Myth Busting Curator

Formal Presentation Project:

Due May 23rd

All work must be submitted via D2L to the Formal Presentation Project submission folder

For this Formal Presentation Project, you will operate as a myth busting curator of African art!
In doing so you will create an online presentation of an exhibition of your own design.

The art exhibit you curate for your visual presentation project will work towards combatting
popular myths about African art and/or African artists. It will be made to enlighten viewers as
to the significance of the African art works and/or African artists that you choose to
incorporate.

Your visual presentation should include a voiced/audio NARRATION of:

• at least 3 artworks
• challenge at least 2 popular myths about African art and/or African artists.
• 1 to 2 discussion questions for your audience to ponder and answer.
• 1 Works Cited slide/image detailing your minimum of four scholarly sources
• You will also watch and respond to one presentation by one of your class peers.

The presentation should be no less than 8 minutes long and no more than 16 minutes total.

Artworks:

Be sure to include the name or type of object, the name of the artist (if known), culture in
which it was produced, its country of origin, the materials that comprise it, and information on
the objects’ use and meaning.

Here are two examples of narrated, visual presentations. One is on a contemporary artist El
Anatsui who is from Ghana and the other on a Gold Stool from Ghana:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4zatyfXy_D0&list=PLugP0T-
YRCWI4MdGxazFo6yB1R2YQHR-s&index=7

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6bsWW4Ke_Hs&list=PLugP0T-
YRCWI4MdGxazFo6yB1R2YQHR-s
Notice that the narrator describes the historical and cultural context, does a formal analysis
(meaning the narrator describes in detail the materials and aesthetic attributes of the artworks
shown) and also gives a very good amount of detailed information from actual scholarly
research on the ideas that this artist’s works were made to address.

Some ideas: You may choose to use Power point, Prezi or Loom to present the works of art
etc. (Prezi and Loom are more creative (yet simple) interfaces - so they may allow for a more
visually interesting presentation). You have free reign however, to use whatever visual aids to
complete the project. Have fun with it. Be as creative as you can and like.

Adventure in Scholarship: Works Cited slide/image

You will need to research the artwork and/or artist you choose to include in your exhibition.

You need a minimum of FOUR sources - these must come from scholarly peer reviewed
journals that you may find via the JSTOR database - or in a book from DePaul library that
feature your object-type or the culture from which it arose as a primary topic.

Be sure your sources are scholarly!!! Be sure to use DePaul library database and collection.
Points will be deducted from your final grade for unprofessional research sources. DePaul
library database, JSTOR is an excellent resource. The African Arts journal is also excellent
and can be found via JSTOR’s database as well.

While you may search museum and university websites to find an artist and artwork
you are interested in, these are NOT considered scholarly resources and will NOT
count towards your minimum of FOUR sources.

Wikipedia is NOT a scholarly source. Brittanica is not a scholarly source. No, Khan academy
and Smarthistory are not considered ones either. While you may use Smarthistory or Khan
academy, or museum and university websites to find appropriate artists/artworks for your
project --- utilizing these websites is not considered performing research in any way
whatsoever.

*****I am grading this project on par with a RESEARCH PAPER. Consider yourself a
serious curator and scholar. I will 100% know and will be deducting full letter grades
for superficial google-level research into your artwork/artist. ******

There is A LOT of misinformation online about African art. Lazy research and illegitimate
sources will negatively impact your grade.
Please use Chicago Manual of Style for formatting your Works Cited page/slide sources.

Your final curated project should be uploaded to YouTube or Panopto (or Prezi or Loom will
also easily generate a link) and the link should then be submitted to the Formal Presentation
Submission folder on D2L. It is your responsibility to double check it is uploaded correctly to
D2L!!

*Selecting Panopto will be a more private/secure option. However, there are privacy options
that you can select on YouTube as well if you so choose.

For directions on Panopto click the following link:

https://resources.depaul.edu/teaching-commons/teaching-
guides/technology/desire2learn/tools/panopto/Pages/students.aspx

If you decide to use PowerPoint, you can upload the file itself directly to the Formal
Presentation Project submission folder. I, however, much prefer a link from Prezi, Loom or
Panopto.

Respond:

Lastly, as part of your final grade you are required to watch one presentation by one of your
fellow classmates. You will need to offer feedback on their project and answer ALL of the
discussion question(s) that they included within their presentation. 1-2 paragraphs minimum
posted as a response within the associated Formal Presentation Project, Discussion post
Submission Folder.

*Please watch and respond to the presentation that was uploaded just after your own within
the submission folder que. If you were last to submit, watch and comment on the first
submission.

Be sure to note within your written submitted response the name of the person whose
presentation you are responding to.

Your project is not considered completely submitted until you complete the response.

I accept this project up to 5 days late, with one point deducted per day.

None will be accepted beyond the five days late policy.