A.P. ART HISTORY
THEMED ESSAYS
In order to prepare you for some of the potential types of essays you may encounter on
the A.P. Art History exam in the spring, we will be writing several short essays based on
various themes.
ESSAY #1
(The following question is from a prior A.P. Art History exam)
How a culture is perceived is often expressed in depictions of the human figure. Choose
2 specific representations of the human body from different cultures. Only one of your
choices may be from the European artistic tradition. Discuss significant aspects of each
culture that are revealed by the way in which the human body is depicted
1. Choose 2 artworks that meet the above criteria. You may use your text, other
books, the internet, journals, encyclopedias, etc.
2. Using multiple sources as a reference, make an outline/list of the information
needed to answer the question for each artwork.
3. Begin to write the draft of your essay. Be sure to answer the question as directly
and thoroughly as possible.
4. Write your final draft between 1-3 pages. It should be typed, double-spaced,
proof-read & spell checked, with citations (MLA or APA documentation style).
Document the use of more than one source.
5. Attach images of each of the artworks.
6. Due date: Monday, February 15, 2016. Earlier if possible, absolutely no late
papers.
7. Access to Internet resources: See the article at The College Board’s AP Central
website (www.apcentral.collegeboard.com). Follow these directions to get
there:
-
Register at AP Central with your e-mail address in order to sign-in
Once signed in, go to THE COURSES tab on the left and highlight COURSES
HOMEPAGE. Then highlight AP ART HISTORY.
You will be at the Art History Homepage. Look for the article, “Web
Guide for Art History”
You will write an essay every two weeks until the exam. The next dues dates will be
2/29, 3/14, 3/28, 411, and 4/25. The same format applies. Be sure to note the Essay # in
your header. All of these essays were 30 minutes essays on previous exams. You may
pick which 3 essays you want to write about. But keep in mind that you will not get to
choose on the exam. It would be beneficial to explore answers to all of these essays
even if you do actually write a paper on them.
Essay #2:The relationship between and artist or architect and a patron very often shapes
the form and content of a work of art or architecture.
Identify two works, each from a different art historical period, and name the specific
persons who commissioned them. Discuss how the specific interests and intentions of the
particular patrons are revealed in each work.
Essay #3: Most cultures have made use of the art’s narrative function.
Select and fully identify two works of art that visually convey a narrative. At least one of
your choices must be from beyond European tradition. Identify the subject of each
narrative and discuss the means used to communicate the narrative.
Essay #4: Frequently in the history of art, artists and architects have challenged
established traditions.
Select and fully identify two works that challenged established traditions. One example
must have been produced before 1800 C.E. Discuss how and why each work constituted
a significant challenge to accepted artistic conventions of its time.
Essay #5: Throughout history, works of art have included symbolic or allegorical images.
Select and fully identify two works of art that include symbolic or allegorical images.
Your choices must be from different art historical periods. Discuss how each work uses
symbols or allegory to convey meaning.
Essay #6: Throughout history, art representing hostility and violence has been used for a
variety of purposes.
Select and fully identify two such works of art from two different cultures, one of which
must be from beyond the European tradition. Explain how and why each work of art
communicates hostility or violence.
Essay #7: Throughout history, technological developments have enables artists and
architects to express ideas in new ways.
Choose and fully identify two works of art or architecture and the specific technological
development that made each work possible. One of your choices must date before 1800
CE and one must date after 1800 CE. For each work, analyze how the technological
development enabled the artist or architect to express ideas in new ways.
Essay #8: Representations of the natural world or motifs from nature are found in the
art of all times and places.
Choose and fully identify two appropriate works of art from two different cultures. One
of your choices must be from beyond European traditions. Explain why and how each
work uses representations of the natural world or motifs of nature.
Essay #9: Cultural attitudes about women are often revealed in art.
Select and fully identify two works of art that depict one or more women. The works
must come from two different cultures, one of which must be from beyond European
traditions. Explain how each work reveals its culture’s attitudes about women.
Essay #10: Art since the 1960s encompasses a wide variety of approaches.
Address this variety of approaches through the careful choice and detailed discussion of
two works of art made between 1960 and the present. The two works must be by
different artists OR in different media. Be sure to fully identify each work.
Essay #11: Cultures designate sacred space in a variety of ways to accommodate both
religious beliefs and practices.
Select and fully identify two examples of sacred spaces from different cultures, one of
which must be from beyond the European traditions. Discuss how each space
accommodates both religious beliefs and practices within its culture.
Essay #12: Self-portraiture provides a wide range of information about the artist in
addition to physical appearance.
Choose and fully identify two-self portraits, in any medium, each from a different arthistorical period. Analyze how each self-portrait conveys information about the artist
and his or her era.
Essay #13: Artists within a culture often use depictions of ancestors, siblings, couples, or
other types of family groupings to communicate larger social, political, mythical, and
historical concerns.
Select and fully identify two works, in any medium, that represent family grouping or
relationships. The works should come from two different cultures. At least one of the two
examples must be beyond the European tradition. Discuss the specific cultural concerns
the work communicates and analyze the visual means used to communicate those
concerns.
Essay #14: Throughout history, art has been used as propaganda to shape public
opinion. Propaganda takes many forms, such as architecture, paintings, and print media,
and is used to promote religious, political, and social ideologies.
Select and fully identify two works, in any medium, that were used to shape public
opinion. One of your examples must date before 1900 CE and one must date after 1900
CE. Citing specific examples in each work, analyze how each work conveyed its
propagandistic message to its intended audience.
Essay #15: The visual representation of deities and holy personages is a feature of
religious beliefs and practices throughout the world.
Select and fully identify two examples of representations of deities or holy personages, in
any medium, from two different cultures. At least one of your choices must be from
beyond the European tradition. Using specific visual evidence, analyze each work in
relation to the religious beliefs and practices within its culture.
Essay #16: Throughout history, art in a wide variety of media has been situated in
outdoor public spaces to convey meanings to specific audiences.
Select and fully identify two such works. One of your examples must date before 1850 CE
and one must date after 1850 CE. For each work, analyze how the work and its
placement conveyed meaning to its specific audience within its outdoor public space.
Essay #17: During the Renaissance and Baroque periods, many works were painted,
carved, or built under the patronage of the popes in Rome.
Select and fully identify two works, each by a different artist, that were created under
papal patronage during the Renaissance and/or the Baroque periods. Discuss the specific
relationships between the works you have chosen and papal patronage.
Essay #18: Sacred sculptures often have a central place in a given culture’s rituals or acts
of worship.
Identify as completely as possible two such sculptures, each from a different culture. At
least one example must be from beyond the European tradition. With specific reference
to rituals or acts of worship, discuss how each sculpture reflects the religious beliefs of its
culture.
Essay #19: Many cultures use architecture to express or reinforce power and authority.
Choose two works of architecture from different cultures, identifying each work as fully
as possible. At least one work must come from beyond the European tradition. Discuss
how each work conveys power and authority.
Essay #20: Works of art combine images with text.
Choose and fully identify two specific works made after 500 CE that combine images
with text. The works must come from different art historical periods. Note: Do not
choose works with text consisting only of names, labels, or artists’ signatures. Discuss
the relationship between the text and image in the two works you have chosen.
Essay #21: The human body is often highly stylized or abstracted in works of art.
Fully identify two works from different cultures in which the body has been highly
stylized or abstracted. At least one of your choices must be beyond European tradition.
Discuss how the stylization or abstraction of each figure is related to cultural and/or
religious ideas.
Essay #22: In order to understand works of art sully, one must understand their original
or intended settings. For example, most works of art in museums have been removed
from their original settings. Often a work’s original setting has been altered or destroyed
or was never completed as planned.
Fully identify two works of art that have been removed from their original settings. Each
example must come from different original or intended settings. Discuss how knowledge
of the original settings contributes to a more complete understanding of each work.
Theme Essay
In-depth
information,
30 minute/5
paragraph essay
(included
specific
information as
to artist, title,
purpose,
media)
Citations
Visuals
Total
4
Information is
engaging and
informative,
well organized,
comprehensive
and in-depth,
completely
answered the
question
posed, DAIJ, at
least one is
from NonWestern
tradition
bibliography of
4 or more
sources in MLA
or APA format
Excellent
quality of
images of
artworks
attached
3
Information is
informative,
organized,
one artwork
is a general
choice
without
specific
information,
question was
answered
2
Information is
lacking depth
and
organization,
both choices
are general,
both are from
Western
tradition
1
Total
Very general, X 10
no specifics,
Information is
disorganized
and confusing
Cited 3
sources
Cited 2
sources
No
bibliography
X2
Images of
artworks
present
Quality of
images is
poor
No visuals
X1
/52