“Guernica”, a mural by Pablo Picasso

Guernica

HUM 2250
2nd Essay Exam Paper: Required assessment,

Topic: “Guernica”, a mural (by Pablo Picasso)

Contents
Introduction
Rubric
Formatting, presentation, submission
Writing assignment
Resources.

Topic: “Guernica”, a mural by Pablo Picasso

Introduction

• In 1937 the German Luftwaffe bombed the defenseless town of Guernica in Northern Spain. Franco of Spain had made a bargain with Hitler.
• Picasso read the news report in Paris: his head was spinning, knees buckled with emotion, empathy, outrage, and anger. Through the next month, when the immense mural was ready to be moved for a showing in France; it was secretly transported to England, then the United States. In 1939 Picasso gave the Guernica painting to the Museum of Modern Art in New York until some future date when democratic liberties had been restored in Spain. Subsequently, the mural returned to Spain in 1981, displayed since then at the Museo Reina Sofia, Madrid.
• Picasso was quoted as refusing to explain the many symbols and images in the Guernica mural as he felt they told the story eloquently. Do not presume Picasso though everything in the mural is open many interpretations: some of it is based on symbols representing aspects of the town of Guernica, truths, and some of it Picasso’s thoughts and emotion

Preparing your Essay paper:Formatting, presentation, submission, grade rubric

• Write in plain text (the type used for this assignment) using 12 pt. type (such as Arial, Times Roman). Do not write using italics.
• Use your computer’s word processor Review option to check spelling and grammar.
• Separate paragraphs visually with an extra blank line.
• Number citations (# in parenthesis) placed within the essay identifying where research informed your writing. Numbered citations correspond to the numbered bibliography that must be included at the end of your paper. Refer to at least four of the resources listed above and include them in your bibliography.
• The essay content is to be a minimum of 850 words and not much more than 950 words of original writing (not counting citations and bibliography). Do not use any quotations.
• Do not use any quotations in the paper. Paraphrase the information in your own words. Turnitin will tag quotes and similar wordings in the originality report. If the report is more than 7% similarity revision and re-submission to both drop boxes will be necessary.
• Title your paper and the submissions comments as the same.
  Example: Guernica

The turnitin originality report must identify no more than 7% similarity in essay content (excluding numbered citations and Bibliography). After submitting wait a few hours, then go back to the drop box: If the originality icon shows a colored #% select it to view the report where you can then select to read the report excluding citations and Bibliography

After reading the topic choices along with the assignment requirements please post and unanswered questions on the discussion board in the topic titled Course Q & A.

Writing Assignment: Answer the following six questions in your essay.

Write in narrative essay style without repeating the questions. The focus of this essay is on what is on that canvas. The mural illuminates a tragic event. A very few sentences can set the context for your informed ideas and opinions on these six questions.

1. What is the size of the mural? Explain how the mural displays cinematic impact as you view the overall scene.
2. Describe with specific references, how the painting is Surrealist as well as Cubist.
3. Describe and explain the effect of Picasso’s colorations in the mural.
4. Identify and locate the symbols for Harlequin: five diamond shapes from his costume located around the mural, why they are there, and what might they represent to the artist?
5. Explain what you think are the emotions as well as the symbolism for the images:
   • Bull standing over the woman; the wounded horse
   • Female floating above and to the right of the horse holding a lantern. the woman below her; grieving woman
   • Bird image behind the horse
   • two obscured images formed by the horse; the person beneath the horse, the flower beneath the horse,
   • Light bulb, lantern, windows, doors.
   • the figure on the far right with arms raised
   • What else do you see hidden among the shapes?
6. Explain what you think Picasso tried so hard to express in this complex art work.

Research resources for Picasso’s Guernica.
You may use any of these or locate your own authoritative resources.Textbook pages 416-417