HNRS 122: Reading the ArtsThe Harlem Renaissance
Tuesday, February 1, 2011
10:30AM Prof. LaNitra Berger
Visual Arts Librarian: Jenna Rinalduccihttp://infoguides.gmu.edu/arth
WHERE TO SEARCH? LIBRARY RESOURCES
LIBRARY WEBSITE:• Ask-a-Librarian→ IM…
• InfoGuides (http://infoguides.gmu.edu)
LIBRARY CATALOG:• Books
• E-books
• DVD, VHS
• WRLC
• And more…
MORE LIBRARY RESOURCESRESEARCH DATABASES—ARTS
DATABASES
• ART FULLTEXT
• Bibliography History of Art (BHA) & International Bibliography of Art (IBA)
• Design & Applied Arts (DAAI)
• ARTBibliographies Modern
• Avery Index to Architectural Periodicals
• Oxford Art Online
SUBJECT DATABASES
• Search topic more in-depth
• Specialized journals not in general databases
• Not as many “off-topic” results
• Unique search options
• Not sure where to start?
– Research Databases by Subject
– InfoGuides—Find Articles/Core Databases
MORE RESEARCH DATABASES
INTERDISCIPLINARY DATABASES• Academic Search Complete
• ProQuest Research Library
• JSTOR
• Humanities International Complete
AFRICAN AMERICAN STUDIES• Black Thought and Culture
• Black Studies Center
• African American Biographical Database
GETTING THE ARTICLE…Step 1: Is the article available full-text in the database?
No. Then follow these steps.
Step 2: Mason Link
Step 3: Go to the E-Journal Finder if no Mason Link
Step 4: Mason Library Catalog
Step 5: WRLC Consortium Loan Service
Step 6: Interlibrary Loan (ILL)
FINDING IMAGES• ARTstor
• Oxford Art Online
• Art Museum Image Gallery
• Articles
• Books
• Museum websites
EXAMPLE FROM ARTSTORImages Saved to Personal “Image Group”
FIND AN IMAGE YOU WANT TO EXPLORE?Creator: Aaron Douglas, North American; American, 1899 – 1979
Title: Aspiration
Work Type: Paintings
Date: 1936
Material: oil on canvas
Measurements: 60 x 60 (152.4 x 152.4 cm)
Repository: Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco (San Francisco, California, USA)
*From ARTstor
BRAINSTORM: SEARCH TERMSArtist: Aaron Douglas OR Douglas, Aaron
Medium: Painting; Oil on canvas
Geography: American OR United States; New York City OR New York (N.Y.); Harlem
Imagery: industry or labor; urban or city on the hill; slavery; chains; migration; storm; plinth; circles; waves; stars; education; accomplishments in architecture, chemistry, geography
Related: Harlem Renaissance; African American Art; monochromatic; art and politics; art and history; race relations; Great Depression or Depressions --1929 --United States; influences; culture; style
*Try as general searches & see what you find…
The Starbucks Syndrome Keyword vs. Subject Searching
Keyword:• Simplest search
• Looks for records that match the words
typed, not the ideas represented by the
words
Controlled Vocabulary (Subjects):• Use subject headings for more refined results
• Looks for records that match the ideas represented by the words.
• Terms are standardized
• Often active links
Define Your Topic
Determine Your Information Needs
Locate and Retrieve Relevant Information
Access Information using Technology
Evaluate Information
Use Information Ethically
Research Process
TIPS & TRICKS1. State your topic as a question.
2. Identify main concepts.
3. Narrow or broaden your topic.
4. Keep a list of search terms that work for your topic & add as you go.
5. Works whether you’re writing a brief paper or an in-depth research paper.
What are the 4 steps in the Research Process?
1. Pick a topic
2.
3.
4.
5.
6. Write the paper
What are the 4 steps in the Research Process?
1. Pick a topic
2. Where to search (catalog, databases)
3. How to search (keywords)
4. How to get it (find the article)
5. Is what I found any good
6. Write the paper
What are the 4 steps in the Research Process?
1. Where to search (catalog, databases)…
2. How to search (keywords)…
3. How to get it (find the article)…
4. Is what I found any good…
QUESTIONS?
• Reference Desk: call or stop by
• Telephone
• Research consultation