Grade 11/12 Art - Day 57 "ISU Proposal Part 2: Theme (vs Subject vs Motif)"

In the ISU assignment explanation, I ask you to arrive at a theme for your final project. I explained it as follows:

What are some possible subjects/themes/concepts that you wish to address in your series of work? How did these subjects/themes/concepts come up in your “brainstorming” session? Which questions prompted you to come up with your idea?

I wanted to expand upon themes in art.  I found the following information at https://www.boundless.com/art-history/concepts/themes-in-art-0-6115/:

"In the visual arts, a theme is a broad idea or a message conveyed by a work, such as a performance, a painting, or a motion picture. This message is usually about life, society or human nature. Themes are the fundamental and often universal ideas explored in a work. Themes are usually implied rather than explicitly stated. Deep thematic content is not required in a visual work; however, some observers would say that all visual work inherently projects some kind of outlook on life that can be taken as a theme, regardless of whether or not this is the intent of the author. Analysis of changes (or implied change) in dynamic characteristics of the work can provide insight into a particular theme.

A theme is not the same as the subject of a work. For example, the subject of the well known Star Wars movies is "the battle for control of the galaxy between the Galactic Empire and the Rebel Alliance". The themes explored in the films, however, might be moral ambiguity or the conflict between technology and nature. Themes are similar but also different from motifs in that themes are ideas conveyed by the visual experience as a whole, while motifs are repeated symbols found inside an overarching theme. Simply having a repeating pattern or motif does not necessarily mean that that motif is the theme of the work of art, as the theme could be much broader.

A persian motif on textile

Motifs are often thematic, but do not necessarily encompass the overall theme of a work of art."


Source: Boundless. “Themes in Art.” Boundless, 21 Jul. 2015. Retrieved 04 Dec. 2015 from https://www.boundless.com/art-history/concepts/themes-in-art-0-6115/