Chapter 2: The Purpose and Functions of Art

Compare Augustus of Prima Porta and Self-Portrait with Jewish Identity Card. Why is Felix Nussbaum's work a better example of self-expressionism in art? a: It is about personal experience. b: It was shown in a private setting. c: It provides a more realistic portrait of the subject. d: It lacks political or social commentary.

a: It is about personal experience.

Why was Maya Lin's Vietnam War Memorial initially controversial? a: People felt it was too different from traditional war monuments. b: People did not like that it attracted such large crowds. c: People felt that it should have been more self-expressive on Lin's part. d: People felt the site should host a monument to the Revolutionary War instead.

a: People felt it was too different from traditional war monuments.

Click to view: Video: Art 21: Yinka Shonibare MBE: Nelson's Ship in a Bottle Yinka Shonibare's Nelson's Ship in a Bottle seems to function in all of the following ways EXCEPT a: for worship and religion. b: as an object of self-expression. c: to delight and bring visual pleasure. d: to offer cultural and political commentary.

a: for worship and religion.

Artists in many societies have used their work to criticize or influence public opinion. Which of the following statements is true about these two artworks? a: Both are critiques of war. b: Both exist in multiple copies. c: Both avoid harsh imagery that might offend the viewer. d: Both were offered free of charge to the public.

b: Both exist in multiple copies.

What term refers to the quality in an artwork that encourages a sense of heightened awareness in the viewer? a: beauty b: aesthetics c: painterly d: idealized

b: aesthetics

What detail of Berthe Morisot's In A Villa at the Seaside might be interpreted as an example of self-expression in art? a: the relaxed demeanor of the figures b: the spontaneous painterly technique c: the intimate nature of the subject matter d: the emphasis on light and color

b: the spontaneous painterly technique

What shared goal is reflected in the artists' choice of media in these two works of art? a: to present historical events in a clear narrative manner b: to make their message more accessible to the public c: to reject traditional painting techniques as elitist d: to document specific moments in time in an objective manner

b: to make their message more accessible to the public

How are these masks similar in function? a: Both symbolize spiritual transformation. b: Both are worn by a shaman. c: Both are used in ritual ceremonies. d: Both involve stories that are now lost.

c: Both are used in ritual ceremonies.

According to James Abbott McNeill Whistler, what was the only goal of art? a: It was to teach a moral lesson. b: It was to draw people closer to God. c: It was to be beautiful. d: It was to capture a moment in time.

c: It was to be beautiful.

What is a shared characteristic of Versailles, Ryoan-ji Temple, and the Taj Mahal? a: They hold religious significance. b: They are built of marble. c: They have gardens. d: They were commissioned by kings.

c: They have gardens.

The idealized features of this Greek charioteer reflect its purpose of a: emphasizing the acclaim given to individuals in a democracy. b: commemorating a historical event from ancient Greece. c: inspiring dignity and self-restraint. d: serving as a portrait of a well-known individual.

c: inspiring dignity and self-restraint.

What term best applies to Chaz Maviyane-Davies's Global Warning? a: assemblage b: abstract c: monochromatic d: self-portrait

c: monochromatic

In paintings such as Composition VI, Wassily Kandinsky likened the emotional impact of colors and lines to a: nature. b: dance. c: music. d: poetry.

c: music.

The surface treatment and symmetrical forms of Beatrice Wood's Chalice suggest the vessel to have been made for what purpose other than its association with religious ritual? a: historical commentary b: self-expression c: visual pleasure d: commemoration

c: visual pleasure

Why might someone argue that these images have a persuasive function? a: Goya documents an event he saw and West depicts the event as he imagined it. b: Goya highlights the impact of war on ordinary people, and West memorializes a general. c: Goya's work is a print, and West's is a history painting. d: Goya depicts was as horrific, and West seems to glorify it.

d: Goya depicts was as horrific, and West seems to glorify it.

While the decorative motifs on this bowl demonstrate its aesthetic function, what other purpose do similar bowls serve in the Mimbres culture? a: They have a persuasive function as status symbols. b: They have a commemorative function in their funerary role. c: They function as objects of self-expression for their owners. d: They have a symbolic function in religious ritual.

d: They have a symbolic function in religious ritual.

Although discussed in your text as an example of commemorative art, Benjamin West's The Death of General Wolfe also demonstrates art's function as commentary, because a: it exemplifies the tradition of history painting in Europe. b: the artist witnessed this historical event. c: it provided a social critique of war between the United States and England. d: it is a contemporary depiction of the scene.

d: it is a contemporary depiction of the scene.

All of the following features contribute to the aesthetic impact of the Taj Mahal EXCEPT a: its symmetrical design b: the formal gardens surrounding the structure c: the marble exterior reflected in the sunlight d: its religious association

d: its religious association

When does art fulfill an expressive function? a: when it conveys ideas in the realms of science or technology b: when it is used for persuasion c: when it serves political goals d: when it conveys information about an artist's personality

d: when it conveys information about an artist's personality