REQUIRED ASSIGNMENT FOR PROJECT #3

INVENTORY FOR PHRENOLOGICAL PORTRAIT Use the following collections of words to brainstorm for your phrenological portrait!!! (You can either use yourself for this assignment, or you can use the person who will be in the portrait for your final project). Highlight the words that apply, then save this document as PDF to retain your highlighting. Post this on your blog with your phrenological portrait!

CONTENT:

  1. Self-Identification: Consider the following terms: which apply/do not apply to you or your subject for your portrait? (Highlight those that apply)

Assertive, reticent, conventional, idiosyncratic, playful, pragmatic, joyful, solemn, truthful, deceptive, courageous, fearful, variable, constant, arrogant, insecure, proud, modest, daring, timid, progressive, conservative, opinionated, impartial, humorous, serious, pious, irreverent, bossy, weak-willed, maverick, conformist, cynic, believer, pessimist, optimist, idealist, realist, coy, bold, outspoken, secretive, blunt, subtle, enlightened, banal, ethical, dishonest, ambitious, unmotivated, ruthless, polite, extravagant, dull, stimulating, boring, controlling, passive, hyper-active, inactive, determined, wavering, self-centered, group-centered, casual, stylized, altruistic, selfish, exceptional, average, shy, exhibitionist, compulsive, relaxed, anxious, confident, impulsive, cautious, hedonistic, stoic, energetic, lazy.∗

  1. Consider traits that reveal collective identities:

nerd, couch potato, bimbo, jock, punker, hipster, pen pusher, suburbanite, athlete, sorority etc…. what collective identity does you or your subject belong to?

  1. Consider your (or your subject’s) body image/physical characteristics, where you or your subject live (both your “home” and your city/state/country identification), your or your subject’s taste in fashion, music and art, your/your subject’s relationships, your/your subject’s material things, your/your subject’s attitudes, your/your subject’s mission (manifesto), your/your subject’s dreams, your/your subject’s fantasies, your/your subject’s definition of “success”.

CONTEXT: What most influences you or your subject? How/Why have you been influenced? (Literature, Film, Popular Culture, Politics, Religion). What artists do you or your subject most admire? Why? What historical periods of art do you or your subject most admire? Why?

  1. Identify your or your subject’s inspiration:

is it internal (dreams, fantasies, emotions, instincts, cultural identity, physical identity) or external (literature, current events, artworks by other artists, chance/random operation) or a combination of these? Does your inspiration concern place, materials, processes, collaboration?

  1. Identifying your or your subject’s peers—which of these words describe them?

sophisticated, unsophisticated, conservative, progressive, mature, youthful, receptive, hostile, indifferent to art, individualized, anonymous, ruralite, urbanite, suburbanite, male, female, working class, wealthy, apathetic, activist, hip, square, religious, agnostic, healthy, ill, educated, uneducated, world traveler, provincial, majority, minority, similar to you, alien to you, presently alive, not yet born, specific race, specific ethnicity, specific socioeconomic group, educators, government officials, corporate executives, corporate workers, industrial tycoons, factory workers, homemakers, farmers, artists, religious leaders, media workers, colleagues, family members, friends, strangers, celebrities.*

  1. Relating to your audience. Use the following list to start thinking about your artwork’s (portrait) communication with an audience. You can circle those you hope to achieve with this work; cross out those you actively reject, and add to this list:

teach, delight, calm, provoke, criticize, sympathize, arouse, flatter, mock, praise, excite, please, confuse, stabilize, soothe, amuse, frighten, disgust, exploit, manipulate, lure, encourage, warn, insult, attack, cajole, corrupt, console, aggravate, amaze, bewilder, nurture, defy, confront, dispute, judge, tease, taunt, involve, entice, engross, engage, motivate, annoy, irritate, reinforce, oppose, confound, incite, alarm, convince, delude, remind, stimulate, bore, entertain, repel, honor, dare, baffle, influence, support, exhaust, titillate, offend, challenge, pacify, explain, inform, suggest, infer, proclaim, imply, conceal, enlighten, instruct, guide, demand, command, assert, mystify, report, broadcast, propose, hint, advocate, announce, obscure, train, illustrate, inculcate, coach, control, describe, dominate, portray, declare, emphasize, televise, transmit, show, offer, disguise, recommend, publicize, counsel, order, intimate, insinuate, promote, decree, highlight, allege, urge, advertise, expose, edify, indicate, contend, render, signify, camouflage.*

What to do next:

Create your phrenological portrait - you can do this either by hand or using powerpoint.

Use the “most dominant”traits you’ve identified, using words AND pictures that represent the words (refer to examples shown in the video). Make sure that your phrenological portrait has some color. You can complete it using either drawing, collage or digitally.

∗These lists of terms are reprinted from Linda Weintraub, In the Making: Creative Options for Studio Art Classes. User’s Manual. DAP, ca. 2003).