So You Saw an Amazing Exhibit in Chicago... Now What? How to Avoid Citation Catastrophe (and Impress Your Professor)
Ah, the Windy City! You wandered through a world-class museum, marveled at artistic genius, and maybe even snagged a selfie with a giant dinosaur statue. But now you're back in the land of textbooks and looming deadlines, faced with a citation challenge: that exhibition catalogue.
Fear not, fellow adventurer! We all know Chicago throws the best exhibitions, but citing them doesn't have to be a Chi-cago (sorry, I couldn't resist). Buckle up, Indiana Jones of academia, and let's conquer this citation jungle.
Chicago Style: Not Just for Hot Dogs
Chicago style, the referencing system beloved by many a history and literature student, might seem intimidating at first. But fret no more! When it comes to exhibition catalogues, Chicago treats them like fancy museum gift shop books (which, let's be honest, they kind of are).
Here's the lowdown:
- List it in your bibliography: Just like any other book, the exhibition catalogue gets its own snazzy entry.
- Author, Author: Start with the editor's name (if there is one), followed by "ed." Then comes the title of the catalogue, nice and bold.
- City of Lights, City of Publications: Include the city (Chicago, obviously), followed by a colon and the museum's name (e.g., The Art Institute of Chicago). Don't forget the year it was published - that's like the exhibition's opening night!
- Exhibition Extraordinaire: After the publication info, add the magic words: "Exhibition catalogue." This lets everyone know you're not just referencing a particularly artsy coffee table book.
For Example:
Smith, Jane Doe, ed. Treasures of the Pharaohs: Lost Cities of the Nile. Chicago: The Art Institute of Chicago, 2023. Exhibition catalogue.
Bonus Tip: If you snagged an essay from the catalogue for your research, you can also cite it within your paper in the usual Chicago style format for articles in edited collections.
Avoiding Citation Catastrophe: A Field Guide
Now you're equipped with the basics, but there's always room for adventure (and, ahem, avoiding citation mistakes). Here are some survival tips for the wild world of exhibition catalogue citations:
- Double, Double Check Your Details: Those museum gift shops can be dimly lit, and typos are the enemy of a good citation. Double-check everything from editor names to publication dates.
- The Elusive Author: Sometimes, an exhibition catalogue might not have a single author. No worries! Just list the museum or institution as the author.
- The Title Tango: If the exhibition title is super long, you can shorten it in your bibliography, but make sure it's clear and recognizable.
Remember, referencing correctly shows your professor you not only appreciate art, but you also respect the academic process. You're basically Indiana Jones with a bibliography instead of a bullwhip.
So, there you have it! With this guide, you can conquer those exhibition catalogue citations and impress your professor with your research skills. Now get out there, explore more amazing exhibitions in Chicago, and keep referencing like a champ!
