WP3: Guidelines

Option 1:

For your final writing project, you will be required to write a rhetorical analysis of the sculpture you were assigned. The specific requirements for this analysis are the same as WP1 and WP2, so please re-read over those project guidelines for a refresher as to what needs to be accomplished so as to produced a proper WP3. Obviously, the key difference between the final project and the previous projects is the primary text. To this extent, ask yourself: what visual, tactile, and contextual elements does your sculpture, and the art-form of sculpture in general, evince that art-forms such as photography and comics do not? For example, choice of materials and the space of presentation are two noticeable differences; of course, these are not the only aspects that differ, but it is a good place to start (you will be expected to generate additional avenues of inquiry, so do not limit yourself to the two I provided).

Furthermore, there will be a new point distribution as well. Your Statement of Purpose and Author's Note will both count toward your weekly blog posts, leaving the WP3 grade to parse out as follows:

Attribution of Points (20 total):

Peer-Reviews: 4 points
Final Draft: 16 points

As with previous projects, the minimum requirements for WP3 are 1200-1500 words, 5 multi-media elements, and 7 relevant hyperlinks. DUE: Tuesday, April 27th @ 11:00AM.

Option 2:

You will write a 1000 word letter addressed to your sculpture. In the letter, you will need to write a) descriptive observations about the sculpture, b) reflections, meditations, and insights that the aforementioned observations stimulate, and c) filter both the observations and reflections through a specific aesthetic-conceptual paradigm (i.e. negativity or intensification). It may also be beneficial to incorporate some contextual material regarding the piece.

The second portion of the assignment will require you to a) read the letter out loud to your sculpture, then after the reading b) imitate your sculpture for 5 minutes. The imitation necessitates that you strike a pose similar to your sculpture and, as motionless as possible, remain that way for the full 5 minutes. When you have completed these steps, thank your sculpture and give it a hug.

If you would like to go with Option 2, speak with me to schedule a specific time during finals week for your reading and imitation. Scheduling a time for this performance is not optional.

Attribution of Points (20 total):

Peer-Reviews: 4 points
Performance: 6 points
Final Draft: 10 points

Before the reading/imitation, you will post a version of the letter onto your blog; in addition to the word count, it will contain 3 multi-media elements, and 4 relevant hyperlinks. DUE: Tuesday, April 27th @ 11:00AM.

UPDATE: 04.13.10

For your third pre-writing assignment, I would like you to write another, brief analysis of your sculpture, using rhetorical appeals, strategies, concepts, and terms that you did not cover in your previous analysis. Perhaps in your first analysis, you did not cover choice of materials. To wit, ask yourself: "If my sculpture is made of bronze, how does that rhetorically affect the audience?" Likewise: "What physical, chemical, and visually properties does bronze consists of? How do those properties alter within particular contexts (such as environmental conditions)? And how can these properties be considered rhetorically?" Posts must be 300-500 words, contain two hyperlinks, and 1 multi-media element. DUE: Thursday, April 15th @ 11:00AM.

For your fourth pre-writing assignment, I would like you to do some research on the historical and aesthetic context of your sculpture. DO NOT limit your research to background information on the artist who created the piece. While some of this informationm may be pertinent, art-objects, even moreso than the texts we have studied heretofore, tend to escape the control (i.e. purpose) of the creator's original intent, due in large part to the fundamental nature of what constitutes art. Attempt to pursue contexts that both support and challenge your understanding of the piece. Posts must be 300-500 words, contain two hyperlinks, and 1 multi-media element. DUE: Sunday, April 18th @ 11:00AM.

Finally, your statement of purpose for this project will be DUE on Tuesday, April 20th @ 11:00AM. Keep in mind that most of you will not be writing rhetorical analysis, per se, but letters to your sculptures with corresponding performances. You will want to consider this when writing this document, as your purpose will be different for this assignment. SoP should be 500-600 words, include 3 relevant hyperlinks, and two multimedia elements.

Also, here is a link to photographs of some of your sculptures. Please read the directions on how to properly capture these images. I believe 12 of you have one image here. I will take photographs your the other four today and send them to you tonight. Furthermore, I will send additional photographs to each of you so yhou can have additional images in your final project.