Task summary
The comparative study is an externally examined assessment task worth 20%. To complete the task, you are required to present a comparative study of at least three artworks by at least two different artists from different and contrasting cultural contexts. The work should be selected from work you have investigated as a part of your independent coursework and will be explored further and presented as a series of screen-based slides.
SL
SL students submit 10–15 screens, which examine and compare at least three artworks, objects or artifacts, at least two of which need to be by different artists. The works selected for comparison and analysis should come from differing cultural contexts. SL students submit a list of sources used.
HL
HL students submit 10–15 screens, which examine and compare at least three artworks, objects or artifacts, at least two of which need to be by different artists. The works selected for comparison and analysis should come from differing cultural contexts. HL students submit 3–5 screens, which analyse the extent to which their work and practices have been influenced by the art and artists examined. HL students submit a list of sources used.
Summarize the scope of your investigation from which the focus artworks, objects and artifacts have been selected, and any thematic or conceptual framework you have used to draw the investigation together.
1screen
The artworks, objects, or artifacts and their contexts. Summarize your research from a range of different sources and present your inquiry into the identification and interpretation of the selected artworks, objects, and artifacts. You also explain how you have applied a range and combination of critical theories and methodologies to the works.
A-Analysis of the cultural contexts of the selected pieces, identification of the formal qualities of the selected pieces (elements such as shape/form, space, tone, colour, line, texture, and principles such as balance, rhythm, proportion, emphasis, pattern, variety)
B-interpretation of the function and purpose of the selected pieces (such as the meanings of motifs, signs, and symbols used in the work)
C-Evaluation of the material, conceptual and cultural significance of the pieces, and the cultural contexts in which they were created.
3–5 screens
Making comparisons and Present your comparisons of the different pieces, clearly identifying links between them. These comparisons might include:
A-comparing the cultural contexts of the selected pieces
B-comparing the formal qualities of the selected pieces
3–5 screens
connections comparing the function and purpose of the selected pieces comparing the material, conceptual and cultural significance of the pieces.
Connecting to own artmaking practice (HL only)
Reflect on your research outcomes and the extent to which your own art-making practices and pieces have subsequently been influenced by artworks, objects, artifacts and their creators examined in the comparative study. These influences and personal connections, which should be evidenced in both visual and written forms, might include:
A-cultural context
B-formal qualities
C-function and purpose
D-materials, conceptual and cultural significance.
When referring to your own artwork and practices, you must be sure to identify and acknowledge your own artworks with the same rigorous attention to detail as with images from other sources.
3–5 screens
Sources
Include a reference list of sources used during the study. In-text referencing is required throughout the comparative study. Every image used within the comparative study must be appropriately referenced to acknowledge the title, artist, date (where this information is known), and the source, following the protocol of the referencing style chosen by the school.
1screen
Further advice for students
Most students will complete the comparative study using a slide presentation software such as Microsoft’s PowerPoint®, Apple’s Keynote® or Prezi Pro™, and then convert the document to a portable document file (PDF) for electronic submission. Avoid using animations within slides and animated transitions between slides that may be lost when the file is converted or may be missed if a moderator advances through your presentation prematurely.
When importing images for your presentation, resize them first to a maximum height or width of 1,500 pixels, optimized for web and devices. This will significantly reduce the overall size of your file, without compromising the image quality when viewed on a screen.
Use a consistent design scheme for your presentation. Use one or two fonts throughout the presentation. Sans serif fonts tend to be easier to read on screen. Avoid narrow or cursive fonts. Make slide backgrounds subtle and consistent and use high contrast between background and text color.
Wherever possible, communicate with visuals and graphics in preference to text.
Check your grammar and spelling, paying particular attention to the spelling of artists’ names and subject-specific terminology.