An effective identification and critical analysis of the connections, similarities, and differences between the selected artworks, objects, and artifacts. At the highest level of achievement, the work critically analyses the Connections, similarities, and differences between the selected pieces. These connections are logical and coherent, showing a thorough understanding of how the pieces compare.
How to make comparisons: This component is called the comparative study for a reason: you are expected to compare and connect art from different cultures! Always keep in mind that you are comparing the artworks, not the artists.
A straightforward way to start this is to use a Venn diagram. This will clarify the similarities and differences. But don't rely only on these, as they can be rather reductive and simplistic: you end up pointing out the obvious and irrelevant such as there is a duck in this painting and a pigeon in that one! You can see diagrams here that have been done well, where the important stylistic, technical or thematic differences are shown. It is much better to concentrate on themes that connect the works rather than treating this as a listing exercise and it is really important to use evidence to support your comparisons, perhaps by juxtaposing details from different works. All the works need to be compared at some point, but not at the same time, so concentrate on developing insightful comment rather than lists.
Remember the suggestion at the start of this chapter was that you look for thematic links when you choose your artworks. If the works you have chosen lack common themes, this is where you will now find it hard to draw meaningful comparisons. The very best studies
start comparing the artworks from the introduction, pointing out the key thematic links when the artworks are first mentioned. This is just the same as you would in a good essay that develops a convincing argument by adding evidence as the ideas are explained. So in fact your comparison should be something that develops and flows across all the screens, rather than just an isolated activity towards the end.
As in an essay you will need to synthesize – bring together - the different parts to make a coherent whole. Try to make meaningful comparisons rather than repeating earlier information.
You might compare the following:
Formal qualities: such as the use of light in landscapes, expression in colour, ways of representing the illusion of depth.
Style and technique: for example, comparing the handling of paint, the manipulation of media, the finishing of surfaces in sculpture or the different ways fabric is transformed in dress.
Function and meaning: how are overarching themes interpreted differently? How are they culturally dependent?