HISTORY Of ART
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Dissertations
A dissertation can be a daunting prospect. It does not need to be. The fundamental key to writing a good dissertation is planning. Even though the deadline may be months away it is important to organise yourself as soon as possible. Writing a dissertation is something not to be underestimated. It involves numerous process; finding the original idea, researching resources, drawing up an initial bibliography, making a rough plan, researching, meeting with advisors, further research, writing drafts, further meetings with advisors, collating images with their references, editing drafts, incorporating the departmental presentation requirements and finally producing a finished document. This process also has to include time to reflect upon the work, as finished dissertations seldom look like their original plan. You will be given the relevant submission dates well in advance, so set yourself achievable targets taking into consideration other work commitments you will have throughout the year. If you fail to organise yourself properly you will cause yourself unnecessarily high levels of stress. This page contains information on the practical elements of writing an Art History dissertation.
For information on the submission, and rules and regulations pertaining to the dissertation, please see the History of Art Undergraduate Handbook. If in doubt about any aspect of the dissertation consult this document.Contents
Single Honours History of Art (V350 and V351)
Subject
Topics are subject to Departmental approval and suggestions will be refused if they are outside the competence of the Department to supervise. Possible approaches to, and themes for, a dissertation might include some of the ideas suggested below: These ideas do not constitute either an exhaustive or prescriptive list. Students are encouraged to propose and develop their own ideas.
- a study in depth of a major work of art, monument or building, setting it in its appropriate architectural, social, cultural, and any other relevant, contexts (patronage, history, etc.).
- an examination of a particular artist or architect whose work can be studied conveniently.
- a study of a regional style in painting, sculpture, architecture, decoration or design, etc., which can be studied locally.
- an examination of a major work of art or group of works which afford an opportunity to investigate in depth problems of patronage, iconography, representation, etc.
- an investigation into the management of arts policies (public funding, institutional structures, the organisation of museums and galleries, national, regional and local structures) in the country of residence.
- a study of an aspect of applied or decorative art (furniture, ceramics, glass, metalwork, etc.) from a particular period or locality which can be researched from collections visited.
Supervision / advice
Once the dissertation topic has been approved by the Department, each student will be assigned an advisor. It is the responsibility of the student to make contact with her/his advisor. The advisor's role is to support and guide the student. He or she is not responsible for the progress of the dissertation, nor is it the advisor's duty to maintain contact with the student. The advisor and the student should then establish a programme of study.
Length
Single Honours Dissertations should be between 8,000-10,000 words in length, which includes front matter (including title and abstracts), all the main text including tables, and all footnotes. The word limit excludes headers, bibliography, appendices, graphs and images, and declarations. Penalties for over-length submissions will be applied - see the undergraduate handbook for details.
Plagiarism
It is vitally important to take all possible steps to avoid plagiarism. The dissertation is the longest piece of continuous prose written by undergraduate students and therefore, it will demand the widest range of source material. University Regulations do not require proof that plagiarism was committed with the intent to deceive, merely proof that plagiarism occurred. The Department will normally record a mark of zero for any plagiarised work, including dissertations, which contributes to the final degree classification. Students should refer to the information on plagiarism.
Joint Honours History of Art and Modern Language
Students are required to undertake research during their year abroad towards writing up a Dissertation during the Fourth Year. The completed Dissertation will contribute one third of the History of Art component of the Fourth Year curriculum (20 credit points)
Subject
The primary purpose of the year abroad for a student's art history studies is to develop a better understanding of the visual arts and architecture generally by studying as much material as possible in the original. The Research Project Dissertation should reflect this intention and activity as clearly as possible and incorporate an art historical approach in assessing and discussing the topic chosen.
Students are advised to select a theme or subject for their dissertation which can be adequately researched in the area (or areas) in which they will be spending the year abroad and for which there are suitable works of art or monuments which can be studied in the original in the neighbourhood they are visiting. The choice of subject is the individual student's responsibility, but students may if they wish discuss possible topics or subject areas with tutors in the Department prior to going abroad. They may, however, choose to undertake work for a subject that might involve locally-based library or archive research complemented by visits to museums and galleries, monuments and sites elsewhere.
Possible approaches to and themes for a Third Year Abroad Project might include some of the ideas suggested below: these do not constitute a list that is either exhaustive or prescriptive, and students are encouraged to propose and develop their own ideas.
- a study in depth of a major work of art, monument or building setting it in its appropriate architectural, social, cultural, and any other relevant, contexts (patronage, building, history, etc.).
- an examination of a particular artist or architect whose work can be studied conveniently.
- a study of a regional style in painting, sculpture, architecture, decoration or design, etc., which can be studied locally.
- an examination of a major work of art or group of works which afford an opportunity to investigate in depth problems of patronage, iconography, representation, etc.
- an investigation into the management of arts policies (public funding, institutional structures, the organisation of museums and galleries, national, regional and local structures) in the country of residence.
- a study of an aspect of applied or decorative art (furniture, ceramics, glass, metalwork, etc.) from a particular period or locality which can be researched from collections visited.
Approval of research project dissertation topics
Students who identify a topic or area of interest for their Project before leaving Bristol are encouraged to discuss possible subjects with a tutor and perhaps obtain approval prior to going abroad. Most students will probably choose their Project topic after arrival at their place of study and residence abroad.
Approval must be obtained from the Department and suggestions will be refused if they are outside the competence of the Department to supervise.
Supervision / advice
Once the Dissertation topic has been approved by the Department, each student will be assigned an advisor. It is the responsibility of the student to make contact with her/his advisor. The advisor's role is to support and guide the student. He or she is not responsible for the progress of the dissertation, nor is it the advisor's duty to maintain contact with the student. The advisor and the student should then establish a programme of study.
Length
Joint Honours Research Project Dissertations should be between 5,000-6,000 words in length, which includes front matter (including title and abstracts), all the main text including tables, and all footnotes. The word limit excludes headers, bibliography, appendices, graphs and images, and declarations. Penalties for over-length submissions will be applied - see the undergraduate handbook for details.
Plagiarism
In connection with your dissertation, it is vitally important to take all possible steps to avoid plagiarism. University Regulations do not require proof that plagiarism was committed with the intent to deceive, merely proof that plagiarism occurred. The Department will normally record a mark of zero for any plagiarised work, including dissertations, which contributes to the final degree classification.
Students should refer to the information on plagiarism.
Presentation guidelines
The Department reserves the right to penalise students by the deduction of marks for poor presentation (such as general untidiness, lack of page numbers, or footnotes, or a proper bibliography, etc.).
Conventions
- Dissertations must be typewritten or word-processed on A4 paper, the text double-spaced with a minimum font size of 12 pt., and the notes single-spaced.
- Each copy of the dissertation should be submitted spirally bound (this can be done at most copyshops).
- The cover should be clear plastic so that the title of the dissertation and the student candidate number together with the appropriate degree on the title page can be clearly seen.
Abstract
A 300 word synopsis of the dissertation should appear after the table of contents
Text
- Most dissertations will be subdivided into sections or chapters. These should be numbered, and each new section or chapter should begin on a new page.
- Sections or chapters may be sub-divided: where this is done, a subsection should be identified by means of a number or letter and given its own subtitle.
- Full information on presentation requirements, including conventions of referencing and bibliographies is available in the undergraduate handbook
Illustrations
- Illustrations are not obligatory.
- Illustrations may be placed either in the text or else at the end of the dissertation.
- A complete list of the works illustrated must be provided.
- Digital images, photographs, postcards and photocopies may be used.
- Illustrations should be mounted singly on A4 paper, numbered in Arabic numerals.
- Details of each illustration used should be given in a consecutively numbered list of illustrations with the artist's name, the title (underlined, italicised or printed bold), inscription and date (if any), details of medium, support and size, and location (where known).
Example
Figure 25
In the list of Illustrations it should read:
Edgar Degas
The Tub, 1886
Pastel on paper, 70 cm x 70 cm
The Hilllstead Museum, Inc, Farmington, Conneticut
- Where all, or nearly all, illustrations are by the same artist, only those works by others need to be prefaced by the artist's name.
- References made to illustrations in the text of the dissertation should be made by indicating the appropriate number in parentheses: "... such as the 1886 work The Tub ( figure 25)...."
- If reference is made to a work that is not illustrated, the date and location or other identifying source should be given so that the work can be accurately identified: ".. such as Turner's Frosty Morning (1813, Tate Gallery London), in which .."
- In those cases where a particular title may be applied to more than one painting by the same artist (e.g. Cézanne's Mont Ste.-Victoire series) it is essential that sufficient detail is included in the text to identify by date, location or other indicator which work is referred to.
- If no image of the work referred to is available, a footnote reference should be made to a source where a photograph may be consulted.
Order of a dissertation
The form of the dissertation should follow the pattern indicated below:
- Title page - (this should clearly show the student candidate number, title of the dissertation, date and course)
- Table of contents - (listing chapter headings, page numbers, etc.)
- Abstract
- Text
- Endnotes - (if not using footnotes)
- Bibliography
- List of illustrations
- Illustrations - (if collected at end of dissertation)
The Department now publishes the best of the annual dissertations produced by History of Art's final year undergraduates and awards a 'Best History of Art dissertation of the year' prize.
Note: some of the documents on this page are in PDF format. In order to view a PDF you will need Adobe Acrobat Reader