<p>Well, AP Art history doesn't have that many study guides as far as I've searched for in Amazon or Barnes and Noble. How does one study for this test? We've done tons and tons of notecards of art pieces, should I just go over those, and just like the major time periods (ie Prehistoric, Aegean, Greek, Roman, Early Christian, Gothic, Renaissance...)? I am a bit worried about this test even though my school has done relatively well on it. The test just seems like too much of a crap shot in terms of the content it covers.</p>
<p>I would suggest one particular book- Annotated Mona Lisa- but everyone who has relied on it gets screwed on the exam. The truth of the matter is there is no magic review book that'll help you out. On the other hand, if you know what to study, then the Art History exam may be the easiest AP test you'll ever take.</p>
<p>First and foremost, DO NOT JUST GO OVER THOSE NOTECARDS. It's a waste of time. The Art History course simply serves as a survey course over the entire course of history (and prehistory!). There are certain terminology that you must know, and if those are the cards you are referring to, then yes, you should review them. The time periods should be second nature by now, and I would make sure you know those first. Next, make sure you understand concepts and trends- don't try to memorize everything. The exam itself will only cover about 15% of the information of a year's class- the successful exam-taker knows what to study. </p>
<p>For example, I would imagine that in your class you must have seen a solid handful of Velasquez paintings and trying to memorize their titles is pointless. Rather, the good eye will easily discern it as a Spanish Baroque painting. If there is a specific title, you might need to know "Las Meninas." In that painting itself, you wouldn't have to know much more than that the painting can be considered a self-portrait, and that it depicts the royal family. That is all (I'm sure your teacher went into extensive details for history and enjoyment's sake, but this is all you need to know FOR THE EXAM).</p>
<p>On top of that, you only need to know a handful of the most influential artists in historical value- I'm sure your teacher can provide you with that (if she gives you a list of names that has over 40+ artists, come back to me and I'll provide you with a list).</p>
<p>So what can you do for now? BC you're from San Diego, I'm sure there are some large bookstores in the area (is there a Barnes and Nobles nearby?). Go into the Art History section, pick up about three or four different survey books, and just skim through them. You'll start to see some of the more important works repeated over and over, giving you solid indication of what you must study. But, more importantly, see how each period is sooo different than the others. By the date of the exam, you should be able to recognize a Rococo Fragonard or Watteau piece from a Delacroix Romantic painting, or Futurist piece from Boccioni against a Surrealist painting by De Chirico or Dali, and to make the point further, you should be able to look at a Renaissance painting and say, "That is from the High Renaissance, not early or late." Develop a good eye, use strong arts vocabulary, and you should do fine.</p>
<p>Wow thanks ttgiang15. That just happens to be exactly what my art history teacher says. We actually don't go over many paintings from a certain artist such as Valasquez. Our teacher attempts to stress the Spanish Baroque more than any of the intricate details of the actual subject. However, I do agree that are just certain paintings that you MUST know the content of, one of them happens to be Las Meninas.</p>