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Visual Arts: Websites

A guide to information resources for Fine Arts and Art History.

Using Websites

It is important to evaluate the quality and reliability of the information you find as anyone can publish anything on the Internet. The "Getting Started" tips for evaluating information on the left will help you to assess the information source.

Check out some useful websites below that may be helpful to your studies.

'Whakairo: Māori Cultural Carvings on Campus Entrances' (2017) by Bethany Weeks: https://www.flickr.com/photos/washuugenius/35446820223 (Creative Commons BY-NC-SA 2.0)

Getting Started

Use this evaluation ABC checklist when searching for information on the Internet.

Authority

Is the information from a reliable source? Does the author have appropriate qualifications, background and knowledge of the subject? Where is the document published and who has published it? Check the accuracy - how does the site compare to other sources?

Check the web site address (URL = uniform resource locator)to verify the origin of the site

.govt or .gov = government

. org = non-profit organization

. co or .com = commercial

.ac or .edu = academic/ educational

Bias

Why do you think the information was written? What opinions if any are expressed by the author? Does it provide a balanced view of the topic or is there an obvious bias promoted by the publisher or author? Who is the intended audience?  Where is the document published?

Currency

When was the information written or recorded? Is the information up to date for the topic? Are the site links up-to-date, are they relevant and do they work?

Visual Arts Websites