Unit 4 AOS 3: SAC

AOS: 3 Comparison of artists, their practice and their artworks

On completion of this unit the student should be able to compare the practices of historical and contemporary artists, and use the Interpretive Lenses to analyse and interpret the meanings and messages of selected artworks.

Key knowledge

• practices of historical (pre 2000) and contemporary (post 2000) artists
• meanings and messages of historical and contemporary artworks
• the use of evidence from artworks to support analysis and interpretation
• the use of the Structural, Personal and Cultural Lenses to analyse and interpret historical and contemporary artworks
• resources to support the research of selected artists and their artworks
• art terminology used in the discussion and comparison of the practices of artists and their artworks

Key skills

• compare the practices of historical and contemporary artists
• analyse, interpret and compare meanings and messages of historical and contemporary artworks
• use a range of resources to compare the practices of historical and contemporary artists, and to analyse and interpret their artworks
• apply the Structural, Personal and Cultural Lenses to the analysis and interpretation of the meanings and messages of artworks
• substantiate the analysis and interpretation of artworks with evidence from the artworks and other sources
• use appropriate terminology and comparative language in the analysis, interpretation and comparison 
  of the practices of artists and their artworks

Students must:

• research at least one historical artist, their practice, and their artworks, and at least one contemporary artist, their practice, and their artworks
• compare the practices of the selected artists
• apply all three Interpretive Lenses to analyse and interpret the meanings and messages of at least two artworks by each artist
• source evidence to support their interpretation and point of view.

A mark out of 30 will be provided to VCAA. It will be moderated to equate to 10% of the overall grade.

Task 1: Complete a mind map and venn diagram

Complete a mind map in your visual diary exploring your ‘theme/issue’. What is significant and important in your body of work? What is your ‘WHY’? Research a variety of artists that might be suitable to compare/contrast. After consultation with peers and your teacher complete a Venn Diagram exploring one historical artist (pre 2000) and one contemporary (post 2000). Keep an annotated reference list.

Task 2: Literature review (after you choose your pre 2000 and post 2000 artists)

Create a literature review to gather trustworthy sources about your artists. Seek authentic, reliable articles, journals, authors and websites. Write a brief overview of the relevance of the source to the life and work of the artists and include the link. Collate this and stick it in your Visual Diary.

Task 3: Exploring the three lenses

Use the table below or create a similar table in your visual diary to complete notes on your two artists. Make sure that you collate a reference list as you go.

Word version for easy edit below:

Task 4: CONTEXT

• Historical artist’s practice. Make a list of things that existed or happened at the time the historical artist was working, but no longer exist or happen now.
• How would these things influence the way they worked, and their meanings and messages?
• Contemporary artist’s practice. Make a list of things that no longer exist or happen in the life of the contemporary artist.
• How might these factors influence the way they work, and the meanings and messages in their artworks?

From VCAA study design:

The context of an artwork is the frame of reference that allows the meaning of an artwork to be interpreted. Interpretation of the meaning of an artwork can evolve from the context. The context of an artwork can be the location and time in which the artwork is made, presented or viewed. Context can also be economic, philosophical, historical, social or cultural influences on the practices of the artist, the artist’s intentions, and their communication of ideas, values and beliefs in their artworks. The artist’s intentions for the presentation of their work, its exhibition in current and subsequent locations, and the values, beliefs and interests of the audience also provide the context for the artwork.

Task 5: QUOTES

Find reliable quotes from your artists to support the statements in your response. 

Task 6 : Complete the following practice questions and practice SAC (from your teacher)

Using the cultural lens, compare the meanings and messages in artworks by two artists you have studied this year. One artwork must have been produced before 2000 and the other artwork must have been produced after 2000.