! The AP Art History Essay How to successfully write the five to ten and thirty minute essays: Read question carefully. Does question address contextual (historical) information or formal (elements and principles, attributes of artwork, artist’s style) issues? Questions often ask both!

\ Answer question fully in first sentence. Get to point immediately. Do not repeat the question; only write sentences with meaning and facts that directly address question, not simply a list of facts, features and characteristics you have memorized about the art.

Do not evaluate or make opinionated statements. (example: Leonardo’s Mona Lisa is the most beautiful portrait ever painted.) Avoid generalities. (An example to avoid: There are many ways that Michelangelo shows that he has mastered the art of sculpture unlike other artists of his own time and or our time, too.)

Do NOT stop writing on your essays before time expires. Entire books have been written about a single work of art. You should be able to write a page or two. The more you write, the more insights you will bring. Remember you can always go back and scratch any material that does not address question. Be sure you edit you paper!

Write about two works of art in separate paragraphs. Discuss the first work in one paragraph and second in a following paragraph. Write clearly and legibly You are not graded on handwriting or grammar; however the better you write and clearer the paper is to read, the kinder the grader will be towards your work.

. Art vocabulary words such as contrapposto, genre, etc. will enrich your discussions Use your list of terms! AP exams are scored according to a rubric. Study rubrics when you take the practice exams Choose an appropriate work. This is accomplished by knowing well the works presented in the course by the patron, iconography, time period, title, artist and how the work represents the period.. On the thiry minute essays choice of the correct work is essential!

Understand, think through every word in each and every question. Read each question at least twice! Things to look out for are: The work INNOVATIVE requires an explanation of what types of work were being created at or shortly before a work was created and what CHANGE from what to what occurred. The work INFLUENCE. This requires discussing earlier wors SPECIFICALLY that have influenced the work show.

The word APPROPRIATE. This word has two meanings. Watch if it is used as a verb or an adjective. To appropriate another image or set apart or use something (often without permission) is using the word as a verb. The 2007 test question on how Barbara Kruger appropriated images in her work was misread by many students and lowered scores!

Preparing for the 30-Minute Essays You will be asked to make two appropriate choices of works of art when responding to each of the two essay questions. One question will address a certain topic and most likely ask for an example from two different time periods such as before and after a certain date.

The other question will also address a certain topic and ask for at least one example (or both) from a culture beyond the European tradition. Any work that is Aegean, Egyptian or Mesopotamian is Beyond the European tradition as is anything Islamic, Asian, African or pre-Columbian American such as the Mayan or American Indian culture.

GREECE IS EUROPEAN and all the cultures on the European continent plus the United states are of European influence! Become very knowledgeable on some of your absolute favorites that fit in these categories and other categories you might think of: List two or three for each topic: TOPICS can be FORMAL or CONTEXTUAL

Examples of CONTEXTUAL CONCERNS: Genre themes from two different periods ________________________________ ____________________________________ Portraits from two different periods _____________________ ________________________________ ______________ Showing one’s self as an artist from two different periods _______________________________ ___________________________

Showing one’s self as an artist from two different periods _______________________________ ___________________________ Addressing feminist issues or themes from two different periods _______________________ ____________________________ Group portraits from two different periods ___________________________ ___________________________________ Social concerns such as work issues from two different periods ______________________________ _______________________________

Works that incorporate words from two different periods __________________________________ ___________________________________ Architecture or sculpture that reflects influence from patronage from two different periods __________________________________ ___________________________________ Equestrian portraits two different periods ____________________________________ ______________________________________ Paintings that represent a radical change in style two different periods ___________________________________ _______________________________________

Sculptures that represent a radical change in style two different periods ________________________________ _________________________________________ Themes of war from two different periods ________________________________ ____________________________________ Self portraits from two different periods _____________________ ________________________________ ______________ Showing one’s self as an artist from two different periods _______________________________ ___________________________

Mythological or religious themes from two different periods _______________________ ____________________________ Themes of war from two different cultures ___________________________ ___________________________________ Sacred sites from two different cultures and how site contributes to worship experience ______________________________ _______________________________

Works that incorporate words from two different cultures __________________________________ ___________________________________ Domestic themes from two different periods __________________________________ ___________________________________ Works of art or architectural that reflect advances in technology from two different cultures ____________________________ ________________________________ Other contextual themes you can think of______________________________________

Examples of FORMAL CONCERNS: Use of line to suggest movement (diagonal); (vertical) stability; or calm (horizontal). _______________________________ ____________________________ Use of value contrast to create tension or drama such as chiaroscuro __________________________________ ______________________________ Use of linear or atmospheric perspective to suggest illusion of space on two dimensional surface _____________________________ ______________________________

Manipulation of tonality or intensity in color to illicit an emotional psychological state ______________________________ ________________________________ Use of actual texture to appear to one’s sense of touch or simulated textre to appeal to one’s sense of sight ________________________ ___________________________ Use of repeated forms to create rhythm and movement _______________________________ __________________________________

Approaches to breaking up space with economy of means or through excessive pattern (horror vacui) _________________________ __________________________________ Works of art from two different cultures that abstract the human figure __________________________________ _________________________________ Works of architecture from two different periods that incorporate the dome or figures ____________________________________ ________________________________ Other formal themes you can think of: _________________________________________ __________________________________