Midterm exam I

Spring 2001

This exam represents a considerable departure from earlier midterm exams in the Fall 1999-Fall 2000. The questions in Group I are very interdisciplinary in nature, and focus on one or more of the elements of art across several disciplines. The question in Group II is also more interdisciplinary and analytical in nature than in previous terms, as the question requires synthesis of an entire unit rather than mastery of a particular module(s) in that unit. Although each of the modules in the unit on functionalism integrated various disciplinary resources, previous exams had not required synthesis of multiple units. This question, however, required sophisticated ability to analyze the premises of the aesthetic of functionalism as well as the ability to use available evidence from multiple cultures and disciplines to support examples of functionalism.

On the one hand, there were several excellent essays in both sections of the exam. I believe this is partly due to the shift in my own presentation, which from the beginning was more continuously focused on analysis of the aesthetic school than to presentation of factual information on each unit than in previous terms. Further, this particular class of students had engaged in very animated debate of the "What is art?" from the first day of the semester. On the other hand, there were several very weak responses to the group II question, and some rather weak responses to the questions in group I. On the whole, the averages on this exam were below the mean of other classes on the first midterm. The higher level of analytical skill here obviously presented greater difficulties for students. However, see my reflection on Spring 2001 for the final course outcomes.

ESSAY TOPICS

Please write a well-organized, coherent essay on ONE topic from EACH GROUP below. Be sure to analyze the relevant works of art and to present evidence from this analysis in support of your argument. (50 points each)

GROUP I:

1. Discuss the concept of color as seen in art and music, including the illuminations of Hildegard of Bingen, Yoruba bead work, and selected musical examples from our class sessions. What uses, purposes, or functions does color have in these various disciplines and art works? How do visual artists employ various combinations of color to create an affect and in what ways or through what techniques does music achieve the same "color" affects as these works from the visual arts? From your discussion of these various art forms, what is color?

2. Discuss the concept of line as seen in the various art forms we have studied in class. How do visual artists employ lines to create various emotional affects and through what techniques can or do musicians achieve these same affects? Be sure to cite specific examples in your answer, such as the use of line in Hildegard's illuminations, Yoruba bead work, or the musical examples we studied in class? From your discussion of these various art forms, what is line?

3. Discuss the concept of rhythm in the various disciplines we have studied, including musical arts and poetry. Give several specific examples of the use of rhythm in the disciplines we studied to achieve emotional affects, and carefully explain the artistic devices used to create those affects. Consider, for example, the poetry discussed by Dr. Glowka and the African drum rhythms presented by Dr. Tolbert. From your discussion of these various art forms, what is rhythm?

GROUP II:

1. Discuss the aesthetic of functionalism. According to the aesthetic of functionalism, what is art? Please answer these questions by reference to as many works of art and their functions as you can from our course units. In your response, you should make use of the available evidence from the art, history, architecture, religious texts, geology, geography, or other relevant sources of the time to explicate the function of the works you have chosen. Finally, does functionalism satisfactorily explain the artistic merits of the works you have chosen or whether they should, in fact, be considered a work of art?