Professor Jolly
Spring 2008
Research Paper
For your research paper, you will select a topic of your choice to investigate in depth (I list some suggestions below). All the papers should address art and revolution, and should demonstrate awareness of the themes and histories we have discussed in class. I would suggest that you focus on a limited number of images, so that you can treat each one in depth. The paper should be 10-12 pages long.
I expect you to consult both art historical and historical sources. You will likely need to make use of ILL, and we all might need to share local resources. I also recommend working with the local reference librarians as you develop your expanded bibliographies (you might contact Jennifer Strickland, our fine arts reference librarian). You must use citations and provide a bibliography (see Chicago Style section of IC LibraryÕs citation guidelines: http://www.dianahacker.com/resdoc/p04_c10_s2.html ; note this gives you the fomat for both footnotes and the bibliography, which are different). As with your essay, I will be looking for well-written papers that make a coherent and compelling argument.
Timetable:
March 22nd Topic and initial bibliography due via email
April 10th Thesis and expanded bibliography due
April 24th Final paper due
Suggested topics:
Focus on an artist, asking the question in what terms should his/her work be understood as revolutionary. (Note: if you do this, IÕd like to see you focus on their work, rather than their biography.)
Choose a recurring theme, element of iconography, or figure (i.e.: Zapata, the rural schoolteacher, or the soldadera) and examine how it is used by different artists, or during different periods, to stand for a range of meanings. (Note: The book by David Kunzle on images of Che would be a good model for considering other figures. I would like you to avoid writing directly on Che, however, unless you have a project that will take you further than KunzleÕs book.)
Choose a single mural cycle or film to analyze in depth.
Investigate a revolutionary program, like MexicoÕs education program, and study it historically and visually (ie: look at murals and/or films treating the rural schoolteacher and evaluate vis-ˆ-vis the historical record).