Aesthetic Scanning: Another Way to Judge an Art Work

The four steps of describing, analyzing, interpreting and judging are often used to critique a work of art. Here is another system, aesthetic scanning, a process of discussing the qualities of an artwork. You will use it to write a Criticism Report on your favorite political cartoon. There are five categories:

1. Sensory qualities refer to the art elements including -- line, shape, texture, color

2. Formal qualities refer to conventions related to the specific medium, such as exaggeration or distortion in the cartooning medium

3. Expressive qualities refer to meaning, use of symbol, feelings they evoke, etc.

4. Technical qualities refer to the method and use of materials

5. Judgmental qualities refer to the viewer's sense of the value of the work

Complete Assignment 2 to practice interrogating (to examine by questioning) a cartoon with this system.