LibGuides: Writing in the Humanities Art Analysis Assignment: Writing About Art

Writing About Art

Writing About Art:

Artistic Titles

The style guide published by the Modern Language Association (MLA), which is the guide humanities disciplines normally use, recommends that works of art appear in italics and that each of the major words in the title are capitalized.

For example:

NO: The last supper or The last supper

YES: The Last Supper

Please note: some titles in the ArtStor database vary uppercase and lowercase in their titles found in the caption. Ensure you change those titles to match the appropriate style referenced here.

You will compare Mona Lisa and Afghan Girl in your lessons. Be sure to follow the writing guidelines here when completing the exercise.

Tense in Artistic Works

Write about literary/artistic/cinematic works in present tense. Treat it as a living work.

For example:

NO: The Mona Lisa was a half-length portrait of a woman by the Italian artist Leonardo da Vinci.

YES: The Mona Lisa is a half-length portrait of a woman by the Italian artist Leonardo da Vinci.