Canonized by the USPS: Your favorite artist to hate...

 

I don't think the film has generated much response from critics, artists, comics creators, and gallerists. Two weeks ago, everybody was writing about it. Today, crickets. 

Except, that is, for the United States Postal Service which has released a new set of stamps in recognition of his 100th birthday. The biography is considerably more nuanced than the film offers. Check it out here.

MLA Style: Examples from real undergraduates

 

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

AI art is kind of miserable, at least in April of 2023

 I asked the AI bot Dalle-2 to "make a painting of art college students," and this was its output. Not great.  

Yes, AI will get better, but it will never get human and that, perhaps, is what we crave about genuine art and human creativity. What do you think of the "paintings" above? Not terribly impressive, right? According to DALL-E, all art students are white and are easel painters. This is highly problematic on a number of levels. 

MLA Style: Use the Purdue Online Writing Lab (OWL)

 

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.

Essay Structure: The Basics

The following structure will work for any kind of academic or argumentative essay. It doesn't matter if it's 2 pages, 20 pages, or 200 pages. You just need to remember the acronym: IPSO.

ISSUE: What precisely are you writing about?

POSITION: This is sometimes called the "claim" or thesis statement. This does not have to appear as the final sentence of the opening paragraph, but it often finds a comfortable home there. Could an intelligent person disagree with your position? If the answer is yes, you're on the right track. If the answer is no, your position is probably too obvious. 

SUPPORT: This is your evidence. It's sometimes called the "body" of the paper. Evidence does not just come from outside sources, it includes your independent reasoning and experiences. 

OUTCOME: What is the way forward? Why does it matter? 

The process is linear. Start at the top. Write one paragraph (it's sometimes called the "hook) that introduces the issue in an appealing and smart way. Your second paragraph should include a concise statement of your position on the issue. These two paragraphs are often referred to as the "introduction." 

The "support" paragraphs are often referred to as the "body" of the essay. This is where you'll bring in your secondary sources. Use signal phrases to introduce your scholarly research. Try to embed your quotations in the middle part of the paragraph. Don't end a paragraph with someone else's words. You're driving this bus. 

The final paragraph or two will represent your Conclusion. Why does it matter? So what? What's at stake? 

Minimalist Poster and Minimalist Presentation

 One feature of academic conferences, especially in the sciences and social sciences, is the "Poster Session." Here are some examples from undergraduates at the University of Texas. Ours won't look anything like these text-heavy posters. 

Your PDF poster will be a much simpler affair:

1. Title: (optional)

2. One Image: You can make your own or you can use someone else's as long as it's credited in a caption line. 

3. One verbatim (word-for-word) quotation from another scholar that sums up your position on your chosen topic: Appropriation in Art, Censorship, or Artificial Intelligence. Remember to cite your quotation in MLA style at the foot of your poster. The quotation should be fewer than 50 words. 

That's it. Combine the image and the quotation in a compelling and artful way. Remember all that you've learned in FN year. You can think of your poster as a single slide in a Powerpoint type of presentation. 

Do not include your name, date, or other "standard" features of typical academic submissions. 

Due: Monday, May 1 (section 2); Tuesday, May 2 (sections 1, 3, and 4).

Each student will briefly "present" their poster on the day they're due. This will only take a minute or two per student. 

Upload to Populi (5 points)

Questions: csmith@dcad.edu

Final Research Paper: Directions and Details