Written Deconstructive Analysis
Students will engage in writing a number of deconstructive analysis throughout the course.
The examples will include historical and contemporary visual works that I will assign to students from our text.
Methods
Found visual examples will include historical and contemporary visual works.
Always provide bibliographical source material, noting ARTIST/DESIGNER, TITLE/PRODUCT, YEAR, DIMENSIONS, MEDIA and URL link source, other pertinent bibliographic information. Place the visual image on your written paper.
Make a number of notes that thoroughly describe how the fundamental elements and principles of the design application are working in the image / object.
Each element should be expressed in narrative form, at minimum, one paragraph each.
Elements & Principles of design to be studied
line
plane
shape
space
volume & mass
color > hue, saturation, intensity, temperature of color
pattern + texture
scale & proportion
direction & movement
composition & organization
focal point & emphasis
unity & balance
contrast
visual weight
Is there a psychology of expression operating within the work being discussed? Explain.
If out of the ordinary, how is media being handled?
At minimum, you need to explore 4 elements / principles of design.
In narrative form discuss each thoroughly. At completion, your analysis should be a minimum of 800 words.
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| Da Vinci . Dachshunds . conte crayon on paper . c. 1510
Line moves in a variety of directions to express movement. There are strong verticality and diagonal lines, each add speed and focal point or emphasis, especially to the Dachshund in the foreground. Accumulation of mark on the largest dog's face create a toned value area around the head bringing emphasis to this dog as well.
There is a strong geometric grid in foreground (lower right) on drawing. This adds an great contrast to the naturalistic, organic pose of the three dogs. Perhaps Da Vinci used these straight gridded lines to transfer the drawing onto a new substrate?
Cross Hatching lines are those that move in a diagonal on the dog's ears especially, to fill in an area to become darker, thus, producing value.
SCALE > The three dogs in the drawing frame, adds different sizes of dogs - small (background), medium (middle ground), large diagonal Dachshund (foreground). These different sizes or difference in scale produces varying visual weights in the Da Vinci drawing. The scale also presents an illusionistic spatial field that is deep and not shallow.
SPACE > The deep (illusionistic) space drawn is due to scale of dogs. Space is also illustrated through the light and darkness of the dogs value, overall. The darkest lines (most accumulated) in the diagonal dog makes the dog advance forward. The other two dogs recede into the spatial field. This is also known as atmospheric perspective, a human made spatial device that can be drawn or painted. We see a great deal of atmospheric perspective used during the Renaissance period. For instance, in Da Vinci's Mona Lisa, the mountains in the far background not only are smaller than Mona herself, but are not in focus and have a blue color to them.
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#1/3 Deconstructive Analysis ::
Robert Campin. Merode Altarpiece (open)
center panel only
Michelangelo, Pieta, marble found on page 498
Robert Campin. Merode Altarpiece (open)
center panel only
Robert Campin. Merode Altarpiece (open)
ca. 1425 - 1428
oil on wood
center panel 2' 2" x 2' 1"
Collection: The Metropolitan Museum of Art, NYC (p.422)
Discuss the following design elements:
LINE
COLOR & VALUE
SHAPE
SPACE
SYMBOLISM
Standards for grading
2 page minimum, double spaced (800 word minimum)
Essay contains accomplishment of the three area points:
1. 80% of overall grade goes towards content & description of how the formal elements (above) are operating in the painting, in the center panel only. The essay is well developed, thoughtful and analytical in nature.
Essay brings in excellent descriptive support of how the elements are operating in this particular work of art.
(Each element will receive approximately 20%)
2. 10% of overall grade goes towards the information provided of the symbolism in the painting and includes properly cited bibliographic sources.
3. 10% of overall grade towards the essay's mechanics of writing. The essay's structure is well organized, transitions are smooth, grammar is excellent, and includes the addition of image with proper labeling. Essay is coherent and illustrates technical control of the author.
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#2/3 Deconstructive Analysis ::Michelangelo, Pieta, marble found on page 498
Essay contains accomplishment of the three area points:
1. 80% of overall grade goes towards content & description of how the formal elements (above) are operating in the sculpture in the round. The essay is well developed, thoughtful and analytical in nature.
Essay brings in excellent descriptive support of how the elements are operating in this particular work of art.
(Each element will receive approximately 20%)
> Line actual line and implied line
> Volume and Mass
> Repetitive shapes found throughout the sculpture
> Texture
2. 10% of overall grade
i. Material and application of tools. 3%
ii. Compare the Pieta sculpture with one found from our text from the 15th century (may be additive or subtractive techniques). Include an image of the sculpture you are making your comparison. 7%
3. 10% of overall grade towards the essay's mechanics of writing. The essay's structure is well organized, transitions are smooth, grammar is excellent, and includes the addition of image with proper labeling. Essay is coherent and illustrates excellent technical control of the author.
