Study Guide Intro

Summary

This video script introduces students to the use of study guides in an art history class, emphasizing the importance of focusing on selected artworks to explore history, culture, aesthetics, and the impact of technology on art. The guides provide vocabulary, questions, and artwork details, encouraging students to reflect on the significance of each piece. Exams are open resource, requiring students to write 'significant statements' that explain the cultural, historical, and aesthetic importance of the artworks, fostering a deeper understanding of human experience and cultural history.

Takeaways

• 📘 The class utilizes study guides to focus on selected artworks and monuments that are deemed important for understanding history, cultures, aesthetics, and the influence of technology on art techniques.
• 🔍 Study guides include art historical vocabulary, basic questions to prompt learning, and information tables about each artwork, such as name, artist, cultural period, date, material, and location.
• 🖼️ Students are encouraged to examine and engage with the artworks in detail, moving beyond surface-level memorization of names and dates.
• 💭 The purpose of studying these artworks is to reflect on their significance and relevance, understanding why they are included in art historical textbooks and what they can teach us about human experience and cultural history.
• ✍️ Exams are open book, open note, and open internet, emphasizing the importance of writing a 'significant statement' about the artworks, which explains their cultural, historical, and aesthetic importance.
• 📝 A significant statement is a concise, three to four sentence explanation of an artwork's importance, prompting students to consider its relevance and contribution to art and culture.
• 📚 Study guides provide a structured approach to learning, with between 15 to 30 objects for every unit, each accompanied by a small image and the option for larger images in separate files.
• 🤔 Students are asked to write a short statement for each artwork, explaining its significance in the class, which helps in understanding the 'why' behind the study of each piece.
• 📈 The class aims to develop critical thinking skills, encouraging students to analyze and interpret the artworks, rather than simply memorizing facts.
• 📝 Preparation for exams involves writing or preparing bullet points for significant statements for all artworks, as it is not feasible to create these during the exam itself.
• 👩‍🏫 The video script serves as an introduction to the use of study guides and includes tips from previous students on effective study and exam preparation strategies.

Q & A

What is the primary purpose of the study guides in this class?

The primary purpose of the study guides is to focus the class on specific artworks and monuments that will teach about history, other cultures, cultural periods, aesthetics, style, and the impact of technology on technique.

What does the instructor want students to avoid when using the study guides?

The instructor wants students to avoid being overwhelmed by the multitude of images and artworks, instead focusing on the selected objects in the study guides.

What are the components of a sample study guide page according to the transcript?

A sample study guide page contains art historical vocabulary, basic questions to help students learn from the artworks, and a table with basic information about the artwork such as its name, artist, cultural period, date, material, and location or original context.

How many objects can be expected in each study guide unit?

There can be between 15 and 30 objects for every unit in the study guides.

What is the significance of the larger images files mentioned by the instructor?

The larger images files are provided for students to look closely at each artwork, which aids in their study and understanding of the art pieces.

What is the instructor's expectation after students read about and possibly do a project on the artworks?

The instructor expects students to return to each artwork and write a short statement explaining why they think the artwork is being studied in class and its significance.

What is the main goal of the exams according to the transcript?

The main goal of the exams is for students to explain the importance of the artworks, which they demonstrate by writing a significant statement.

What is a 'significant statement' as defined in the transcript?

A significant statement is a three or four sentence explanation of the importance of an artwork, culturally, historically, and aesthetically, addressing its relevance, greatness, and educational value.

How should students prepare for the exams according to the instructor?

Students should prepare by writing or preparing bullet points for a significant statement for all the artworks before the exam, as there will not be time to write these statements from scratch during the exam.

What additional resources are available to students to understand how to use the study guides and prepare for exams?

Students can refer to examples of student-written significant statements and tips from previous students on how to use the study guide and prepare for exams, which are available at the bottom of the 'How to Use Your Study Guide' assignment.

What is the main focus of the class when studying the artworks?

The main focus is not on memorizing artists' names and dates of creation, but on reflecting upon the importance and significance of the artworks, what they teach about human experience, cultural history, and the period of their creation.

Outlines

00:00

📚 Study Guide Introduction and Purpose

The instructor introduces the use of study guides in the class, emphasizing their importance for focused learning on selected artworks and monuments. The study guides contain art historical vocabulary, questions to prompt discussion and learning, and basic information about each artwork. The class is encouraged to engage deeply with the artworks, considering their historical, cultural, and aesthetic significance. The instructor clarifies that the goal is not to memorize facts but to understand why these artworks are studied and their relevance to art history and human experience.

Keywords

💡Study Guides

Study guides are structured tools used to aid in learning and understanding specific content. In the context of the video, they are utilized to focus the class's attention on a curated selection of artworks and monuments. The guides contain vocabulary, questions, and information about the artworks, serving as a roadmap for students to explore and analyze the significance of each piece. For example, the script mentions that 'These are artworks that I think will teach us all something about history, about other cultures and cultural periods, and also about aesthetics, of style, and how technology affects technique.'

💡Art Historical Vocabulary

Art historical vocabulary refers to the specialized terms used to describe and analyze art and its historical context. The script emphasizes the importance of students knowing and applying this vocabulary to the artworks they study. An example from the script is when it states, 'They contain some art historical vocabulary that I'd like you to know and apply to the artworks that we study.'

💡Cultural Periods

Cultural periods denote distinct eras in history that are characterized by specific cultural, artistic, and societal trends. The script mentions these periods to highlight the importance of understanding the context in which artworks were created. The term is used when the instructor talks about learning from artworks about 'different cultures and cultural periods.'

💡Aesthetics

Aesthetics pertains to the appreciation and study of beauty and art. In the video, the instructor wants students to consider the aesthetic value of the artworks, which involves understanding the principles of beauty and how they are represented in art. The script illustrates this with the phrase, '...about aesthetics, of style, and how technology affects technique.'

💡Technique

Technique refers to the methods and skills used by artists to create their works. The script discusses how technology can influence an artist's technique, suggesting that students should explore the relationship between technological advancements and artistic methods. The term is used in the context of '...how technology affects technique.'

💡Significant Statement

A significant statement is a concise explanation of why an artwork or object is important, culturally, historically, and aesthetically. The script defines it as a 'three or four sentence statement' that students are expected to prepare for exams. It is used to assess students' understanding of the artworks' relevance and impact, as illustrated by the script's definition: 'A significant statement is a three or four sentence statement that explains the importance of an object culturally, historically, and aesthetically.'

💡Relevance

Relevance is the quality of being closely connected or appropriate to the matter at hand. In the script, the instructor asks students to consider the relevance of the artworks they study, questioning why they are important today and what they can teach us. The term is used when the instructor prompts students to ask, 'Why is it relevant?'

💡Cultural Circumstances

Cultural circumstances refer to the conditions and environment within a specific culture that influence the creation of art. The script encourages students to analyze artworks in the context of the cultural circumstances of their creation to gain a deeper understanding of their meaning and significance. The term is used when the instructor asks, 'What does an artwork say about the cultural circumstances of its creation?'

💡Artistic Expression

Artistic expression is the communication of thoughts, emotions, or ideas through various art forms. The script implies that students should consider the personal expression of the artist when studying artworks, as it provides insight into the artist's perspective and the era's artistic trends. The concept is alluded to when the instructor asks students to reflect on what the artwork says 'about the artist.'

💡Exam Preparation

Exam preparation involves the process of studying and organizing information in anticipation of an exam. The script provides specific guidance on how students should prepare for exams by using study guides and creating significant statements for each artwork. The term is used in the context of 'So you will write a significant statement or at least prepare bullet points for a significant statement for all the artworks before the exam.'

💡Open-Book Exam

An open-book exam is a type of examination where students are allowed to use their notes, textbooks, or other resources while answering questions. The script mentions that the exams are open book, open note, and open internet, emphasizing that the purpose is for students to demonstrate their understanding of the artworks' importance rather than their memorization skills. The term is used when the instructor states, 'Our exams are open book, open note, open internet.'

Highlights

The class uses study guides to focus on selected artworks and monuments.

Artworks are chosen for their educational value in history, culture, aesthetics, and technology's impact on technique.

Study guides contain art historical vocabulary, questions, and basic artwork information.

Guides are designed to help students ask and learn from the artworks.

Students are encouraged to focus on the provided study guide objects.

Study guides include a table with artwork details like name, artist, cultural period, and materials.

There are 15 to 30 objects per unit in the study guides.

Larger images of artworks are available for closer examination.

Students are asked to write a short statement on the significance of each artwork studied.

The study guide is not for memorizing but for reflecting on the importance of the artworks.

Art is a medium to understand human experience and cultural history.

Exams are open book, open note, and open internet, focusing on the significance of the artworks.

A significant statement is a concise explanation of an artwork's cultural, historical, and aesthetic importance.

Students are expected to prepare significant statements or bullet points for exams.

The assignment 'How to Use Your Study Guide' provides examples of significant statements.

Previous students offer tips on using the study guide and exam preparation.

The class aims to appreciate and listen to art for its educational value.

Transcripts

Hi everyone. This class uses study guides. While  you'll have a lot of opportunities to explore  

artwork that's of interest to you in this class,  there's also a group of artworks and monuments  

that I would like us to consider and learn from  together. These are artworks that I think will  

teach us all something about history, about other  cultures and cultural periods, and also about  

aesthetics, of style, and how technology affects  technique. I don't want you to be awash in all  

of the images and the artworks in our books  and our discussions and projects. I want you  

instead as a class to focus on these objects.  So let's look at a sample study guide page.  

This one is for a Modern art class, but they're  all basically the same. They contain some art  

historical vocabulary that I'd like you to  know and apply to the artworks that we study.  

And then they also have some questions. These  study guides have some basic questions to help you  

start to ask things and learn things from the  artworks. These will be different for every study  

guide. And then finally there is the table that  says some basic information about the artwork,  

its name, its artist, perhaps its cultural period,  its relative date if that's applicable to the  

class, the date of creation, the material,  where it is or maybe its original context.  

And then there'll be between 15 and maybe even  30 objects for every unit. And then, yes, these  

images are quite small. Let me scroll all the way  down to the bottom of these study guides. I often  

have some files here that you can use  for larger images of the artworks.  

I recommend that you look closely at each of  these artworks and then we will read about them,  

maybe do a project about them, then I ask that you  return to each artwork and write a short statement  

as to why you think we're studying this  artwork in this class. Why is it significant?  

You see I don't give you a study guide so you can  memorize artists names and dates of creation. No.  

I ask that you reflect upon why we're studying  these objects at all. What is important about  

them? What is significant about them? So  significant that they might appear in art  

historical textbooks for generations. We will  look at and appreciate the art. But we will also,  

in a way, listen to the art. Art teaches us  about human experience and cultural history.  

For instance, what does an artwork say  about the historical period in which  

it was made? What does an artwork say about  the cultural circumstances of its creation?  

What does an artwork say about the artist?  Or about the aesthetics of the period?

Our exams are open book, open note, open internet.  The purpose of these exams is for you to tell me  

why these artworks are important. And you do this  by writing what I call a significant statement.  

You'll find the definition of a significant  statement in many places in our course, and you'll  

always find it at the top of the study guides.  There it reads that a significant statement is a  

three or four sentence statement that explains the  importance of an object culturally, historically,  

and aesthetically. Ask yourself, why are we  studying this object today? Why is it relevant?  

Why is it considered a great work of art or  architecture? What does it have to teach us  

about art and artists? What does it have to teach  us about the past, and perhaps about ourselves?  

So you will write a significant statement or at  least prepare bullet points for a significant  

statement for all the artworks before the  exam. Trust me, you will not have time to write  

these statements from scratch during the exams.  Perhaps you're watching this video as part of the  

assignment "How to Use Your Study Guide." In this  assignment you will also see a couple of examples  

of student written significant statements. I  wouldn't try to replicate them, but it might  

give you a sense of what I'm looking for. And then  also at the bottom of this assignment there are  

tips from previous students on how to use the  study guide and how to prepare for our exams.  

So I hope that's given you a brief introduction  to how we use study guides for this class.