Research Paper

ART 120 NATIVE NORTH AMERICAN ART
THEMATIC RESEARCH PAPER
The thematic research paper is a minimum of SIX double-spaced typed pages (not including bibliography) and
consist of a theme selected by the student relating to Native North American Art. You must demonstrate
knowledge of the particular work of a culture, artist, period, style or subject matter selected as it relates to your
theme.
A thematic research paper entails choosing a particular theme that appears within a particular style, time period,
within an artist’s work or region, etc. Sample themes are:
POLITICS
PORTRAITS
POWER
PROPAGANDA
RELIGION
COLOR
EMOTION (feeling, mood, etc.)
GENDER
ICONOGRAPHY/SYMBOLISM (various themes within this theme)
MASQUERADES
MATERIALITY (in relation to performance or ritual)
NATURE
PATRON (BUYER)
RITUAL
SELF-POTRAITS
SEXUALITY
SPIRITUALITY
TRAGEDY
WAR
SYMBOLIC ARCHITECTURE
The thematic research paper should be a minimum of SIX double-spaced typed pages (not including
bibliography) and consist of a topic selected by the student relating to Native North American art. You must
demonstrate knowledge of the particular work of art, the culture, artist (if known), style, period, purpose, and
content of the work of art selected. I will hand out a list of guidelines to help in constructing the paper. The
paper should be a critical analysis of the work, but an informational paper is also acceptable but you will not
receive the same grade as a critical paper. A bibliography of a MINIMUM of 3 sources should be at the end of
your paper. Only ONE INTERNET source can be used (this does not include online books or articles), the rest
must be a book or journal articles from a library (the textbook cannot be used as one of your sources). When
the paper is completed, set it aside for a day and reread the paper for any structural or spelling errors.
Final paper due dates (NOTE DATES HAVE CHANGED):
Hand in topic for your paper April 13
Optional Early hand in for review May 25th
Final paper due date June 1st
GUIDELINES
1. Start research early. Begin looking in the library and online for books related to your artist. If you cannot
find a book in the library you can request it through interlibrary loan (ask librarian).
Research options:
– Library on-line catalogue
– http://sdmesa.libguides.com/art (Mesa College Website designed for Art Research)
– Interlibrary Loan (if the library doesn’t have a particular book you can request it from another library)
– Public Libraries (San Diego State University and UCSD have extensive art sections)
– Internet. If you use the Internet for information you must cite the information in the proper format
(check citation handbooks – MLA, Chicago Manual of Style etc.). The most reliable information comes
from academic sites (i.e. .edu), museums, galleries, or institutions that focus on a particular subject.
2. Choose 2-3 images to analyze in paper that connect to your theme.
3. Compile information. Read your articles and books. Based on your readings choose 2 to 3 art pieces to
discuss. Remember to read, observe and then think about the art object in relation to the readings. Read A
Short Guide to Writing about Art for tips on writing about art (in library or available in bookstore).
3. acceptable. When you begin writing the paper make sure you state your thesis or point in the first
paragraph. Begin with a brief outline of the background information (historical, cultural, religious) on
the artist/culture you chose (the entire paper should not be biographical or purely an informative paper).
The main body of the paper should be a discussion of the works of art you chose (2-3 is good). A
discussion of the formal elements, content/meaning, and background factors is important,
including the critical analysis from your sources that relate to you theme. You should also include a
proper conclusion to the paper, summarizing the main points of the paper, restating key points about the
artist/culture and the work(s) discussed.
4. Paper formatting:
● 1 inch margins
● 12pt font (times new roman preferred)
● Double spaced
● If images are imbedded into document text must still equal 6 pages
Once the paper is completed, set it aside for a day and reread the paper for any structural or spelling
errors (remember you can turn the paper in early for comments and suggestions). The final paper should
include:
1. Research paper (6 pages of text (does not include images)) (Name in upper left hand corner with class
number.
2. Bibliography (at least one source must be a printed text from the library – MLA, Chicago Manual of
Style Format)
3. Images of the works of art discussed with titled and numbered (you may have to upload them
separately)
4. Your paper must be submitted in the “Written Assignments” folder on CANVAS. Your paper will go
through a plagiarism check so make sure you cite your sources.