Category: Unit 3 (Page 16 of 23)

ARTIST STATEMENT GUIDELINES

Explaining the rationale behind our actions and decisions is an important kind of reflective writing because it makes visible what is otherwise invisible. You can choose to write an e-mail in Comic Sans font, but unless you explain why, the choice may seem mysterious and odd to readers. Composers of all sorts often write an Artist’s Statement for their audience that explains their inspirations, intentions, and choices in their creative and critical processes. It helps the reader understand the process that led to the final product by providing insight into what the author set out to do, how they did it, and what they might do to further improve the piece. A successful Artist’s Statement reflects your understanding of your chosen genre (and the elements, style, design, and use of sources that characterize it) – and of your specific rhetorical situation (your reasons for composing, your audience, how you use rhetorical appeals, and your choice of mode and medium).

In your Author’s Statement, you must do the following:

• Provide context. It’s useful to give background on your composition, such as how you became interested in the topic, what were your inspirations, or, if you’ve created a series of related works, how the pieces all fit together.

• Discuss your specific rhetorical situation and related choices: In other words: answer the question “why?” Why did you decide to write in the genre you did? Why did you choose the audience you did? Why did you decide to talk about this particular aspect of your research? What is the purpose of your piece?

• Explain your choice of genre and how you worked within its conventions. Maybe you created a photo essay.  An accompanying statement—in which you explain why you found the photo essay to be the best way to communicate your ideas about gun control—would go a long way toward helping your viewers get the most out of your work
• Reflect on how it went.  Use this as an opportunity to look back at your composition and evaluate the extent of your achievement as well as note what you would have done differently or better.

*Note: This should be a fluid, cohesive document that reflects on and justifies the rhetorical choices in your New Genre Project. Do not just merely answer each question in list form.

Goals for the week:

1. Read and comment on proposals
2. Introduce Artist Statement
3. Begin work on New Genre piece
4. Post evidence of work 

Due by end-of-day Day One

READ (and comment): Read at least two of your colleagues’ Unit 3 proposals, and comment on them. Comments should be at least 200 words. Please do not simply say “sounds great!” because that is not helpful! Think about the kind of things that might be helpful to you as you embark on this project. Here are some ideas: 

• A specific publication or website you think the author could write for
• A question or comment to help narrow down the audience: “You say you want young people to watch this video essay, but there’s no publication all young people watch. Are you actually trying to reach New Yorkers?”
• A question or comment to help narrow down the genre: “There are a lot of different kinds of articles in the world. You could be writing for a newspaper like the New York Times or a website like Buzzfeed, and the writing is totally different for both. Can you be more specific?”
• You can also just talk about things in the proposal you find especially cool or exciting. 

Remember–you don’t have to take all the advice other writers give you. It’s still your decision (and you’re still responsible!)  But it is often helpful to hear what other people think. 

READ: Handout: How to Write an Artist Statement

WRITE: Start working on Unit 3 – New Genre piece.

Due by end-of-day Day Two

WORK DAY

POST:  Evidence of progress on your project, whatever you want that evidence to be!  Your Unit will be due on (Week 13 Day Two) so today, just post something you’re working on– a picture of your comic, a page of what you’ve been writing, a minute of your video… whatever.