This is my assignment:
"Complete an extended definition essay of 750 to 1000 words as follows:
“Select a puzzling or ‘mysterious’ subject from a field of study…or from an interest you have explored. Write an extended definition that explains this mystery for your readers. As appropriate, include information about its characteristics, parts, history, possible causes, effects, solutions, benefits, or dangers. Or investigate a well-known mystery, such as, Stonehenge, the Bermuda Triangle, etc…. Remember that your essay should offer in-depth explanation, not just general description.”
-- “Suggestions for Writing” (Wyrick, p. 259)
There is no need to conduct research for this essay, but if you do cite sources make sure to credit those sources using either MLA or APA style. Use A Writer's Reference to use with any citations you might use."
Please help me edit my rough draft before next Sunday :-) It is supposed to be a definition essay on "Conceptual Artists". Any suggestions for improvement or edits will be greatly appreciated. I have already been dock 30 points and this is only mid-term, so I need all the help I can get. On all my papers so far, my teacher usually states things like:
"There are a few (minor) language corrections that I have made. Be especially careful with the long sentences that you seem to prefer - these can lead to complex punctuation or non-grammatical run-on sentences."
"The only other slight problem is with those long sentences. Keep things short and simple so that you can avoid getting tangled up in punctuation. This will make it is easier for the reader to comprehend your ideas."
"Please be aware that the topic sentence is usually found at the beginning of the paragraph as it is used as a signaling device to the reader. The topic sentence tells the reader what to expect in the paragraph. Also, these paragraphs are a little long. In an essay I would be tempted to separate them into two smaller paragraphs. Your guidelines suggested using paragraphs of 6-8 sentences in length. Being able to tailor your writing to be shorter is as valuable a skill as being able to write long pieces."
"I hope that you can see that giving the reader a 'mental break' with the shorter sentences and paragraphs helps the pacing of the paper - I can tell you that the engagement of the reader is greatly improved in this edited version."
I am not sure if I made this paper as personable as I should have. I am only allotted 700 to 1000 words; right now I am sitting at 715 and my professor will mark me down for not "following instructions". How and where should I include a detailed personal example of a conceptual artist?
Also, she despises my use of long sentences and of long paragraphs. So if you could provide any suggestions of improvement for this, I would appreciate the sentiment! As would, my professor. Without further ado, here is my (APA formatted) paper:
Challenging the Definition of Art: The Duty of a Conceptual Artist
By: Christina Paul
“I long said art is a marriage of the conscious and the unconscious”, this analogy is a quote from one of the most celebrated, multi-talented artists of the 20th century (Jean Cocteau). Since the quote first circulated out of the pages of the Summer-Fall issue of The Paris Review in 1964[1], it has been repeated often to define what art is. Though, anyone can look-up the word(s) “Art” and “Artist” in any dictionary, people have struggled to define such terms since the first cave-man pictorials appeared. Even though defining art can be such a daunting task, it doesn’t stop people or society from doing so. I believe that artists and their works cannot be defined within such constraints; conceptual artistry is a testimony to my theory, it is the rebel of the arts.
So what is conceptual art? Conceptual art is like what bad grammar in a written dialogue represents to English majors, it is known within the art community as the “anti-art”. Conceptual art first surfaced in the time of the DADA movement [5] (which began during WWI and peaked in 1916-1922), when many 20th century artist began focusing on manipulating the traditional standards of art in effort to support anti-war politics. According to Wikipedia the purpose of anti-art is to “reveal the conventional limits of art by expanding on its properties” [2], what that means is that conceptual art is not confined within the boundaries that traditional forms of art are generally governed by (and anti-art is often used to mock or protest such principals). One of the first (and most notorious) conceptual art pieces was an off-the-rack type of urinal signed with a pseudo-name (R.Mutt) that was submitted (and rejected) as a sculpture to an art exhibit in New York by Marcel Duchamp in 1917, identified as “the fountain”.
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| “Whether Mr. Mutt made the fountain with his own hands or not has no importance. He chose it. He took an article of life, placed it so that its useful significance disappeared under the new title and point of view and created a new thought for that object.”-Marcel Duchamp [4] If a picture is worth a thousand words, then the image of Duchamp’s fountain clearly illustrates the differences between conceptual art and more traditional forms of art. The primary difference being that conceptual art pieces rarely are perceived correctly by their audiences because they are a representation of an action, notion, idea, or emotion of the artist. Art experts often argue that conceptual art requires little (to no) applied artist skill or experience. Though, many of the successful conceptual artists are masters of a specific art form and find themselves searching for a new challenge (or at the very least hire some sort of professional such as models or performers to convey their work). Despite what I may think of concept art there is no denying that it is usually deemed insignificant in comparison (to traditional art). When it comes to defining the style of conceptual art it becomes quite difficult to procure a standard because it is the anarchist of the art. Conceptual art can be found in various forms, including (but not limited to): text, inanimate objects, photography, film, paintings, sculptures, performances, etc. What the conceptual artist tries to emphasize on is the undertones (such as an action, notion, idea or emotion) of what they are trying to express through their art. Artists such as Vanessa Beecroft, Damien Hirst, John Fekner, Marcel Duchamp, and other conceptual artists have been known to push the limits of art. From real human skulls completely covered in authenticated diamonds [6] to live performances representing genocide [7], conceptual art and conceptual artist know no limitations. “I long said art is a marriage of the conscious and the unconscious”. That is an acceptable definition of art in general but how would you define, the conceptual artist behind anti-art work? Their purpose is to defy any definition of art that society can throw at them. Conceptual art can be viewed as tacky or absurd but the ingenious of that form of art intrigues me. I would define a conceptual artist as imaginative, innovative, rebellious, and passionate. They are the creators of art the challenges the very definition of art itself! References:
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