Introduction to Areas of Study (HC)

Paul Klee, Temple Gardens (Source: Wikimedia Commons, open access)

The companion and handbook genre is a publication type that has flourished in the last decade.  The goal is for leading scholars to provide a thorough description of the subject matter of a field while also giving the most current interpretations of key questions.  Each essay in a companion reflects an important subject facet and identifies the books and articles which are crucial for a greater understanding.  

Companions for Art include:        

Blackwell Companions about art         

Cambridge Companions about art                                                                                                                   

Encyclopedias: Encyclopedias provide basic and general background information on a topic or subject. Usually they will have resources to look into for further research opportunities. 

Literature reviews are a particularly useful resource when doing research.  They address the issues involved in a specific question and the debates among scholars.  They map out the intellectual terrain succinctly and give you the major landmarks in terms of key authors and significant titles for greater understanding.  It is one of the best places to find discussion of issues that are unresolved or in contention.

Subject librarians make research guides for individual classes and for topics.  Browse for information on different subjects.  See this introduction to research guides video for more information.  Research guides for courses in Art include:

         ARTS 103/108: Arts Foundation—Photography

         ARTS 251: Photography: Materials and Techniques

         ARTS 217: History of African-American Art From 1619 to the Present