I just posted two very short flash card series. These are far from complete, and I encourage you to set up such study aids in Quizlet or similar groups to study for the final. 10% of the final + 5% extra credit will consist of period style id's. I will take all id's from one of two sources: 1) your text, or 2) this website of gorgeous images of National Museum objects.
Here are the style period categories you may use as a response:

Olmec

Non-Olmec Preclassic

Maya

Teotihuacan

Epiclassic (Xochicalco, Cacaxtla)

Classic Veracruz (including El Tajin)

Toltec

Mixtec

Huastec

Aztec

As you can see, some style categories are more important than others. I will be testing most heavily for what we studied most.

Sample Preclassic/Classic Period Flashcards

Choose a Study ModeScatterLearnFlashcards

Study these flash cards

Sample Late Postclassic Flashcards

Choose a Study ModeScatterLearnFlashcards

Study these flash cards | Study history flash cards

What is your single biggest problem in writing art history papers?

MidTerm Question #3

"Describe the program of the closed (northern) court at the site of La Venta. Use specific deposits and objects when possible."

What exactly do you mean by saying "program"? - The ensemble of deposits (masks, sculptures, burials) buried underneath the north court.

Research

I have been trying to research for my ceramic monkey vessel for North Peru. You suggested Chris Donnan but I am having a very hard time finding him. Do you know a specific book that I could look at, I saw one called Ceramics of Ancient Peru but once I look through your search engine I cannot find it. Any suggestions?

Did the Olmec Write?: The Cascajal Block

Did the Olmec Write?: The Cascajal Block

Maya New Year Ceremony 8 Batz

Zotero Made Easy: How to Organize and Cite Your References

Zotero (http://www.zotero.org) is a way to store all your research references in your Firefox browser. I recommend it. Once you have your sources in Zotero, this presentation explains a simple system for citing your research sources in a paper. If you don't have a system, consider this.

Zotero easy

View more webinars from Rex Koontz.

What is Formal Analysis?

Many of you will get stuck on your formal analysis, and that is OK. Here is a link to a good succinct discussion (click on the title to this post). You will be talking a lot more about formal analysis in your first Writing Studio (this Monday).

HMNS 100 YEARS

See some ancient Pre-Columbian figurines in local collections
A thoughtful post by the curator of Pre-Columbian antiquities at the Houston Museum of Natural Science.

NOVA | America's Stone Age Explorers | The Fenn Cache | PBS

NOVA | America's Stone Age Explorers | The Fenn Cache | PBS: "They are the Clovis caches, groupings of exquisitely carved spear points and/or other flaked stone artifacts crafted thousands of years ago. Were they stored for a planned retrieval that never came? Were they ritual objects used in sacred ceremonies or as grave goods? Did the ancients use them for all three purposes? No one knows. But that only adds to their fascination for us today. Here, savor the skill and workmanship, the artistry and mystery, of 10 artifacts from perhaps the most spectacular of these early American collections, the Fenn Cache."

Second Writing Prompt

Using the same Proskouriakoff article and podcast and any other art history articles you wish, write a blog post using this prompt: “describe what moves good art history authors use to engage their audience. What moves do you make that belong to art history specifically? How do you organize your writing? How do you decide what details to leave in or take out?” Again, be specific and concise in your answers. See calendar for due date.

So Far, So Good

I just wanted to say thus far (the first 7 comments), so good (hit "Older Post" if the original prompt is not on this page). The comments thus far have stressed the relationship between the argument as written and the illustrations. Proskouriakoff's article is a great case study in how to do this - perhaps because she is in such a difficult situation, with most people having no firm idea of the Maya writing system.

First Writing Prompt

Read Proskouriakoff's "Pattern of a Series of Dates at Piedras Negras" (see link in course web site, Week 1). After reading and listening to the podcast, write a brief but substantive comment on this post using this prompt: What did the author do to help you visualize the art objects? What was not helpful to you? What left you with questions? Be specific in your answers. Due at least two hours before the next class period (but I would do it now, while you have the reading fresh).
To reiterate, post the answers to these questions in the reader comments section below.