AVT 395The Artist as Researcher & Writer

Library ResourcesLibrary Website:

Ask-a-Librarian→ IM… InfoGuides

Library catalog: Books E-books (Net Library) DVD, VHS WRLC And more…

More Library Resources

Research DatabasesArts Databases

Art Fulltext

Bibliography History of Art (BHA)

Design & Applied Arts (DAAI)

ARTBibliographies Modern

Avery Index to Architectural Periodicals

More Library Databases

General Databases Academic Search Complete (exs: Digital Creativity,

Visual Studies, Visual Anthropology)

ProQuest Research Library (ex: British Journal of Photography, Journal of Glass Studies)

Wilson Omnifile (E-Journal Finder lists art journals, like Art in America, as available here)

JSTOR (exs: Artibus et Historiae, Museum Studies)

Humanities International Complete (exs: Art Asia Pacific, Word & Image)

Types of Information• Online Catalog – Books can provide general overview

OR detailed insight about your topic

• Research Databases – access to different types of periodicals (articles, reports…)

• Primary Sources – Original records like letters, manuscripts, newspapers, interviews, photos, recordings, works of art

• Reference Sources – From background information to images

• The Web – benefits and limitations for research

Advantages of…

Books• Good for background information, timeline,

definitions, etc. • Length allows author to go more in-depth into a

subject

Articles• More specialized searching• Better for newer artists/designers (may not have

books yet)• More current information—more recently published

Research Process• Define Your Topic (Identify main concepts; Narrow or

broaden topic; List of search terms )

• Determine Your Information Needs (how current, specific publication type)

• Locate and Retrieve Relevant Information (search strategies)

• Access Information using Technology (catalog, databases, web)

• Evaluate Information (print & electronic)

• Use Information Ethically (cite sources)

Search StrategiesKeyword:

• Simplest search• Looks for records that match the words typed, not the

ideas represented by the words

Controlled Vocabulary (Subjects):• Uses subject headings for more refined results• Looks for records that match the ideas represented by

the words.• Terms are standardized• Often active links

Keyword: Aboriginal art VS Subject Heading: Art, Australian aboriginal.

Keyword: David Malangi VS Subject Heading: Malangi, David, 1927-

Color

More Search StrategiesBoolean Searching

AND/OR/NOTCombine keywords to narrow/broaden your search

AND— NARROWS YOUR SEARCHEX: Interior Design AND Color

OR—EXPANDS YOUR SEARCH

EX: Film or video            OR

     Wall paintings or murals

NOT—LIMITS TERMS FROM SEARCH             NOT 

Interior design

AND

Wall paintings Murals

Maya Software

More Search StrategiesTruncation

Save time using Truncation searching…

1. In the catalog:Photograph? → Photograph, Photographs, Photography, Photographic, Photographer 

2. In the databases:Architect* → Architect, Architecture, Architectural, Architecturally, Architectonic

Is a photograph a depiction of reality? How is photography art?

North Dome, Basket Dome, Mount Hoffman, Yosemite

Artist: Ansel Adams, born San Francisco, CA 1902-died Monterey, CA 1984

Medium: silver print on paper

Type: Photography-Photoprint

Date: ca. 1935

Topics:

Landscape\California

Landscape\bird's eye view

Landscape\park\Yosemite National Park

Landscape\mountain\Mount Hoffman

Data Source:

Smithsonian American Art Museum

Brainstorm• Ansel Adams or Adams, Ansel as Subject

• Photography, photograph…

• Yosemite, Yosemite National Park, California, Mount Hoffman

• National Parks

• Landscapes or Landscape Photography

• Natural history→ narrow to Natural history—West (U.S.)

• Nature photography

• Photography, artistic

Study in Art & Design

Benefits of using the library:

•  Wonderful source of both written and visual research opportunities

•  Wide range of material available in general reference, as well as specific books on periods, artists and designers

•  Written & visual sources can provide inspiration, explain techniques, etc.

Evaluate Your Sources• Evaluate the sources you find!

• Print AND Online

• CRAAP Test:• Currency—Is the information out-of-date?

• Relevance—Is the information on topic?

• Authority—Who wrote the information?

• Accuracy—Is the information correct? • Purpose—What is the information intended to do?

Educate? Persuade? Entertain?

Research Checklist

1. State your topic as a question.

2. Identify main concepts.

3. Narrow or broaden your topic.

4. Keep a list of terms that work best for your topic & add to it as you go.

5. This works whether you’re writing a brief paper or an in-depth research paper. It even works for an artists statement, thesis proposal, or bibliography.

Questions

• Stop by the Reference Desk

• Ask-a-Librarian: IM, Email, etc. (

http://library.gmu.edu/ask)

• Call the reference desk or your liaison

• InfoGuides (http://infoguides.gmu.edu/)

• Visual Arts Liaison: Jenna Rinalducci