This summary heuristic assignment is for my Unit 3 project, the Art Review. For this assignment, I chose the sculpture Abrazo: Boca Grande Embrace by Emil Sclzamora. When I encountered this piece and learned more about the environment in which it was placed, and I began to see how public art fosters a sense of community. With this idea in mind, I began brainstorming and conducting research for my project. During my research, I came across the article Place Building: The Contribution of Art and Artistic Entrepreneurship" by John Thompson and John Day. This article expanded on my initial idea by discussing how public art can add both economic and non-economic value to a community. It reinforced the argument I was developing in my paper, while also challenging me to think more critically about the impact of public art and the effect it has on other. Reading this article helped me grow as a researcher. It taught me the importance of rhetorically evaluating sources through the summary heuristic process. As this is my first intensive research writing class, I wasn’t very familiar with using various strategies to analyze scholarly sources. Learning to identify key rhetorical elements, such as pathos, ethos, and flash points, etc; helped me break down complex articles to be more comprehensible. What I’ve found to be the most important element of the heuristic summary is understanding the purpose of the text. Knowing what the author is trying to achieve offers a unique and insightful perspective, and it helps differentiate each source in a meaningful way. Overall, this source was incredibly impactful for my project. It emphasized that art isn’t just valuable in economic terms, it also holds intangible, emotional significance for its audience.
The scholarly article "Place Building: The Contribution of Art and Artistic Entrepreneurship" by John Thompson and John Day, published on April 5, 2024, in Local Economy (Sage Journals), explores the economic and non-economic value of art in public spaces. This nonfiction piece is aimed at a broad audience, including art enthusiasts and those interested in the intersection of art and urban development. The authors use logos through a taxonomy and conceptual frameworks to show how artistic entrepreneurship contributes to place building, supported by ten case studies of art-driven urban development. Ethos is established through the authors’ academic credentials in entrepreneurship and urban studies, as well as the article’s peer-reviewed publication. Pathos is evident in how the article highlights art’s role in fostering community identity and belonging, appealing to readers who value cultural cohesion. The article incorporates empirical research through its case studies, reinforcing its argument. Notable quotes that can be used in my art review: “Art, therefore, can affect tourism by making a place more of a visitor attraction; by helping to integrate a community and promote social and leisure activity; and helping to protect against economic and social decline.” Along with, “Art might readily be thought of as something visual and (ideally) pleasing, appreciated for its ability to affect people’s senses and emotions, and create a reaction. It tells a story; different people see different nuances. For artists, their art captures and expresses how they ‘see the world, ' and “Art can encapsulate anything that has creative origins or underpinnings, tells visual stories, and helps us make (personal) sense of our world. Often monuments commemorate significant moments in history.” All these quotes can be used to support my argument for my art-related idea, which is how public art's power fosters emotional connection and enhances community identity. This source is very strong to further create an in-depth analysis of my argument.