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This test consists of 5 short answer questions, 10 short essay questions, and 1 (of 3) essay topics.

Short Answer Questions

1. What is the philosophy of human experience stemming in large part from the work of Edmund Husserl and his followers, with Jean Paul Sartre?

2. Not knowing what direction his life is taking, Irwin does what?

3. Irwin invites a young artist, James Turrell, to join him in the project. Irwin and Turrell wind up partnered on a project with Dr. Ed Wortz of Garrett Aerospace Corporation. Irwin admires Wortz's ability to do what?

4. Irwin sets about reading everything he can about this philosophy, sometimes spending how much time reading, analyzing, and trying to understand every turn of phrase?

5. Critics do not understand the display, referring to it as what?

Short Essay Questions

1. What leads Irwin to write his own view on this philosophy? Describe this work.

2. With what is Irwin concerned at this time?

3. What do critics and viewers think of his work? What does he think of their opinions?

4. With whom does Irwin work on this collaborative project? What do they discover about each other?

5. What are some of Irwin's views regarding this philosophy?

6. Compare Irwin's work from before 1970 to his work after 1970.

7. Describe Irwin's installation in the Chicago Museum of Contemporary Art in 1975.

8. From where do non-art invitations come?

9. What does Irwin do now that he has decided to stop making art to sell?

10. What happens when enthusiasm for Irwin grows?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Many artists at Ferus become practitioners of Zen and other Asian philosophies.

Part 1) Describe Zen and these other Asian philosophies. Why do these artists become practitioners of these Asian philosophies?

Part 2) How do these philosophies affect these artists? How do these philosophies specifically affect their art? Why?

Part 3) What beliefs do you have about life? How do these beliefs influence your thoughts and actions? Is this a positive influence? Why or why not?

Essay Topic 2

Critics have a difficult time pinning Irwin to one style.

Part 1) Describe the various styles to which Irwin had been temporarily pinned. How does his work reflect each of these styles?

Part 2) Why is it so difficult to pin Irwin to one style? Does Irwin want to be pinned? Why or why not? Why do critics want to pin him to one style?

Part 3) How important are various styles of art? Is it necessary for one to create a specific style of art in a specific genre and medium? Why or why not?

Essay Topic 3

Irwin makes disc art.

Part 1) Describe this disc art. What art leads up to these discs? What questions were raised that led to this work? Did this work answer these questions? If so, how? If not, why not?

Part 2) How do others view this disc art? Why do they view it in this way? How does this affect Irwin? How does this disc art compare to his other works? Do you find it more unique and innovating? Why or why not?

Part 3) If you were to make a series of work, what would you make? Why? How would your work compare to Irwin's? What might he think of your work? Why?

(see the answer keys)

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