HARN DIVERSITY PROJECT

As a final project, students will be required to produce a 5-image (minimum), 2000-word (minimum) research project highlighting diversity in the student’s art ‘community’ (UF community)–specifically, a collection or exhibition of non-Western art in the Harn Museum UF. These can include works from one collection (Asia, Africa, etc.) or works from multiple non-Western collections or exhibitions (current, future or past) in the Harn. If you chose works from multiple collections, be sure to tie them together thematically in relation to diversity in Gainesville. In keeping with our diversity theme, you are also welcome to choose American women artists of color–the Harn has had several exhibitions devoted to women of color, including Mirror, Mirror…Portraits of Frida Kahlo and Intra-Action: Women Artists from the Harn Collection (Links to an external site.)Links to an external site. (Links to an external site.)Links to an external site.. Your 5 principle images must come from Harn collections. Your art objects may be selected from past or current Harn exhibitions. You may include additional images (beyond your main 5) outside Harn collections for comparison and contrast. Please note that some exhibits have more published information at the Harn website than others. This is a research project, so you’re expected, as necessary, to research your chosen works by accessing other sources other than the Harn website. For those students on campus, you are strongly encourage to visit the Harn and take full advantage of the resources available at the Harn’s Bishop Study Center.

*Important: Your paper should include footnotes, endnotes or in-text (parenthetical) citations + a bibliography. Any information/ideas/concepts borrowed from or inspired by any source (website, article, book) must be cited with a footnote, endnote or in-text citation.

*Please note that this project was designed with remote, off-campus students in mind. As a Gainesville student, you are a member of the Gainesville community–even if digitally. You commune weekly with fellow Gainesville students in the discussion boards for this class. All Harn collections are available at their website. Gainesville/UF demographics can be easily researched on the web. Librarians at the Harn Bishop Study Center are available to assist students with research in their collections. Remote students can reach the Bishop via email and phone. See ‘Research Help’ link below or go to harn.ufl.edu

*Beware of plagiarism! Any information, words or ideas (quoted or paraphrased) taken from any source need to be properly cited. Use footnotes, endnotes or in-text citations. Your paper will also include a bibliography. Use ‘Citation Guide’ link below for one of multiple accepted footnote/endnote and bibliography styles.

Art has the power to influence. Art reflects the cultural concerns of the community that sponsors it. With this in mind, investigate how the Harn’s non-Western art collection(s) impact/influence/reflect (or doesn’t impact/influence/reflect) diversity in Gainesville. This is a research paper and your information should be properly researched and documented. Consult Harn resources provided below for information about its collections.
You may use your own photographs or photos provided at the Harn website or online. All images should be properly labelled. Your paper should be uploaded as a single Word doc with properly labelled, embedded images. You should include a bibliography or reference page at the end of your paper that includes all your sources. You may research works from different collections, or the works from one collection.
This is a coherent research paper, NOT an exhibition catalogue. I DO NOT WANT IMAGES WITH INDIVIDUAL DESCRIPTIONS, LIKE A CATALOGUE. Instead, construct a research paper, with an introduction, body and conclusion. Your paper should include a bibliography or references page. Your paper should include a thesis statement or key theme/argument. Your images should support your argument and serve as the focus of your narrative.
See sample papers, below. These serve merely as sample guidelines per my *minimum* expectations for an ‘A’ grade for this project. These papers were kindly provided with the author’s permission. The formats shown in either sample paper is preferred, but not required. You may use whatever format or style guide you prefer, so long as your paper is consistent in its format. You are *not* obligated to include section titles, as shown in the sample papers. You should, however, include some form of introduction, body and conclusion.
For this project, students will be expected to identify a culturally diverse art collection in the Harn, and analyze ways in which this art reflects the artist’s or group’s cultural heritage. Students should contrast this heritage with their own experience. Students should discuss the ways in which the art collection contributes to/engages diversity and cultural awareness of groups in their own community/digital community of UF Gainesville.
Papers should reflect material discussed and learned in class, especially topics covered in the diversity discussion boards.
When discussing diversity in Gainesville, do not generalize. Research actual relevant ethnic/racial/gender statistics and demographics, readily available online.
The collection you write about should be properly researched. Resources for research of museum collections are available to students at the Harn. Researched or quoted material should be properly cited. Any citation style is acceptable, such as MLA or Chicago. See citation guide, below, for Chicago.
Images should be properly labelled with artist, title and date. Photo source or credits not required.
Be sure to have a look at the rubric criteria, below, for which you will be assessed. Once your paper has been graded, be sure to read the comments/feedback embedded in the rubric, and/or provided in the comment bubble below your grade.
Students should be prepared to identify, communicate and analyze the following outcomes for content, communication and critical thinking: (1) identify, describe and explain values, attitudes and norms, as reflected in the visual culture of the group(s) under question; (2) analyze and discuss the ways in which social roles and status affect these different groups, their opportunities and constraints–as contrasted with the dominant white authority of the United States and the student’s own experience; (3) use appropriate art historical terms, concepts and approaches for analysis of artworks used as examples.