-How does this work fit within the themes, issues, art movements, styles, or time periods discussed in class?
-What are the social, political, philosophical, or historical contexts of the work?
-What is the subject matter and how does it relate to the social, political or philosophical contexts of the work?
-What were the artist’s intentions, aims, goals — what is artist trying to achieve?
-Is this typical of the kinds of works produced by this artist? How or why not?
-How might the formal elements (composition, tonal values, photographic techniques, type of camera used,
etc.) of the work relate to its meaning?
2) Similarities
-What are the similarities between the two works?
-Discuss the subject matter, and artist’s intentions, and technical aspects or other elements that might contain
similarities
-How do the similarities relate the themes, issues, styles, time periods, and/or art movements discussed in
class? (Discuss at least 2 of these areas)
-Be sure to discuss not just the formal aspects but how these photographs relate to the contexts and time
periods in which they were produced
3) Differences
-What are the differences between the works?
-Discuss the subject matter and artist’s intentions, and technical aspects or other elements that might contain
differences.
-How do the differences relate the themes, issues, styles, time periods, and/or art movements discussed in
class? (Discuss at least 2 of these areas)
-How are the artists’ intentions and goals different?
-Be sure to discuss not just the formal aspects but also the contexts and time periods in which the works were
produced
Compare & Contrast Images:
Set 1) Martha Rosler, Vacuuming Pop Art, 1966-1972
& Robert Mapplethorpe, Bryan Ridley and Lyle Heeter, 1979
OR
Set 2) Joseph Kosuth, One and Three Chairs, 1965
& Diane Arbus, Kid with Toy Grenade, 1962
Sample Solution
