Fall 1999 (Ren to Mod)    Spring 2000     Fall 2000 Computer graded Quizzes     Fall 2000 in-class quizzes

We tried this twice and didn't like it. Both are linked below, and feedback will be added. Meanwhile note that the biggest problem was Impressionistic Thinking: students latched onto a single component of the question that they recognized, and thought no further. Thus students acknowledged correct signals but failed to notice whether those signals were actually in the example under consideration. For example "hierarchical scale" is indeed a signal of intellectual truth - but if the image only has a single figure in it, then that signal is not there! THINK. AND. LOOK!

Quiz #1, Fall 2000     Quiz #2, Fall 2000

Spring 2000 (answers written down and considered by grader)

Quiz 1

1.

What is the Greek structural SYSTEM called (post and lintel)?

2.

On a temple, what is the triangular bit on top called (the pediment)?

3.

What is the name for the decorated part at the top of a column (capital, note spelling of end of word)?

4.

Which of these slides shows the Corinthian Order (left - the one with leaves/foliage/acanthus)?

5.

What is the widest safe span for a flat stone lintel (8 ft)?

6.

What is the widest safe span for an arch (no limit)?

7.

In a church, what is the north-south passage in front of the apse called (transept)?

8.

In a church, what is the string of columns on each side of the nave called (nave arcade - note that "colonnade" is the general term for a string of columns in any context, the term we wanted here was the one specifically for the columns flanking the nave)?

9.

Does this church have a clearstory (yes - the clearstory, also spelled clerestory which is pretentious, is the topmost part of the nave with the windows in it. If there are no windows, there is no clearstory)?

10.

In the Classical system, what is the rule for the placement of SOLID parts (solid above/behind solid)?

Quiz 2

1.

What is "content" (what the picture is of, subject matter, what you can see in an image)?

2.

What is iconography (arrangement of the content)?

3.

Name the three main types of composition (static, dynamic, lyrical)?

4.

Give THREE features of a static composition (any of these and others negotiable: horizontal and/or vertical emphasis, base equal to or wider than main form or composition, simple forms, complete outlines, complete forms, separate forms, smooth finish).

5.

Give THREE features of a dynamic composition (any of these and others negotiable: diagonal emphasis, complexity, incomplete forms and outlines, overlapping forms, crowding, lots of details, rough or sketchy finish, stop-action).

6.

Give THREE features of a lyrical composition (any of these and others negotiable: curvaceous emphasis, soft or blurry finish, frequent use of blue).

7.

What is iconology (the symbolism of the content)?

8.

What does static mean (motionless)?

9.

What does dynamic mean (active)?

10.

What does lyrical mean (poetic, emotional)?

Quiz 3

1.

What does intellectual truth seek to convey (what is known, or what ought to be, even if it looks odd).

2.

What does visual truth seek to convey (what you can see, illusionism)

3.

Give THREE signals of visual truth (any or all of linear perspective, chiaroscuro, cast shadows, foeshortening, optical illusions, aerial perspective)

4.

What is the difference between linear perspective and foreshortening (recession vs projection, space vs objects).

5.

What is aerial perspective (paler, bluer/greyer, blurrier in distance, effect of distance on color).

6.

What does evocative truth seek to achieve (viewer completes image mentally).

7.

What is evocative allusion (ref to well known tastes, smells, textures and sounds).

8.

What does symbolic truth seek to achieve (viewer completes meaning by knowing ideas attached to images).

9.

What does essential truth seek to convey (artificiality/nature/2Dness of image).

10.

What is descriptive brushwork?

Quiz 4

1.

Do we have problems perceiving form, scale, distance and color with exact accuracy (yes)?

2.

How important is absolutely accurate perception and location of objects and surfaces in normal life, (a) essential, (b) good enough is fine, (c) doesn't matter at all (answer: b)?

3.

What is an optical illusion (when appearance overcomes your knowledge of what is true)?

4.

If a picture is on a wall, is its picture plane upright or prone (upright)?

5.

Why must the foreshortened objects in front of the false picture plane be complete if the illusion is to work (because if something overlaps an object we assume the object is behind the thing that overlaps it, so the frame must not overlap the object that is supposed to be in our space)?

6.

If the picture plane is predominantly brown or grey, where will bright white, bright yellow and bright red seem to be in relation to it (in front of it, above it, closer to us)?

7.

If the picture plane is predominantly brown or grey, where will black, dark blue and dark green appear to be in relation to it (behind it, below it, further from us)?

We had an argument about this in class, some people believing that they perceive dark colors actually ON the picture plane because of their experience in reading. Think about this: is this opinion based on perception or is it based on what we think we know?

8.

What kind of color is most difficult to locate in relation to the picture plane?

We had an argument about this too. Some people felt that the bright colors jump about so strongly that they are difficult to locate because you can see quite clearly that they look as if they are somewhere other than you know them to be. Others felt that the restrained colors are more difficult to locate because their floating levels are so subtle that it is difficult to measure them. Both answers show clear observation and understanding of the effects, and the question needs to be clarified for any future use.

9.

What happens to your perception of restrained colors when you surround them with an intense one?

More clarification clearly needed. I meant how do the colors seem to change, and most of us thought they turned nasty - yellowish, dirtyish, sour. But some students thought we were still thinking about the floating levels, and felt that the restrained colors sink below the intensely colored picture plane.

10.

What does "arbitrary" mean (random, opinion-based, indefensible)?

Quiz 5

1.

What is a paradigm (a conceptual approach to reality, oriented to a particular faculty)?

2.

What is a meta-commentary (an explanation of origins, connections and results of the material examined, which is usually hidden from the participants)?

3.

What is meta-language (language used to analyze itself, often hidden from the participants and observers)?

4.

Give the nature of Classicism, Sensualism and Quietism (universal, personal, obstructive)?

5.

What is an axiom (an unquestionable assumption)?

6.

How do Classical thinkers identify beauty (geometry/whole number proportions; color/light; smooth finish/perfect condition/undamaged)?

7.

What did Classical thinkers claim beauty could do (manifest God, ennoble the soul, make a route to the Divine)?

8.

How do you recognize an Idealized figure (nudity/near nudity; contrapposto; face and body at rest; geometric qualities; smooth skin/few details)?

9.

What does Idealization tell you about the figure in Classical and Christian terms (that the figure is Ideal/perfect; has the favor of the gods/is in a state of grace; is divine)?

10.

Define "cerebral" (a creation of, or appealing to the mind).