Art History Debacle

It went like this…we have a Term Paper to do, and this is what the assignment reads:

The independent project will be a short (roughly two pages) term paper. The subject of your paper will be a single work of art chosen from one of the non-western chapters, or a contemporary artwork from any culture. The paper will be published for others to read and study. They will take a quiz (written by you) over the material. You can (and should where possible) include pictures.

My first email was: I was looking at the assignment and note that you said "or a contemporary artwork from any culture". Does this mean the work must appear in the book? I would like to do mine on either Victor Vassarely or Leonado Neirman. Would this be appropriate?

Now as a side note, Vassarely is considered the “father of Pop Art” he died about 9 years ago and Neirman is said to be the Pollack of Mexico and is still living.

The reply was: Because the other students will be taking a quiz over all of the papers, they need to be able to look the artist up in the book. I may approve an artwork that is not in the book (if for some reason you feel you can discuss it more fully) but the artist and an image by the artist must both be available in the book. I am sorry neither of these guys appear in the book. Try again, I am sure your next choice will be perfect!

So I scoured the book looking for someone that could be good and I could refer to my original choices with so I sent this: Autumn Rhythm (Number 30), 1950 Jackson Pollock (American, 1912–1956) | I feel I can contribute more insight, and stay within the books description for this painting. Will this choice be ok?

BUT NO, now I am totally confused because this was the reply: I hate to turn you down again, but I cover Pollock (and that particular piece) in the lecture. If you would like to choose an American (or other western artist) you should look for some one who is either living or very recently deceased (say, no more than 5 years ago). Next time, before you email, line up a few more choices for yourself-- hopefully, I won't have to say no to all of them! I pasted some web addresses below- with luck, they help your search without making it more cumbersome...http://www.artinamericamagazine.com/ http://www.artnewsonline.com/home/ http://www.artsjournal.com/

I sit here thinking “what lecture” we don’t even have that assignment yet. Didn’t she say NON-Western artist? So who do I chose and why? I think she should just choose for me, obviously she has something in mind and I don’t have a clue. And those websites she sent me to, not an artist noted on it, let alone if they are in the stupid book!

Soooooo, I am depressed, frustrated and all around pissed! I really would have tried to keep it to 2 pages, and make the test logical, but now I am bound and determined to find someone totally obscure in that book that she won’t use.