Researching Topics In Art History

on the Internet

What’s on the Internet For Art History?

� Online Galleries & Exhibitions

� Articles and Essays

� Ready Reference Resources (dictionaries, encyclopedias, etc.)

Who Creates the Information

� Organizations (museums, societies, educational inst., etc.)

� Publications (w/ information for sale - incl. bibliographic info.)

� Businesses (w/ objects for sale)

� Individuals (special interest)

A Quick Look at 2 Types of Internet Searches

� Bibliographic search

- a search for information referencing journal articles and books

� “Serendipity” search

- a search for whatever maybe out there on your topic

Bibliographic Searching

� Art Index (Online)

� FirstSearch - for journal and monograph citations

� ProQuest Direct - for journal citations and full-text articles

All available off the Scholes Library Web Site Database Page

“Serendipity Searching”

� Use an Internet “Search Engine”� such as HotBot or Alta Vista

� Search Engines are huge database depositories of Internet content and locations

� Each search engine works differently

� The trick is to “master” a single search engine

A Needle in a Haystack

� You’re Likely to Find Most Anything� Some of it accurate and useful� Much of it not!� Can be a frustrating activity unless:

– you know what you’re looking for– you master a search engine– A Chicken Story!

Citing an Internet Resource

MLA Format for Citing Online Works

� Author's name. "Title of Document." Title of Complete Work. Date of Publication or last revision. <URL Address> (Date of access).

– Use less-than and greater-than signs to open and close URL address.

– Any information which is not known is omitted.

Like This:MLA Format for Citing Online Works

� Author's name. "Title of Document." Title of Complete Work. Date of Publication or last revision. <URL Address> (Date of access).

– Use less-than and greater-than signs to open and close URL address.– Any information which is not known is omitted.

� Examples:

Slippery Rock University. “Citing Sources in MLA and APA.” Citing Sources SRU-OWL. 20 August 1997. <http://www.sru.edu/depts/artsci/engl/jmccarre/owl/wc_cite.htm> (9 February 1999)

Faulkner, William. "A Rose For Emily." <http://www.bnl.com/shorts/emily.html> (7 April 1997).

AltaVista Cheat Sheet

� 2 Types of Searches Available� Simple Search� Advanced Search

– For very very specific searches

� Different Rules (Syntax) for Each Type of Search� - need to learn the rules for each

AltaVista “Simple” Search� Use lowercase

� Use a + (plus sign) before a word to demand that it be included in your results

� Use a - (minus sign) before to exclude a word

� No sign at all means “OR” (does’nt have to be in there)

� Use * (asterisk) as a wildcard for alternative spellings

– (ex. wish* will get wish, wishes, wishful, wishbone and even wishy-washy)

� Use “quotes” for exact phrase (ex. “french impressionism”)

Example� I want to know about the cubist influence in painings by

chagall. I am not interested in his stained glass work or his theatrical designs.

� Sample: from bad to better

� chagall cubist painting (795,067)

� +chagall +cub* +paint* (4,941)

� +chagall +cub* +paint* -theat* -glass (260)

� +chagall +cub* +paint* -theat* -glass +influence (46)

AltaVista “Advanced” Search

� Do not use symbols …(but still use lowercase!)

� Must use boolean search terms instead (and, or, not, near)

– And = words that must be included– And Not = exclude a term– Or = alternative terms - use in parentheses (clay or ceramic)– Near = within 10 words– “quotes” and asterisk* work too

� Ex. chagall and (windows or “stained glass”) and not paint* near glass

� Ability to determine “Ranking”

I’m looking for information on Marc Chagall, the person, a work (stained glass), and stylistic influences.

A short article in Dictionary of Art gave me these search terms to start

russia cubism surreallism expressionismhumor jewish paris Stained glassrevolution folk art Religon Theatrical designsbiblical themes Hadassah-

HebrewUniversityMedical Center

1887-1995 Jerusalem

Where to Find..

AltaVista http://www.altavista.com

HotBot http://www.hotbot.com