Developing Understanding
The discipline of art history examines art and the practices of art making, and explores how theories and interpretations of art develop and change over time. Cultural practices, belief systems, and physical setting are important parts of understanding art and art making in Unit 1. The influence of these factors can be seen in early works from throughout the world that share certain features, including a concern with the natural world and humans’ place within it. The analysis and interpretations of art from this period are especially important, as little-to-no written evidence exists for such early works, and art historians develop theories in collaboration with social and physical scientists to understand art historical developments.
Building the Art Historical
Thinking Skills
The study of art history invites students to develop deep understanding of works of art from diverse cultures, including
fundamental information that places these works in context. A critical component of this are the skills of identification and description. Unit 1 introduces the important skill of visual analysis, explaining how artistic decisions about visual characteristics shape a work of art.
Visual analysis allows students to observe and understand the aesthetic features of a work of art, which then enables them to participate in the conversation about how art is interpreted. Students will read historical interpretations of works of art, understand and describe these interpretations, and work toward explaining how an interpretation of a work of art may be derived from an analysis of its characteristics, including form, style, materials, content, function, context,
reception, and/or meaning.
Preparing for the AP Exam
The AP Art History Exam asks students to identify and describe visual elements of works from the image set. This is a good starting point for students before they move on to the more complex task of analyzing the visual elements they have identified. When students can analyze visual characteristics of a work of art from the image set they can then apply this skill to analyze visual characteristics of works that are beyond the image set; a skill that is assessed both in the multiple-choice questions and in Preparing for the AP Exam The AP Art History Exam asks students to identify and describe visual elements of works from the image set. This is a good starting point for students before they move
on to the more complex task of analyzing the visual elements they have identified. When students can analyze visual characteristics of a work of art from the image set they can then apply this skill to analyze visual characteristics of works that are beyond the image set; a skill that is assessed both in the multiple-choice questions and in free-response questions 3 and 5.
Visual and contextual analysis are foundational skills that are assessed throughout the multiple-choice section of the exam and are components of most of the free-response questions. Students will need a clear understanding of the differences between the two. Successful examples of what constitutes visual and contextual analysis can be found in the AP Art History Free-Response Question Samples and Commentary.
BIG IDEA 1
Culture
How does the study of art contribute to our greater understanding of cultural practices and belief systems?
How does art provide clues for understanding a culture and its history when we have nothing else to investigate?
BIG IDEA 3
Theories and Interpretations of Art
In what ways does the study of global prehistoric art require the contributions of other disciplines? Why?
BIG IDEA 4
Materials, Processes, and Techniques
How do the materials and techniques of global prehistoric art shape and define those works?
Hello and welcome to AP Art History! I’m excited that you decided to take this course, and I’m looking forward to getting to know, and working with you. It is a rigorous experience – you will learn a great deal about art from all eras of human history, and from cultures around the world. To get ready for the experience, and to help us get to know each other better, please complete the following assignments.
Before you do this, make sure you
have the join code from your teacher.
You’ll need it to join a class section.
Each project has its own rubric. DUE DATE: Complete and submit these projects via email (to [email protected]) no later than the first Friday of school, August 17 2018. Late work will receive half credit. Detailed directions for the assignments are accessible via the link below...
APAH Introductions Assignments Part 1&2
The discipline of art history examines art and the practices of art making, and explores how theories and interpretations of art develop and change over time. Cultural practices, belief systems, and physical setting are important parts of understanding art and art making in Unit 1. The influence of these factors can be seen in early works from throughout the world that share certain features, including a concern with the natural world and humans’ place within it. The analysis and interpretations of art from this period are especially important, as little-to-no written evidence exists for such early works, and art historians develop theories in collaboration with social and physical scientists to understand art historical developments.
Building the Art Historical
Thinking Skills
The study of art history invites students to develop deep understanding of works of art from diverse cultures, including
fundamental information that places these works in context. A critical component of this are the skills of identification and description. Unit 1 introduces the important skill of visual analysis, explaining how artistic decisions about visual characteristics shape a work of art.
Visual analysis allows students to observe and understand the aesthetic features of a work of art, which then enables them to participate in the conversation about how art is interpreted. Students will read historical interpretations of works of art, understand and describe these interpretations, and work toward explaining how an interpretation of a work of art may be derived from an analysis of its characteristics, including form, style, materials, content, function, context,
reception, and/or meaning.
Preparing for the AP Exam
The AP Art History Exam asks students to identify and describe visual elements of works from the image set. This is a good starting point for students before they move on to the more complex task of analyzing the visual elements they have identified. When students can analyze visual characteristics of a work of art from the image set they can then apply this skill to analyze visual characteristics of works that are beyond the image set; a skill that is assessed both in the multiple-choice questions and in Preparing for the AP Exam The AP Art History Exam asks students to identify and describe visual elements of works from the image set. This is a good starting point for students before they move
on to the more complex task of analyzing the visual elements they have identified. When students can analyze visual characteristics of a work of art from the image set they can then apply this skill to analyze visual characteristics of works that are beyond the image set; a skill that is assessed both in the multiple-choice questions and in free-response questions 3 and 5.
Visual and contextual analysis are foundational skills that are assessed throughout the multiple-choice section of the exam and are components of most of the free-response questions. Students will need a clear understanding of the differences between the two. Successful examples of what constitutes visual and contextual analysis can be found in the AP Art History Free-Response Question Samples and Commentary.
BIG IDEA 1
Culture
How does the study of art contribute to our greater understanding of cultural practices and belief systems?
How does art provide clues for understanding a culture and its history when we have nothing else to investigate?
BIG IDEA 3
Theories and Interpretations of Art
In what ways does the study of global prehistoric art require the contributions of other disciplines? Why?
BIG IDEA 4
Materials, Processes, and Techniques
How do the materials and techniques of global prehistoric art shape and define those works?
Hello and welcome to AP Art History! I’m excited that you decided to take this course, and I’m looking forward to getting to know, and working with you. It is a rigorous experience – you will learn a great deal about art from all eras of human history, and from cultures around the world. To get ready for the experience, and to help us get to know each other better, please complete the following assignments.
- Part 1 asks you to write a short essay about your own experience with art.
- Part 2 asks you to complete a short slideshow with images that we will use as class introductions in a quick-format presentation.
- AP STUDENTS
Joining Your AP Class Section
Use a phone, tablet, or computer to join your AP® courses online, so you can get feedback on
your progress and register for AP Exams. - 1 SIGN IN
Sign in to myap.collegeboard.org
using your College Board
student account login. This is
the same login you use to
access your AP scores,
PSAT/NMSQT® scores, or
register for the SAT®. If you
don’t have a student account,
click the Sign up link. - 2 JOIN A COURSE
Before you do this, make sure you
have the join code from your teacher.
You’ll need it to join a class section.
- 3 SUBMIT YOUR
JOIN CODE (Course Name: AP Art History, Section Name: Batong2nd, Active Join Code: KNZ3KQ)
Enter the join code your teacher
gave you and click Submit. - 4 VERIFY COURSE
INFORMATION
Make sure the information that
comes up is for the course
you're taking. If it is, click Yes. - 5 FILL OUT REGISTRATION
INFORMATION
The first time you enroll in an
AP course in My AP, you’ll need
to fill out some registration
information. It’s important to
provide accurate information.
You only have to do this once. - 6 CONGRATULATIONS!
You’re enrolled in your AP
course.
Each project has its own rubric. DUE DATE: Complete and submit these projects via email (to [email protected]) no later than the first Friday of school, August 17 2018. Late work will receive half credit. Detailed directions for the assignments are accessible via the link below...
APAH Introductions Assignments Part 1&2
Further reading...
A brief history of Western culture
by DR. BETH HARRIS and DR. STEVEN ZUCKER
How to do visual (formal) analysis
A brief history of Western culture
by DR. BETH HARRIS and DR. STEVEN ZUCKER
How to do visual (formal) analysis
This website is based upon work supported by:
Dr. Robert Croad for workshops, resources and time -
Marsha Russell for your generosity in sharing materials and knowledge -
and to Valerie Park for your AP Art History web site that this website is based upon.
Dr. Robert Croad for workshops, resources and time -
Marsha Russell for your generosity in sharing materials and knowledge -
and to Valerie Park for your AP Art History web site that this website is based upon.