Activity 1: Discussion

Context: In 1970 Edmund Burke Feldman, then a professor of Art at Georgia University created a simple four step critical analysis to show how to analyze and interpret art. This technique is still widely used to teach art criticism:

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Description: Make a list of the visual qualities of the work that are obvious and immediately perceived.

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Analysis: Focus on the formal aspects of elements of art, principles of design, and other formal considerations: exaggeration, composition etc. “How does the artist create a center of interest?” How does the use of color impact the painting?”

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Interpretation: Propose ideas for possible meaning based on evidence. Viewers project their emotions/feelings/intentions onto the work. “What do you think it means”? “What was the artist trying to communicate”? “What clues do you see that support your ideas”?

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Judgment: Discuss the overall strengths/success/merit of the work. This step is usually used with mature audiences.

Much like an artist is communicating a message to the viewer, we as public speakers are expressing our message and verbal identity in many of the same ways. Using Feldman’s technique we can attempt to interpret and describe what we see in a piece of art. Writing or speaking about art is not so very different from writing or speaking about other subjects. One of the main differences is that writing about art tends to be more descriptive. Art is a visual experience, and you cannot write meaningfully about it without describing what you see, just as public speaking can more meaningfully be understood by the audience when we take care to use words and phrases and visual aids that are descriptive.

Description: Visit the following link: 

https://www.wikiart.org/en/frida-kahlo/my-dress-hangs-there-1933

Without knowing (or researching) anything about it- what do you think this picture is about? What do you think the painter was trying to communicate? What do you think the painter was trying to tell the viewer (audience) about society, location and culture. What is the mood? What do the colors make you feel? What mood or tone is the painter communicating to the audience? Use Feldman’s critical process to guide your response.

Delivery: This post will be due Wednesday at
midnight. Points will be deducted for not answering all parts of the questions. 

Activity 2: Discussion

Context: In thinking about communication, we use these appeals in many contexts. When we talk to people we are judging their credibility (and they are judging ours) based on the way we speak, the words we use, the tone of our voice and the way we dress among other things. Consider that we do the same thing when we listen to a song on the radio or look at a painting or watch a video. We make judgements based on imagery and color- tone and pitch.

Description: For this assignment, post a painting or picture (or copy of) that speaks to you. Consider the appeals you think it makes to you and other persons viewing it, as we considered in the Frida Kahlo painting. Be prepared to share with the class the following information:

A link to the piece, and

1. Why you chose it

2. The background of the piece (author- painter’s info – a blurb about the piece)

3. What you think the piece communicates (sadness-history-joy-contemplation)

4. If your piece was to be judged as a speech would it be argumentative? Persuasive? Informative?

Delivery: This post will be due Wednesday at
midnight. Points will be deducted for not answering all parts of the questions.