Art critic Jonathan Mills argued that contemporary installation artists typically avoid incorporating traditional painterly techniques, viewing such e...
GMAT Craft and Structure : (Structure) Questions
Art critic Jonathan Mills argued that contemporary installation artists typically avoid incorporating traditional painterly techniques, viewing such elements as incompatible with the conceptual purity of three-dimensional work. This rejection stems from a desire to maintain clear boundaries between artistic mediums and preserve the integrity of spatial experience. Mills observed this pattern across numerous gallery exhibitions, noting that most installation practitioners share this philosophical stance. However, artist Marina Rodriguez deliberately integrates painted surfaces into her sculptural environments, as her background in both painting and sculpture allows her to synthesize these approaches in ways that enhance rather than compromise her conceptual vision.
Which choice best describes the overall structure of the text?
It presents and explains an artistic principle, indicates that the principle is widely followed by practitioners, and then describes and explains an artist who takes a different approach.
It discusses two contrasting artistic philosophies, explains the reasoning behind one philosophy, and then suggests that the other philosophy requires further justification.
It introduces an observation about artistic practice, presents a critic's explanation for that practice, and then describes an exception that challenges the critic's reasoning.
It describes a critic's argument and supporting evidence, characterizes the argument as influential among artists, and then attributes a conflicting artistic choice to differences in the artist's training background.
Step 1: Decode and Map the Passage
Create Passage Analysis Table
| Text from Passage | Analysis |
|---|---|
| 'Art critic Jonathan Mills argued that contemporary installation artists typically avoid incorporating traditional painterly techniques, viewing such elements as incompatible with the conceptual purity of three-dimensional work.' |
|
| 'This rejection stems from a desire to maintain clear boundaries between artistic mediums and preserve the integrity of spatial experience.' |
|
| 'Mills observed this pattern across numerous gallery exhibitions, noting that most installation practitioners share this philosophical stance.' |
|
| 'However, artist Marina Rodriguez deliberately integrates painted surfaces into her sculptural environments,' |
|
| 'as her background in both painting and sculpture allows her to synthesize these approaches in ways that enhance rather than compromise her conceptual vision.' |
|
Provide Passage Architecture & Core Elements
Main Point: While most installation artists avoid painterly techniques to maintain conceptual purity, Marina Rodriguez successfully integrates these approaches due to her dual artistic background.
Argument Flow: The passage establishes a general artistic principle through a critic's observation, shows this principle is widely followed, then presents a specific artist who takes a different approach and explains why her approach works.
Step 2: Interpret the Question Precisely
This is a fill-in-the-blank question asking us to choose the best logical connector. The answer must create the right relationship between what comes before and after the blank.
Step 3: Prethink the Answer
- The right answer should recognize that the passage starts with a general principle about installation artists avoiding painterly techniques, shows this principle is widely followed, identifies Rodriguez as representing a contrasting approach, and explains why Rodriguez takes this different path.
It presents and explains an artistic principle, indicates that the principle is widely followed by practitioners, and then describes and explains an artist who takes a different approach.
- ✓ Correct
- Correctly captures the three-part structure: principle, widespread practice, different approach
- Accurately describes how the passage presents and explains an artistic principle widely followed by practitioners, then introduces an artist who takes a different approach
It discusses two contrasting artistic philosophies, explains the reasoning behind one philosophy, and then suggests that the other philosophy requires further justification.
- ✗ Incorrect
- Mischaracterizes the structure as presenting two contrasting philosophies rather than one principle with an exception
It introduces an observation about artistic practice, presents a critic's explanation for that practice, and then describes an exception that challenges the critic's reasoning.
- ✗ Incorrect
- Gets close but claims Rodriguez challenges the critic's reasoning when she simply practices differently
It describes a critic's argument and supporting evidence, characterizes the argument as influential among artists, and then attributes a conflicting artistic choice to differences in the artist's training background.
- ✗ Incorrect
- Focuses too heavily on training background as the main explanation while missing the broader structural pattern