Updated Prompts and Topics for Group Presentations
The goal of these group presentations is to understand our place in the world of art
through an examination of the art created by diverse traditional cultures, and the history of
Western art. We will achieve this goal by comparing and contrasting the art created by diverse
traditional cultures and the history of Western art with contemporary Western art (the art that is
created here and now). Since we already have a relatively good understanding of contemporary
Western art, the major focus of our group presentations will be the art created by diverse
traditional cultures, and the history of Western art.
Answer the following questions in your group presentations:
Describe the trends and styles of art from the traditional culture or period in art history.
What is the role and purpose of art in the traditional culture or period in art history?
How does art from the traditional culture or period in art history reflect that traditional culture, or
period in art history (how does the art reflect the culture or historical period)? How does
art from the traditional culture or period in art history reflect the cultural values of the
society in which it was made?
Compare and contrast art from the traditional culture or period in art history with your
understanding of current trends in art (use the questions above to direct your
comparison).
Focus on a specific piece of art from the traditional culture or period in art history. How has the
meaning of that piece of art been affected over time because of changes in interpretation
and context (How was the art thought of them versus how is the art thought of now)?
If possible, focus on the work of one artist from the traditional culture or period in art history.
What effect did the media (material) used by that artist have on his or her style? How did
that artist’s style contribute to the meaning of his or her work?
Rules for working in a group:
Be encouraging, friendly, and responsive to other members of the group.
Promote compromise and consensus among group members.
Ensure that everyone has an opportunity to contribute to discussions and the work of the group.
Help set standards for the group and its work.
Do not divert the group’s work by introducing irrelevant issues.
Do not monopolize the time the group has for its work.
Do not be passive or act indifferent during the group activity.
If any member of your group breaks these rules, let Mr. Richards know!!!
Possible Roles for Group Presentations:
Facilitator/Harmonizer/Prioritizer
Recorder/Summarizer/Elaborator
Checker/Innovator/Devil’s Advocate
Reporter/Runner/Spokesperson
Researchers/Explorers
Some General Links for Group Presentations:
https://www.google.com/culturalinstitute/
http://en.wikipedia.org/
https://www.google.com/
First Quarter Presentations: Non-Western Art History
India
Southeast Asia
China
Japan
Korea
Islam
Second Quarter Presentations: Western (The Ice Age through Classical Greece) and
Non-Western Art History
Africa
Pre-Columbian Central and South America
Native North America
The Ice Age
Ancient Egypt
Classical Greece
Third Quarter Presentations: Western Art History (First and Second Century Rome
through the 1600s and the Baroque)
First and Second Century Rome
The Medieval Era
Gothic France
The Renaissance in the 1400s
The High Renaissance
The 1600s and the Baroque
Fourth Quarter Presentations: Western Art History (The Enlightenment, Rococo, and
Neoclassicism through Post Modernism and the 21st Century)
The Enlightenment, Rococo, and Neoclassicism
Romanticism to Post-Impressionism
The Industrial Revolution
Art of the First Half of the 20th Century
Art of the Second Half of the 20th Century
Post Modernism and the 21st Century