How to Study Art History:
There are many ways to study, but art history is unlike any other type of subject. Here are a bunch of tips for you to use to help you study and prepare for your tests, quizzes and your final exam (The AP Art History Exam) in May.
Art History Specific Tips:
1. Flashcards - you've already made them, now you need to use them!
2. Create a matrix (a grid) of the identifications (Title, Artist, Year, Period, Material, Important notes)
3. Use secondary sources --don't just use the text book, or Khan Academy, but read additional articles and books on the subject. To really understand art history, it is the connections that are most important. Here are some great resources for you to check out additionally!
Click HERE for the basics of art history!
1. Don't wait until the night before the test to study.
You should review your works on a daily basis to help you ease into the information you need to know, and also to help you gain valuable time in writing about the context or content of the work. If you spend lots of time trying to remember the identification of the work, you will likely not get to the important parts --what the work means and why its important!
2. Take notes in classTake notes by hand. Yes, you COULD type them, but the act of actually handwriting notes reinforces your ability to recall the information later. It also forces you to listen to what is being said rather than transcribing it --I know you know how to type what you hear, but the goal is for you to LISTEN and comprehend the information!
3. Don't study alone, and don't study for long periods of time without a break!
If you need to study - do it with someone. Practice TEACHING the information to your parents, siblings or cat --they may not know much of what you're talking about, but it will help you explain the context and content of the work, and by teaching it, you will actually know the information. ALso if you are going to study with another student or friend from our class-- take turns talking about works, not just quizzing each other. Analyze the works together and discuss them. And finally take breaks. Only put in about 40 minutes at a time and take a break of 10-15 minutes to give your brain a break. This too helps your brain process the information so you'll remember it.
4. Instrumental music
Yes. Listen to music (not music with words... your brain can't decipher the difference between reading and listening when you study.. but listen to classical or jazz, or even techno music without words helps your brain associate what you're studying!)
There are many ways to study, but art history is unlike any other type of subject. Here are a bunch of tips for you to use to help you study and prepare for your tests, quizzes and your final exam (The AP Art History Exam) in May.
Art History Specific Tips:
1. Flashcards - you've already made them, now you need to use them!
2. Create a matrix (a grid) of the identifications (Title, Artist, Year, Period, Material, Important notes)
3. Use secondary sources --don't just use the text book, or Khan Academy, but read additional articles and books on the subject. To really understand art history, it is the connections that are most important. Here are some great resources for you to check out additionally!
Click HERE for the basics of art history!
- Art Project - Google Cultural Institute
The Google Cultural Institute brings together millions of artifacts from multiple partners, with the stories that bring them to life, in a virtual museum. - Artstor
The Artstor Digital Library - digital collections of artworks from around the globe. - JSTOR
Journals, primary sources, and now BOOKS
1. Don't wait until the night before the test to study.
You should review your works on a daily basis to help you ease into the information you need to know, and also to help you gain valuable time in writing about the context or content of the work. If you spend lots of time trying to remember the identification of the work, you will likely not get to the important parts --what the work means and why its important!
2. Take notes in classTake notes by hand. Yes, you COULD type them, but the act of actually handwriting notes reinforces your ability to recall the information later. It also forces you to listen to what is being said rather than transcribing it --I know you know how to type what you hear, but the goal is for you to LISTEN and comprehend the information!
3. Don't study alone, and don't study for long periods of time without a break!
If you need to study - do it with someone. Practice TEACHING the information to your parents, siblings or cat --they may not know much of what you're talking about, but it will help you explain the context and content of the work, and by teaching it, you will actually know the information. ALso if you are going to study with another student or friend from our class-- take turns talking about works, not just quizzing each other. Analyze the works together and discuss them. And finally take breaks. Only put in about 40 minutes at a time and take a break of 10-15 minutes to give your brain a break. This too helps your brain process the information so you'll remember it.
4. Instrumental music
Yes. Listen to music (not music with words... your brain can't decipher the difference between reading and listening when you study.. but listen to classical or jazz, or even techno music without words helps your brain associate what you're studying!)
