Last Words

Here we are. This is the last time we will meet together. I'd like to thank each of you for a rewarding semester of teaching. I hope everybody has a safe and wonderful summer. I can be reached either at csmith@dcad.edu or smithcaseysmith@gmail.com.

Let me know if you need a recommendation letter or job reference. Maybe you want a little help editing your resume or cover letters? I'm here for you.

Writing will always be an important and valuable skill for successful artists and designers. That's just a fact. Artificial Intelligence is not creative. Writing will never go away, but it will change with the times. Good luck on your journey!  --- Casey 

Late Assignments: Deadline, Monday, May 6 (Today), 6:00 pm

If you haven't turned in a particular assignment, the final deadline is today at 6:00 pm. Here is a list of our assignments:

1. "Why I Became an Artist" (narrative essay)

2. Three Professional Documents

3. Zine

4. Valetta Review

5. Catalog Entry

6. Delaware Contemporary Project

7. MLA Research Paper

Make sure that you have submitted something for each of the above. Send me an email message if you have questions.

csmith@dcad.edu

 

FAQ: The Academic Essay

I've been teaching college writing for a very long time, and through these years I've noticed certain enduring issues that students struggle with. Below you'll find questions and answers to five of these issues. 

Q: How can I take a position on my issue that won't offend or alienate my readers?

A: It's a balancing act. You don't want to use charged language or name-calling, but you also don't want to be wishy-washy and non-commital. One way of managing this is to introduce a full paragraph or two that lays out the argument of the other side in a fair way. This is called acknowledging the counter-argument. This paragraph(s) frequently appears directly after the introductory paragraph(s).

Q: I just don't have five double-spaced pages of thoughts/feelings about my paper. It's starting to feel repetitive and full of BS. 

A: This is a real problem, and you're not alone. Most students (and writers in general) face this wall at some point in the writing process. One strategy is to "grow" your existing paragraphs. Writers frequently close down paragraphs after the obvious stuff has been stated. See if you can add a few sentences at the end of your paragraphs. Address the question: "So what?" Another strategy is to add paragraphs directly before your conclusion that are explicitly first-person. Forget about the secondary research; you've already covered that. Tell a story or two directly from your point of view. You can't be wrong. It's your experience, after all. 

Q: Why do colleges even require certain documentation formats: MLA, Chicago, APA? It's so confusing. It also seems pointless. 

A:  I truly sympathize. In a perfect world, everyone would agree on a single format. We do not live in a perfect world. One thing that absolutely helps is to understand the reason we cite sources. It is simply a way to acknowledge that knowledge is produced socially. We learn things from other places, other writers, other culture producers. You, as a fellow writer are part of this broad dialogue. One way to make it less difficult is to approach MLA format as a detective investigating a crime scene. Pay attention to the details, however small and insignificant they seem. Compare your essay's format to one of the "official" MLA essays you've encountered in class.

Q: I'm just sick of my paper. Looking at it makes me feel bad about myself. It seems like everyone else "gets it," but I'm just spinning in the wind. 

A: I wish I had a consoling answer to this question. It doesn't help too much to say, "Get over it." However, you're probably overestimating the gap between those who "get it" and those who don't. Try to accept that learning is difficult and frustrating. In some ways, I think "being uncomfortable" is necessary for true learning. 

Q: OK. I finished my paper and I think it's OK. How can I make it better?

A: This might sound strange, but you would be surprised how many students never actually read the essays they write. So, take the time to read and reread your writing. I think it helps to make final revisions and edits on paper. Print it out. Use your pen to make notes and changes. Maybe you have a classmate writing the same assignment? Pair up. Read your essay out loud to your classmate. Listen closely. Another obvious strategy is to make an appointment with a tutor or with the instructor. This can only make your paper better. 

Jstor Search Tips

Go to Populi, click on Library at the top of the page. Click on Links. Click on Jstor. If you're not logged in you'll get limited results. You will know that you're logged in if you see at the top of your search results "Access provided by Delaware College of Art and Design." You will also see your DCAD email address on the right. 

It's tricky to get your search terms right. You might need to try multiple searches. Be patient. If you get too many results, you need to narrow your search. If you get too few, that's also a problem. Use the filters on the left-hand sidebar to "craft" your search. 

Be like a detective. You can tell a lot about a source from close inspection. You do not have to read every article start to finish. 

When you find a useful quotation, write it down immediately. Don't forget to note the details of the source. It's really easy to forget the page number. 

Final Paper: Required Draft and Conference Next Wednesday, May 1

We will not hold formal class next Wednesday, May 1. Instead, each student will meet with me for a 15-minute conference. You will need to upload your draft before we meet. 

This assignment counts for 20 points total:

5 points for uploading your draft and attending your conference

15 points for your final essay

Questions: csmith@dcad.edu

Secondary Sources: How can you tell if they're legit?

GREEN LIGHT 

I recommend removing all doubt. Use published books (see the library catalog) and journal articles (JStor). These sources are edited, which gives them a higher degree of accuracy. They also use secondary sources themselves. If a source has a bibliography or Works Cited information, it's almost certainly legit. 

YELLOW LIGHT

Magazines and newspapers, whether in print or online, might be acceptable. For instance, an article published in "The New York Times" or in "Hyperallergic" might be acceptable. If the topic you're writing and researching about is happening right now, it won't be represented in the scholarly sources. It's too new and it takes a while (months, sometimes years) for academic writing to get published.  

RED LIGHT

An essay posted on an individual's private blog is usually not edited. Most of your results from a Google search will yield illegitimate sources. Sometimes the writing and research can be quite good. However, they simply can't be trusted. 

End of Semester Schedule

We have five class sessions left. All of our focus will be on the final assignment: reflection (what do you think of your issue), research (finding at least three scholarly sources), writing, revising, and editing your 5-page essay. 

Because students are legitimately pressed for time at the end of the semester, I've decided to devote considerable class time to working on this assignment.  

Monday, April 22: Introduction to MLA-formatting & work-time.

Wednesday, April 24: Work-time (attendance mandatory).

Monday, April 29: Work-time (attendance mandatory).

Wednesday, May 1: One-on-one conferences. Sign-up for your slot. Finished draft mandatory. No regular class meeting on this day. 

Monday, May 6: Paper due 30 minutes before class starts. Upload to Populi. Brief presentations by each student (five minutes, Powerpoint optional). 

Questions: csmith@dcad.edu

MLA Style: Real-World Examples

 

Here are some award-winning student essays that use MLA style impeccably. Check out how they work. Emulate.  

MLA Boot Camp

 

Purdue University, in my home state of Indiana, has compiled a website that is the undisputed leader in online writing advice, the OWL. Here is the link to their MLA Formatting Guide.

Your final paper will incorporate at least three legitimate sources, and these sources will be listed in the proper MLA format on a separate page at the end of your essay. 

Spend some time on the OWL. Be patient. Let me know if you have questions: csmith@dcad.edu.

Class on April 15

Hello, Writing for the Arts Students,

First Thing: I apologize for not allowing enough time for a genuine conversation/debate on the topic of cultural appropriation last Wednesday. We are going to spend the first part of class on this. What do you think about the issue? Is it important to you? Why or why not? 

Second Thing: I've uploaded an example of the Delaware Contemporary Project on your respective Populi page. The file is titled "CSmith_TDC". Please use the same file-naming convention for your document. The folder is titled "TDC Draft."

On Monday, each student will upload their file and give a brief presentation/critique. If your literary piece is more than 500 words, that's not a problem. A thousand words is probably getting into TL:DR territory. My text was 569 words and I had to cut it down considerably. 

The 9:30 section should upload no later than 9:00 am on Monday, April 15. Students in the second section that begins at 11:00 should upload no later than 10:30 that morning. 

Let me know if you have questions: csmith@dcad.edu

Art & Cultural Appropriation: Debate & Discussion

 

Artists have always struggled with these issues, but only in recent years has the awareness of cultural appropriation gained traction as a significant problem. This video/discussion gives a great introduction to the debate. Next week we'll talk about "aesthetic appropriation" when we examine the case of Roy Lichtenstein. 

One of the animations, "About a Mother" is referenced in this video. Here's the link. 

TDC Project

 

Preparing for Visit to The Delaware Contemporary (TDC)

 Ten artists are featured in TDC's current group exhibition "RECRAFT".

Click on the links. Maybe choose one to three artists that interest you. That way you'll be prepared when we visit on Wednesday.

Hyperallergic is Funny (Kind of?)

 

Satire has an ancient history in art discourse. Every year, Hyperallergic publishes humor pieces on April 1. It's very hard to believe that anyone "falls" for these stories. 

Can humor open doors that critical analysis can't? Are some things and topics simply not funny? For instance, I find the stories that reference Israel's war against Palestinians objectionable. What do you think?

Articles and Resources: Art & Craft? or Art vs. Craft?

 

I assigned my class to read this article on scrapbooking (which talks directly about troubling the arts/crafts divide), and then I gave them the choice to read one additional essay of three options—one about sewing and mending clothing, one about woodworking, and one about quilting. These are less explicit in their approach to the central question, though I am planning to group students by the essay they chose to read and have them discuss and present to the rest of the class what each author’s approach to crafting illuminates within the larger conversation. Essentially we’re asking, “What does this author’s relationship to craft have in common with what we know about an artistic practice and art’s function or goal in society?” They’ve reflected quite a bit on this concept through readings and discussions from our first unit, so I am hoping the connections will come easily.

Long & Layered Review of the 2024 Whitney Biennial

Check out this new review in "The Art Newspaper"

This is supplementary reading; it's not required. Only a handful of students will click on this link. 

Stay curious. I know that you're busy with a lot of coursework, but you need to make time.

PS: Students have been telling me they "don't have the time" to complete assignments on schedule. This is almost always a red flag. What they mean is they didn't make the time.  Just saying. 

ArtyBollocks: Making fun of pompous art writing...

 

This artspeak generator is fun and funny, but at the heart of it is the cynical belief that writing about art is a failed enterprise before it even gets started. Good art writing is difficult, not impossible.

Let's Critique ChatGPT

Below you'll see my prompt and the AI output that resulted. I don't really want to call it "writing". The word "output" makes more sense. Good writing is creative and unique. Take a close look at these three paragraphs. How would you characterize the output? In other words, what's wrong or problematic about it? What stylistic features do Chat GPT output and International Art English share? In the words of David Byrne from the band Talking Heads, "You're talking a lot, but you're not saying anything."

Write a three-paragraph essay in International Art English about the 2024 Whitney Biennial

ChatGPT

ChatGPT

The 2024 Whitney Biennial encapsulates the dynamic and diverse landscape of contemporary art, serving as a cultural touchstone for the exploration of pertinent themes and emerging artistic voices. Curated against the backdrop of societal flux and global interconnectedness, this biennial offers a kaleidoscopic view into the multifaceted expressions of today's artists. From immersive installations probing the complexities of identity to boundary-pushing experiments in form and medium, the Biennial embodies the spirit of experimentation and innovation that defines the contemporary art scene.

Central to the discourse of the 2024 Whitney Biennial is its engagement with pressing socio-political issues, reflecting a commitment to art as a catalyst for dialogue and social change. Through a diverse array of mediums, artists confront issues ranging from environmental sustainability to racial justice, inviting viewers to critically reflect on the complexities of our world. This thematic depth underscores the Biennial's role not merely as a showcase of aesthetic prowess, but as a platform for introspection and advocacy, challenging viewers to confront uncomfortable truths and imagine alternative futures.

Moreover, the 2024 Whitney Biennial serves as a testament to the global interconnectedness of contemporary art, with participating artists hailing from diverse cultural backgrounds and geographical locations. By fostering cross-cultural dialogue and collaboration, the Biennial transcends borders and fosters a sense of shared humanity amidst the complexities of our modern world. Through its celebration of diversity and inclusivity, the Biennial reinforces the transformative power of art to bridge divides and cultivate empathy, resonating with audiences far beyond the confines of the museum walls.

Open Call: apexart, NYC

 

Every year, apexart holds a competition of sorts. What makes it different and really wonderful is that the curatorial proposals can be submitted by anyone regardless of their status in the so-called art world. And likewise, the people judging the curatorial proposals are not professional curators. Some of the jurors are students just like you. I've been a juror for years. It's actually really fun. 

Today in class we'll read together and rate 10 of these proposals. We will see examples of wonderful writing and also dreadful writing. Most of the writing won't be either extreme. This exercise will help to sharpen your writing skills for your Whitney Biennial catalog entry. You will notice that social and political ideas are often central to current art writing. 

Everyone Hates ArtSpeak

 

About twelve years a controversial article titled "International Art English" was published in a journal called Triple Canopy. This newspaper article  sums up the main points. If you want to read the original piece by Alix Rule and Davide Levine, you can find it here. 

The phenomenon they describe is fairly basic: Too often the writing that accompanies art is full of jargon, overblown claims, and nonsensical garbage. In other words, bullshit. Real people don't speak or write like that. Why do art people? Is it some kind of "insider language" as Rule and Levine claim? Is it like a secret handshake or something?  

But maybe we shouldn't immediately dismiss this kind of writing. Maybe artists--like doctors, lawyers, engineers, or plumbers--need specialized language? Some art is complicated and messy. It's not simple. Therefore, we can't use simple language to describe and evaluate it. 

Of course, the reality is somewhere in the middle. It's not that art doesn't need writing, art needs better writing. That's where your generation comes in. 

Take a look at the text that is included on the webpage from the artist in the Whitney Biennial that you chose. What is that piece of writing like? Can you make yours better? That's your challenge. You have a little bit more room, around 300 words.