E. Language and Presentation

E. Presentation and Subject-Specific Language

(6 marks, SL & HL)
Key Vocabulary:

• Presentation Terms: layout, clarity, legibility, visual hierarchy, balance of text and images, labeling, captions, annotations.

• Subject-Specific Language: all art vocabulary from Criteria A–D used accurately and appropriately.

• Design Terms: alignment, spacing, font consistency, resolution, visual impact.

• Qualifiers: visually creative, coherent, accurate, polished, professional.

To achieve the highest marks, your study must be clear, visually engaging, and professional while using accurate art terminology throughout. Your layout should make it easy for the reader to follow your analysis, with strong visual hierarchy and image quality.
Tips:

• Use consistent fonts, spacing, and color choices that enhance readability

• Ensure images are high-resolution, properly labeled, and cited

• Keep text concise on each screen and balance it with visual evidence

A

Aesthetic: Used to describe something as visually pleasing or beautiful in appearance and to the senses.

Appropriation: The act of borrowing imagery or forms to create something new.

Animation: Giving movement to something; the process of making moving cartoons or films that use cartoon imagery.

Allegory: The expression, by means of symbolic fictional figures and actions, of truths or generalization about human existence

Alter-Ego: A fictional self, different from one’s own, in an idealized or transformed version.

Aphorism: A concise statement expressing an opinion or a general truth, often in a clever way.

Assemblage: The incorporation of three-dimensional, non-art materials and found objects into a work, originally inspired by the techniques of collage

Artifact: An object shaped by human craft, especially a rudimentary art form or object, as in the products of prehistoric workmanship.

Abstract: art that looks as if it contains little or no recognizable or realistic forms from the physical world. Focus is on formal elements such as colors, lines, or shapes. Artists often "abstract" objects by changing, simplifying, or exaggerating what they see.

B

Balance: a feeling of equality in weight, attention, or attraction of the various elements within a composition as a means of accomplishing unity.

Bold: Clear and distinct to the eye

C

Calligraphy: a distinctive style of artistic handwriting created by using special pen nibs that allow a calligrapher to vary the thickness of a letter's line elements; an elegant, decorative writing, developed to an art form itself, used to enhance the artistic appeal and visual beauty of handwritten papers and manuscripts.

Collaboration: A working arrangement between an artist and another person, group or institution .

Composition: The arrangement of an artwork’s formal elements.

Content: The subject manner, concepts or ideas associated with a work of art.

Context: The location, information or time frame that informs how a work of art is viewed and what it means

Conceptual art: Works of which the idea is of equal or greater importance as the finished product. It can take many forms, while sometimes it can have no object at all. Emphasizing the way things are made rather than how they look, often raising questions about what a work of art can be. A critical review or commentary, especially one dealing with works of art or literature.

Collage, Photomontage: collage coming from the French world coller (meaning to stick) is a technique in which pieces of paper, cloth and other miscellaneous objects are pasted onto a flat surface.

Critique: critical review or commentary, especially one dealing with works of art or literature.

Concept: A general idea derived or inferred from specific instances or occurrences.

Culture: The system of beliefs, values and practices that forms one’s life

D

Displacement: The difference between the initial position of something and any later position

Depth of field: in photography, the area in front of and behind the focused point that is sharp. A shallow depth of field is used in portraits to provide a soft backdrop, whilst a greater depth of field is useful for landscapes to ensure everything from the foreground to the background is in focus. Shorter (wide angle) lenses and smaller apertures increase depth of field.

Drawing: the act of representing an image on a surface by means of adding lines and shades, as with a pencil, crayon, pen, chalk, pastels, etc. Also refers to an illustration that has been drawn by hand.

Dynamic: Characterized by continuous change, activity, or progress

E

Elements of design: those qualities of a design that can be seen and worked with independently of its figurative content. They include line, form, value, texture, color, and shape.

Expressionism: Post-World War I artistic movement, of German origin, that emphasized the expression of inner experience rather than solely realistic portrayal, seeking to depict not objective reality but the subjective emotions and responses that objects and events arouse in the artist.

F

Fabrication: The construction or manufacture of an object. Artist working on large or technically difficult pieces often enlist the help of fabrication studios with access to specialized equipment and a skilled labor force

Feminist art movement: the effort of artist internationally to bring increased visibility to the role of women within art history and art practice

Form: the volume and shape of a three-dimensional work, perhaps including unfilled areas that are integral to the work as a whole.

Figurative: Art that depicts recognizable images of the world around us. These images may be acutely accurate or heavily distorted

Fine art: art created for purely aesthetic expression, communication, or contemplation. Painting and sculpture are the best known of the fine arts.

Focus: A point at which rays of light or other radiation converge or from which they appear to diverge, as after refraction or reflection in an optical system:

G

Gesture: Description of figural movement; the embodiment of the essence of a figure.

Genre: one of the categories, based on form, style, or subject matter, into which artistic works of all kinds can be divided. For example, the detective novel is a genre of fiction.\

Graphic: Two dimensional images, including fonts, commonly used in advertising, posters, comic books abd cartoons

H

Hue: the name of the color, such as red, green or yellow. Hue can be measured as a location on a color wheel, and expressed in degrees; the main attribute of a color which distinguishes it from other colors.

Harmony: the unity of all the visual elements of a composition achieved by the repetition of the same characteristics or those which are similar in nature.

I

Iconography: Symbols and images that have particular meaning, either learned or universal.

Identity: How one views oneself, how others perceive you and how a society as a whole defines a group of people

Illusion: Visually misleading perceptually altered space or object

Impasto: This tem has two meanings. It is thick applied pigment such as oil or acrylic, which often carries visible brushstrokes, or marks of a palette knife

Installation art: A work of art created for a specific architectural situation. Installations often engage multiple senses such as sight, smell and hearing.

Intricate: Having many complexly arranged elements

Irony: The incongruity between what is expected to happen and what actually happen and what actually happens, especially when the disparity seems absurd or laughable.

J

Juxtaposition: the state or position of being placed closed together or side by side

K

Kiln: (pronounced "kill") refers to an oven in which pottery or ceramic ware is fired.

Kinetic: having mechanical or moving parts that can be set in motion; art that moves

L

Land art: also known as an earth art or earth works, land arts uses the raw materials of the natural world to make large scale outdoor sculpture

Layer: A single thickness of a material covering a surface or forming an overlying part or segment

M

Metaphor: A relationship between disparate visual or verbal sources where one kind of object, idea, or image is used in place of another to suggest a likeness or analogy between them

Mosaic: an art medium in which small pieces of colored glass, stone, or ceramic tile called tessera are embedded in a background material such as plaster or mortar. Also, works made using this technique.

Medium: material or technique an artist works in; also, the component of paint in which the pigment is dispersed.

Minimal art: A type of abstract art, primarily three-dimensional, which often uses industrial materials in geometric or repetitive ways

Modernism: An historical period and attitude from the early to the mid-twentieth century characterized by experimentation, abstraction, a desire to provoke and a belief in progress.

Monument: A public work of art, usually large in scale, which commemorates a group of people, historical event or ideal

Mono print: A printmaking technique that yields a singular image that cannot be exactly reproduced.

Montage: literally “putting together”, montage refers to an image or, in film and music, a sequence, composed by assembling and overlapping many different pieces from various sources

Motif: a recurrent or dominant theme in a work of art

Multicultural: Influenced by a diversity of ethnic, religious, cultural or national perspectives.

Mythology: an allegorical narrative often incorporating legendary heroes, gods, and demi-gods of a particular people or culture.

N

Narrative: The representation in form and content of an event or story

O

Oil paint: a type of paint made from color particles (pigment) and linseed oil. Oil paint dries slowly, can be used thick or thin, and with glazes. Because it dries slowly, oil paint is easier to blend from dark to light creating the illusion of three-dimensions. Used by most artists since the Renaissance.

P

Parable: A brief, succinct story that illustrates a moral or religious lesson

Paradox: A statement, proposition or situation that seems to be absurd or contradictory, but in fact is or may be true

Pastel: a drawing material consisting of a stick pigment bound together with resin or gum

Perspective: a visual formula that creates the illusion of depth and volume on a two-dimensional surface. Perspective also infers a particular vantage point of view.

Performance Art: Public, private or documented (for example in film, video, audio, or writing), performance art is a nontraditional art form that features a performance activity by, or directed, by an artist

Persona: a personality that a person projects in public, often representing a character in a fictional context.

Pop Art: Art which draws its subject matter or appearance from mass media and consumer culture

Postmodernism: 20th- century cultural movement marked by reactions against the philosophy and practices of modern movements.

Propaganda: a systematically spread message aimed at influencing the opinions or behavior of people.

Public art: Works of art that are designed specifically for, or placed in, areas physically accessible to the general public

Provoke: To stir to action or feeling.

Print: a shape or mark made from a printing block or other object that is covered with ink or paint and then pressed on a flat surface, such as paper or cloth.

Q

R

Realism: a style of painting which depicts subject matter (form, color, space) as it appears in actuality or ordinary visual experience without distortion or stylization.

Redaction: The editing of text to make it suitable for publication. In government documents, refers to the process of removing sensitive or classified information from a document prior to its publication or release to the public

Representational: works of art that depict recognizable people, places or things, often figures and landscapes

S

Satire: exposing human vices or follies to ridicule or scorn

Scale: The comparative size of something in relation to another like thing or its “normal” or “expected” size. Scale can refer to an entire work of art or to elements within it.

Silhouette: an outline drawing of a shape or figure. Originally a silhouette presented a profile portrait filled in with a solid color.

Space: the interval or measurable distance between pre-established points.

Spectacle: A mediated or constructed view or image that is of a remarkable or impressive nature sensationalizing its subject.

Sketch: a rough drawing used to capture the basic elements and structure of a situation often used as the basis for a more detailed work.

Still life: a painting or other two-dimensional work of art representing inanimate objects such as bottles, fruit, and flowers. Also, the arrangement of these objects from which a drawing, painting, or other art work is made.

Social Commentary: The act of expressing an opinion about the nature and society, most often with the intention of promoting charge by calling attention to a given problem

Spectacle: A mediated or constructed view or image that is of a remarkable or impressive nature, sensationalizing its subject

Spirituality: A questioning of humanity’s place in the universe or an interest in self-reflection, morality and meditation.

Spontaneity: voluntary or undetermined action or movement

Self portrait: a portrait an artist makes using himself or herself as its subject, typically drawn or painted from a reflection in a mirror. Also a portrait taken by the photographer of himself, either in a mirror, by means of a remote release, or with a self timer.

Stereotype: a generalized type, or a caricature of a person, place or culture, often negative in tone

Symbolism: The practice of representing things by means of symbols or of attributing symbolic meanings or significance to objects, events, or relationships.

T

Textile: materials that are woven, knitted or made of cloth

Texture: the tactile surface characteristics of a work of art that is either felt or perceived visually.

U

V

Vantage Point: A point of view, or a place from which subject matter is viewed.

Value: the lightness or darkness of a color; contrasts between light and dark.

Vernacular: Everyday language specific to a social group or region; the everyday language spoken by a people as opposed to the literary language.

Video Art: Artist have used video since the 1960’s, both to make a record of performances and other impermanent works, and as a medium in its own right.

Visual literacy: the ability to effectively interpret images or create and use images as a form of communication.

Volume: the mass of three-dimensional shapes in space.

Voyeur: An observer who derives pleasure from viewing subjects at a distance

W

Wash: used in watercolor painting, brush drawing, and occasionally in oil painting to describe a broad thin layer of diluted pigment or ink. Also refers to a drawing made in this technique.

Watercolor: Pigment bound by a water soluble medium such as gum Arabic. This is usually diluted with water to the point where it is translucent, and applied to paper in broad areas known as washes

Analyze Break down in order to bring out the essential elements or structure. To identify parts and

relationships, and to interpret information to reach conclusions.

Annotate Add brief notes to a diagram or graph.

Apply Use knowledge and understanding in response to a given situation or real circumstances.

Appraise To evaluate, judge or consider text or a piece of work.

Argue Challenge or debate an issue or idea with the purpose of persuading or committing someone

else to a particular stance or action.

Calculate Obtain a numerical answer showing the relevant stages in the working.

Classify Arrange or order by class or category.

Comment Give a judgment based on a given statement or result of a calculation.

Compare Give an account of the similarities and differences between two (or more) items or situations,

referring to both (all) of them throughout.

Compare & Give an account of the similarities and differences between two (or more) items or situations,

referring to both (all) of them throughout.

Construct Display information in a diagrammatic or logical form.

Contrast Give an account of the differences between two (or more) items or situations, referring to

both (all) of them throughout.

Deduce Reach a conclusion from the information given.

Define Give the precise meaning of a word, phrase, concept or physical quantity.

Demonstrate Prove or make clear by reasoning or evidence, illustrating with examples or practical

application.

Derive Manipulate a mathematical relationship to give a new equation or relationship.

Describe Give a detailed account or picture of a situation, event, pattern or process.

Design Produce a plan, simulation or model.

Determine Obtain the only possible answer.

Discuss Offer a considered and balanced review that includes a range of arguments, factors or

hypotheses. Opinions or conclusions should be presented clearly and supported by

appropriate evidence.

Distinguish Make clear the differences between two or more concepts or items.

Contrast Document To credit sources of information used by referencing (or citing) following one recognized

referencing system. References should be included in the text and also at the end of the piece

of work in a reference list or bibliography.

Estimate Find an approximate value for an unknown quantity.

Evaluate To assess the implications and limitations; to make judgments about the ideas, works,

solutions or methods in relation to selected criteria.

Examine Consider an argument or concept in a way that uncovers the assumptions and

interrelationships of the issue.

Exemplify Represent with an example.

Explain Give a detailed account including reasons or causes.

Explore Undertake a systematic process of discovery.

Formulate Express precisely and systematically the relevant concept(s) or argument(s).

Identify Provide an answer from a number of possibilities. Recognize and state briefly a distinguishing

factor or feature.

Infer Deduce; reason from premises to a conclusion. Listen or read beyond what has been literally

expressed.

Interpret Use knowledge and understanding to recognize trends and draw conclusions from given

information.

Investigate Observe, study, or make a detailed and systematic examination, in order to establish facts

and reach new conclusions.

Justify Give valid reasons or evidence to support an answer or conclusion.

Label Add title, labels or brief explanation(s) to a diagram or graph.

List Give a sequence of brief answers with no explanation.

Measure Find the value for a quality.

Outline Give a brief account or summary.

Predict Give an expected result of an upcoming action or event.

Present Offer for display, observation, examination or consideration.

Prove Use a sequence of logical steps to obtain the required result in a formal way.

Recall Recognize or identify

Reflect To think about deeply; consider.

Recognize Identify or recall particular features.

Show Give steps in a derivation or calculation.

Sketch Represent by means of a diagram or graph (labeled as appropriate). The sketch should give a general idea of the required shape or relationship, and should include relevant features.

Solve Obtain the answer(s) using algebraic and/or numerical and/or graphical methods.

State Give a specific name, value or other brief answer without explanation or calculation.

Suggest Propose a solution, hypothesis or other possible answer.

Summarize Abstract a general theme or major point(s).

To What Consider the merits or otherwise of an argument or concept. Opinions and conclusions should be

Extent presented clearly and supported with appropriate evidence and sound judgment.

Use Apply knowledge or rules to put theory into practice.

Additional Command Terms Commonly Found on Constructed Exam Questions

AGREE OR DISAGREE

Support or refute a statement; give the positive or negative features; express an informed opinion one way or the other; list the advantages for or against.

ASSESS THE DEGREE

Command words such as these strongly suggest to the student that two schools of thought exist about a given subject. These questions often involve weighing the relative merit of conflicting points of view; e.g., negative vs. positive, strong vs. weak, fundamental vs. immediate.

GIVE THE SIGNIFICANCE OF

Present information which determines the importance of an event or issue. Quite often used to show causation.

SUPPORT / REFUTE

Give the points in favor of, or opposed to, a predetermined point of view or particular position. Also see

AGREE / DISAGREE

While students should generally support or refute the given statement, their responses may include opposing points.

Common Variations of Previously Stated Command Terms

Assess the relative importance of…

Critically assess…

Would you agree…

How far…

Weigh…

Advise…

Organize…

What factors…

Show how…

What trends…

Draw on your knowledge…

Illustrate…

Account for…

Hypothesize…

Integrate…

Review…

Criticize