Virtual Museum Tours
Overview
This assignment asks you to engage deeply with a single piece of art, either by experiencing it firsthand at a museum or through a provided virtual tour. The core of the assignment is to conduct a formal analysis of your chosen artwork, meaning you'll focus solely on its visual elements and your direct observations.
The value of seeing a piece in person is to get the full immersive experience, rather than only seeing what's on your phone or computer.
Advice from Your Instructor
When you go to visit your piece, take some notes to prepare for writing your
Formal Analysis.
Focus on what you see and how the artwork makes you feel.
Remember, this is entirely about your own observations and thoughts - no research required!
Pay attention to how the visual elements work together to create meaning and impact.
Learning Outcomes
By completing this assignment, you will:
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Understand the value of art, its many uses, and its history
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Define the key vocabulary of art, such as value, form, design, space, proportion, scale, balance, unity, and variety
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Classify the different two-dimensional media
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Classify different three-dimensional physical media as well as abstract media-like installations
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Write a formal analysis of a piece AI Use-Case Independent Work
Requirement:
You must complete this Capstone independently without using AI tools. The goal is for you to showcase your own understanding and skills without AI assistance. To do so, you are expected to generate and submit original work developed solely through your own reasoning and effort.
Core Requirements
Length: 750-1000 words
Format: Double-spaced
Sources: No external sources or citations required - this should be entirely your own thoughts and words
Artwork Selection:
Choose a piece to visit in person, or use one of the provided virtual museum tours
File Format: Save as .docx or .pdf for submission
Detailed Requirements
Artwork Selection Options
For this assignment, try to choose a piece of art to visit in person. If you are unable to find a piece to view in real life, you can use one of the following virtual museum tours. The value of seeing a piece in person is to get the full immersive experience, rather than only seeing what's on your phone or computer. When you go to visit your piece, take some notes to prepare for writing your
Formal Analysis.
Option Description
In-Person Visit
Visit a local museum or gallery
Choose any piece that interests you
Take notes during your visit for your analysis
Virtual Museum Tours
Virtual Tour of the Musée d'Orsay, Paris
Virtual Tour of the National Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art, Seoul
Virtual Tour of The J. Paul Getty Museum, Los Angeles
Virtual Tour of The Museu de Arte de São Paulo
Google's Arts & Culture Collections (select a Museum and Museum View)
Required Essay Components
Component Description
Description of Your Piece
Provide detailed description of the artwork Include title, artist, medium, and basic factual information
Describe what you see in clear, specific terms
Visual Elements Analysis Analyze color, line, balance, form, space, proportion, scale
Discuss unity and variety in the composition
Explain what these visual elements communicate to you Main Point or Focus
Identify the central focus or main point of the piece
Explain how the visual elements support this focus
Discuss the overall impact or message of the artwork Personal Reflection
Reflect on your experience viewing this piece
Describe your emotional or intellectual response
Discuss how the artwork affected you personally