Art Review Project

I. Introduction

Topic, purpose, thesis

II. Body

A. Background

B. Proof

C. Refutation

III. Conclusion

Reaffirm thesis

Sample

I. Introduction

--Purpose = occasion for review: personal discovery; revival of lounge genre.
--Topic and focus: Dave's True Story, Unauthorized
--Encouragment to keep reading: fancy quote from lyrics; describe husband and myself laughing in living room; describe websurfing for new music.

II. Background/Foundations

A. Reviewer's credentials: fine arts student, writer, musicians in my family

B.History of genre: jazz / lounge jazz / retro lounge jazz revival [I'd need to do research here] [Also: this might go up above, in intro.]

C.History of artist: [research]

D. Criteria: "Good music for me is music that surprises me with its smart, unique lyrics, is performed with extreme skill without being overproduced or overcooked, and that moves me emotionally no matter how thinky it might be."[Note: if I were doing Neil Young, I'd say something rather different: "I like music that blows my hair back, has raw energy and passion, and shows an original, searching temperment." Also: note that you can draw on our discussion of art perspectives here.]

III. Support for Judgement of Work (Logos, Main Argument, Proof)

A. Secondary Claim: "DTS is good because their lyrics are amazingly smart and unique."

1. Example: "When Kafka Was the Rage." 3 quotes. Few pop lyrics refer to serious philosophers; original and gutsy.

2. Example: " " one about serial killer. Shows postmodern dryness, tendency to parody even the most gruesome stuff. How I feel when facing the world's insanity."

3. Example: "Won Gon Ju": about postmodern hybrid identities.

B. Secondary Claim: "DTS are astoundingly skilled."

1. Ability to mimic/parody traditional lounge sound; they know the genre.

a. Laughing clarinet in X song  b. X's vocals: warm, dark, sultry  c. [I'd need to do research here]

[Note: I'd describe each example VIVIDLY]

2. Horn and piano playing [Research]. Fact that the musicians play multiple instruments.

3. Production or wholeness of complete work: themes of lyrics, style or genre, overall sound. [I'd look into exactly what goes into producing a mass market music CD.]

4. Humor keeps it from feeling canned or overproduced.

C. Secondary Claim: "DTS is moving."

1. Example: some baby boomer tune that reminds us of our parents. I

2. Example: so-in-so's drumming and so-in-so's vocal timing is funny.

3. Example: such-and-such song is straightforward; lyrics not ironic or parodic.

III. Acknowledging and Refuting Other Side (Readers with Different Criteria)

A. What other reviewers have said

1. Example, and refutation

2. Example, and agreement

B. People opposed to music with sometimes violent lyrics

Rationale for the violence in some DTS lyrics.

C. Importance of music with brains (further justification of my critieria; argue again that it doesn't have to mean no passion)

D. Importance of music with skill (argue again that it doesn't have to mean no passion)

 

IV. Slam-Bam Conclusion

Pathos--emotional appeal. Go back to husband and I in living room--even Mojo, our cat, wants to put on shades and order a martini, extra dry.