Assignment 2

Now that you have participated in an idea generating exercise, I would like you follow a similar process to identify the subject matter of the art projects that you will make throughout this semester. For each project you will be given the structure (shell, skeleton) of a project and you will add its content from the ideas generated in this assignment.

-Content is defined as what a work of art is about, its subject matter as interpreted by a viewer (the people that look at a piece of artwork).

Part 1: Brainstorming
The Philosopher Socrates said, “The unexamined life is not worth living”. How well do you know yourself? How much time do you devote to reasoning your likes and dislikes? Below you will find a list of questions. Answer 10 of the questions that interest you the most in your sketchbook.

Rather than giving brief responses, go in detail. Practice putting into words what irks, frightens, and moves you.

-What are five things that you love? Why do you love each?
-What are five things that you hate? Why do you hate each?
-What are two things that embarrass you? Explain how each embarrasses you?
-What are five things you like to do in your spare time? Why do you choose these things?
-What are three careers you would like to pursue? Explain why you would like to pursue each?
-What was a frightening experience in you life? Give some details
-What was a happy moment in your life? Give some details
-What was a lonely moment in your life? Give some details
-What was a time when you felt ashamed? Give some details
-What was a time that you felt guilty? Give some details
-What is one interest you are embarrassed to tell about? Give some details about your fears.
-What things do you read books about? How does this reading affect your life?
-What things are you afraid of? Give some details
-What things can you not live without? Why can you not live with out each?
-What is your kryptonite? Explain it
-What is your emblem? Explain it
-What do you want to be remembered for? Give some details
-What five things do you really care about? Why do you care for each?


Part 2: Selecting a subject matter
If you could choose two subjects that interest you, what would they be?
After completing part one of this assignment, go through your answers and identify two subjects/ideas to investigate for the rest of the semester.

Your subjects/ideas could have been uncovered from answering the questions in part one or you could have discovered a new subject that was not identified in the questions.

NOTE: Do not choose subjects that you are minimally interested in or have little emotional connection to. We will work with these ideas for the rest of the semester and it is important that your subject matters can hold your attention for the rest of the semester.

You can change your subjects if you loss interest in them but you will have to resubmit several assignments.

Write at least a paragraph (5 sentences) about each subject/idea in your sketchbook. Reflect on our in class idea generating exercise. Ideas are easily very broad, covering many things simultaneously. For this reason it is important to identify smaller categories that reference back to your original idea and or inspiration. Starting simply can make it easier to be clear about what you eventually want to communicate visually.

Identify at least four sub-categories for the two-subjects/ ideas that you have selected. Try to select sub-categories that are either broad or areas that you find to be the most compelling about your larger subjects/ ideas.

Example: Perhaps your subject is Nature and your sub-categories could be;
1.) The loss of nature
2.) The beauty of nature
3.) How you feel while in the wilderness
4.) Humans relationship to the natural world

or Perhaps your subject is Car and your subcategories could be;
1.)Adrenaline rush
2.)Fixing cars— knowing that I can fix something complex
3.)building a relationship with my dad through cars
4.)Sacrifice— the things I have to do to make/get my dream car