRETATION
Explain what you think the artist meant.
Now you have the opportunity to discuss what this work means.
Ask yourself…
• What is the artist trying to say?
• What caused the artist to say it?
• What could be historical about the work of art?
• Why was the work of art created in this particular style?
• What symbols do you see?
• Why was it made?
• What are the possible feelings, moods, and ideas communicated by the work of art?
• What does it mean to you?
• What Theory of Art does it fall under? (See next page)
STEP 4: JUDGEMENT
What is the value or worth? What is your opinion of the work?
Here you get the chance to express your opinion but remember you need to be able to back it up with facts. You should be able to give reasons as to WHY you feel and think what you do about a work of art.
Ask Yourself…
• What do you think about this piece of work? WHY?
• Is it successful? WHY? HOW?
• Do you like it? WHY?
• Is it important to the history of art or an art movement? WHY? & HOW?
EXAMPLE
ARTIST: Andy Warhol
WORK: 100 Cans
Campbell’s Soup Cans 1962
STEP 1: Description [What do you see?] (LIST)
Cans, Campbell’s Soup, Red, white, yellow, screen print, black lines, lots of positive space, not much negative space.
STEP 2: Analysis [How is the work organized?] (STATEMENTS)
Many Campbell’s Beef Noodle soup cans repeated with a regular rhythm. Entire canvas covered with cans. Cans are almost all the same. Formally balanced; almost symmetrical.
STEP 3: Interpretation [Why did the artist make this work?] (STATEMENTS)
Warhol made this work to make us question what art can be.
Warhol created this piece to make fun of mass production.
Warhol created this piece to say “you produce like machines and eat like machines”.
STEP 4: Judgment [Did the artist achieve his/her purpose?] [Do you like this work?][What movement/period/artist does this work come from? (STATEMENTS)
I think the artist was successful because it did make me wonder if cans should be art. I don’t like the work because I already see cans in my pantry, why do I need to see them in a painting? Because this work shows an everyday object as art, I would consider it Pop Art.
ARTIST: Andy Warhol
WORK: 100 Cans
Campbell’s Soup Cans 1962
STEP 1: Description [What do you see?] (LIST)
Cans, Campbell’s Soup, Red, white, yellow, screen print, black lines, lots of positive space, not much negative space.
STEP 2: Analysis [How is the work organized?] (STATEMENTS)
Many Campbell’s Beef Noodle soup cans repeated with a regular rhythm. Entire canvas covered with cans. Cans are almost all the same. Formally balanced; almost symmetrical.
STEP 3: Interpretation [Why did the artist make this work?] (STATEMENTS)
Warhol made this work to make us question what art can be.
Warhol created this piece to make fun of mass production.
Warhol created this piece to say “you produce like machines and eat like machines”.
STEP 4: Judgment [Did the artist achieve his/her purpose?] [Do you like this work?][What movement/period/artist does this work come from? (STATEMENTS)
I think the artist was successful because it did make me wonder if cans should be art. I don’t like the work because I already see cans in my pantry, why do I need to see them in a painting? Because this work shows an everyday object as art, I would consider it Pop Art.