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3 |
EDITORIAL RULES, CONTINUED |
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3.4 |
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Scope Note
Included in this chapter
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3.4.1 |
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Scope Note |
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3.4.1.1 |
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Definition
A Note that describes how the term should be used within the
context of the AAT, and provides descriptive information about
the concept or expands upon information recorded in other
fields. The Scope Note in AAT is analogous to the Descriptive
Note in ULAN, TGN, CONA, and IA. |
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3.4.1.2 |
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Values
A free-text field; values are Unicode. In legacy data, diacritics are expressed according to the codes in Appendix A.
Do not use carriage returns or tabs. |
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3.4.1.3 |
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Sources
Sources are discussed in a separate section, Sources for
Scope Note below. |
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3.4.1.4 |
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Discussion
The Descriptive Note or Scope Note clarifies the meaning
and usage of a concept within the context of the AAT. A scope
note differs from a definition in a dictionary or glossary
in that, rather than providing all the possible meanings for
a word, it identifies a single concept and explains its particular
meaning. For example, a dictionary entry for barrel
could include a dozen different definitions including those
for a type of container, a firearm component, and a part of
a musical instrument, all of which are barrels.
In
the AAT, barrels would appear three times, as barrels
(aerophone components), barrels (containers), and
barrels (firearm components); each is found in its
appropriate part of the AAT hierarchical structure. In the
AAT, words that are spelled the same but represent different
concepts are homographs, and are recorded in separate
records, unlike in a dictionary. The parenthetical qualifiers
of the AAT allow users to distinguish among the homographs
at a glance, but their scope notes further define them.
Scope Note is a repeatable field. There should always be a scope note in English, but there may be multiple scope notes in multiple languages. Each instance of the scope note has a contributor and at least one source. |
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3.4.1.5 |
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RULES |
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3.4.1.5.1 |
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Minimum requirements
The Scope Note in English is required in the AAT. (Descriptive Notes
are not required in the TGN, ULAN, CONA, and IA.)
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3.4.1.5.2 |
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Topics
Write a note that outlines usage and meaning of the descriptor.
Keep in mind that the note should also be applicable to all
other terms in the record. Topics may include the following:
- the usage of the descriptor, alternate descriptors,
and used for terms in the record
- the meaning and context of the descriptor and other
terms in the record
- distinguishing between terms that are in different
records and have overlapping meanings or that may otherwise
be confused by users
- Example
[for "still lifes"]
- Note: Images in which the focus is a depiction of inanimate objects, as distinguished from art in which such objects are subsidiary elements in a composition. The term is generally applied to depictions of fruit, flowers, meat or dead game, vessels, eating utensils, and other objects, including skulls, candles, and hourglasses, typically arranged on a table. Such images were known since the time of ancient Greece and Rome; however, the subject was exploited by some 16th-century Italian painters, and was highly developed in 17th-century Dutch painting, where the qualities of form, color, texture, and composition were valued, and the images were intended to relay allegorical messages. The subject is generally seen in oil paintings, though it can also be found in mosaics, watercolors, prints, collages, and photographs. The term originally included paintings in which the focus was on living animals at rest, although such depictions would now be called "animal paintings."
- Clarifying meaning
Clarify meaning by precisely identifying a specific type
of work and how it was used, as necessary.
- Example
[for "rhyta"]
Note: Vessels from Ancient Greece, eastern Europe, or the Middle East that were typically made as a closed form with two openings, one at the top for filling and one at the base so that liquid could stream out. They are often in the shape of a horn or an animal's head, and were typically used as a drinking cup or for pouring wine into another vessel. Drinking was done by holding the rhyton above the drinker's head and catching the stream of liquid in the mouth.
- Describing context
Describe the context of the concept, people or places relevant
to the concept, and the time period during which it was
evident or applicable, as appropriate.
- Example
[for "Mannerist (Renaissance-Baroque style)"]
Note: Refers to a style and a period in evidence approximately from the 1520s to 1590, developing chiefly in Rome and spreading elsewhere in Europe. The style is characterized by a distancing from the Classical ideal of the Renaissance to create a sense of fantasy, experimentation with color and materials, and a new human form of elongated, pallid, exaggerated elegance.
- Describing various uses of a term
Describe different ways in which the terms may be used.
Alert the user if the meaning of a term has changed over
time.
- Example
[for "ale glasses"]
Note: Glasses intended for drinking ale or beer. Early 17th- and 18th-century examples are often similar in form to elongated wine glasses with ogee or rounded funnel bowls, resting on stems of varying length; bowl capacity is usually between three and five ounces. Modern examples are often in the form of tall, thin glasses, generally of 12-ounce capacity, which taper at the bottom and rest on solid bases.
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- Guiding selection among related terms
Include advice to guide users in selecting the most appropriate
term among several possibilities, particularly when there
are subtle differences in meaning among similar and closely
related concepts.
- Example
[for "naïve art"]
Note: Refers to art created by non-professional
artists or artisans who have not had formal training
and are often self-taught. It typically displays the
artist's poor grasp of anatomy and lacks mastery of
conventional perspective and other hallmarks of trained
artists. It includes painting, sculpture, embroidery,
quilts, toys, ships' figureheads, decoys, painted targets,
and other objects, and often refers to such objects
created specifically in 19th- and 20th-century Europe
and North America. It is generally distinguished from
"outsider art," which includes the more extravagant
psychotic drawings and other art created or collected
according to a philosophy of the avoidance of, rather
than simply a lack of, traditional training. It is also
usually distinct from "folk art," which is
created according to specific cultural traditions.
- Caveat: If you refer to another concept in the
scope note, include a reciprocal reference in the scope
note for the corresponding concept. In addition, you must
also link to the related concept (see 3.6 Associative
Relationships).
- Examples
[for "breezeways"]
- Note: Refers to roofed passages connecting
two parts of a house or a house and garage; common after
1930. Distinct from "dogtrots," which occur
in folk architecture and log houses.
[for "hot-melt adhesive"]
- Note: A thermoplastic adhesive that is applied in the molten state and forms a bond on cooling to a solid state. Distinguished from "heat-seal adhesive" which is already present in a thin layer on the adherends prior to the application of heat and pressure.
- When distinguishing one term from another use "distinguished
from…" or "as distinct from
..."
- Order of topics in the
Scope Note
Describe the concept by first placing it in its general
class, then describe its particular properties, qualities,
uses, or origins. Use a concise, logical pattern that includes
as much information as possible within a minimum amount
of space. The Scope Note typically should consist of three
to five parts in the following order.
- 1. Optional: Repeat the term to be defined.
In AAT scope notes, this part is generally omitted,
unless necessary for clarity. For example, it may be
necessary when the descriptor is plural but the scope
note discusses the singular, or when a descriptor and
"used for" term are both discussed in the
note.
- 2. Mention the class or broader context of
the object or concept to which the term belongs.
- 3. List the differentiating characteristics
that distinguish it from all others of its class.
- 4. Optional: Include additional descriptions
of the use of the concept, a description of the object,
or the history of its use or development, as time and
editorial priorities allow.
- 5. Make a reference to other terms that are
related to or distinguished from this concept, required
when appropriate.
- Examples
[for the term "water"]
Example 1 (most typical order and syntax of notes for
the AAT):
- Note: A liquid [class]
made up of molecules of hydrogen and oxygen in the ratio
of 2 to 1 [differentiating
characteristics]. The term "water"
is typically used to refer to the liquid form of this
compound; for the solid or gaseous forms, use "ice"
or "water vapor." [related
terms]
Example 2 (also allowed but discouraged unless necessary,
repeating the term as the first word in the note):
- Note: Water [term]
is a liquid [class] made
up of molecules of hydrogen and oxygen in the ratio
of 2 to 1 [differentiating
characteristics]. The term "water"
is typically used to refer to the liquid form of this
compound; for the solid or gaseous forms, use "ice"
or "water vapor." [related
terms]
Example 3 (a fuller, more comprehensive
note, encouraged only if time and expertise of the editor
allows):
- Note: A liquid made up of molecules of hydrogen and oxygen (HO2). When pure, it is colorless, tasteless, and odorless. It exists in gaseous, liquid, and solid forms; it is liquid at room temperature. It is the liquid of which seas, lakes, and rivers are composed, and which falls as rain. Water is one of the most plentiful and essential of compounds. It is vital to life, participating in virtually every process that occurs in plants and animals. One of its most important properties is its ability to dissolve many other substances. The versatility of water as a solvent is essential to living organisms. The term "water" is typically used to refer to the liquid form of this compound; for the solid or gaseous forms, use "ice" or "water vapor."
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- Additional topics
In addition to defining the term and explaining the usage
of the term, the following topics may be included as appropriate:
- Uses: Give an explanation of what the concept
or object is used for (It is used for…, One
of its main uses is…).
- Example
[for "Alberene stone"]
- Note: A bluish gray stone quarried in Virginia;
commonly used for building trim and for chemical laboratory
tables and sinks; hard varieties are employed for stair
treads and flooring.
[for "fixative"]
- Note: A substance used to increase the durability or stability of another substance, such as pigment on paper or dye in textiles.
[for "adzes"]
- Note: Long-handled tools with a curved blade set perpendicular to the shaft and curving inwards towards it; used for cutting or slicing away the surface of wood, such as in dressing lumber. For similar tools but used for cutting, use "axes (tools)."
[for "banquet halls "]
- Note: Large rooms, halls, or apartments designed
or used for festive or state functions.
- Characteristics: Describe the primary characteristics
of the concept (It is characterized by …).
- Examples
[for "Baroque"]
- Note: Refers to the style and period of architecture,
visual art, decorative art, music, and literature of
western Europe and the Americas from about 1590 to 1750.
The style is characterized by balance and wholeness,
often with an emphasis on spectacle and emotional content,
and a tendency toward contrasts of light against dark,
mass against void, and the use of strong diagonals and
curves.
[for "Alençon lace"]
- Note: A type of needle lace made in and around Alençon, France, as well as similar lace made elsewhere. Venetian lace makers were brought to France by Colbert in 1665 and settled in Alençon in 1765, establishing a lace industry under government protection. The industry declined over the course of the 18th century but was revived under Napoleon and again during the Second Empire. Alençon lace is characterized by a uniform square mesh with twisted sides, heavy use of modes, and bold main elements outlined with a conspicuous cordonnet.
- Origin of the object: Refer to the place and
date of origin of the material, object, style, etc. (It
was first used…, It originated in …).
- Examples
[for "trailings (glass)"]
- Note: Refers to threads of glass that are
applied as a decoration, generally on the body, foot,
or handle of a vessel. The threads may be laid down
in straight rows or in a pattern or chain. Trailings
were first seen in ancient Roman glass, and were also
popular in medieval and later glass. They are distinct
from "threadings," which are independent designs
that are often partially free-standing.
[for "pixillation"]
- Note: Animation technique in which humans
or objects are filmed incrementally in various fixed
poses or positions, creating an unnatural or surreal
effect when projected at normal speed. The technique
was first used by Canadian filmmaker Norman McLaren
in his 1952 short film "Neighbours."
- Chronological and geographic delimiters: Generally,
place chronological or geographic delimiters near the
end of the scope note. Exceptions: if the dates
or geographic information are crucial to the term's scope,
they may be placed at the beginning of the note (e.g.,
commonly used in northern Europe… or popular
during the 18th century…, or with adjectival
phrases such as Chinese flutes that … or Italian
bell towers that …).
- Origin of the term: Include a reference to the
origin or first use of the term, if known.
- Example
[for "Postmodern," but the note is longer than ideal]
- Note: Refers to the style and period of art and architecture that developed in the 1960s and after, when there was a clear challenge to the dominance of Modernism. Generally speaking, it advocated a pluralistic approach to the arts and it stated that Modernism had failed because of a lack of a coded language of meaning to the viewer. The term was first used by Spanish poet Federico de Onis in 1934 and later by Arnold Toynbee's "A Study of History" in 1938, but it was in the 1970s when it came into wide use in connection with a trend in architecture that employed selective Eclecticism and Historicism. This resulted in structures that displayed a knowledge of Modernism, but also playful, whimsical, applications of Classical elements. In the other arts, such as painting, there was a return to a classical approach to the human figure, style, and composition, often resulting in Old Masters style works, but with updated imagery, such as the inclusion of current celebrities, or artists from the past. In photography, as well as painting, a narrative or story telling approach to work also became popular. By the early 1980s, many work dubbed Postmodern, were purchased by the corporate art market, where large sums were paid for the work of relatively new artists. By the 1990s, Postmodernism showed signs of slowing down in terms of popularity, when more traditional Modernist forms began to re-emerge.
- Appearance, materials: Describe the appearance
of the object (color, size, shape, material, etc.) or
what it is made of (It consists of…, Its main
components are…, It is made of…, it comprises
…).
- Examples
[for "acroliths"]
- Note: Ancient Greek sculptures in which the
extremities are made of stone and the torso is made
of another material, usually wood.
[for "cell towers"]
- Note: Telecommunications towers specifically
for use with cellular telephones. They consist of radios,
switching equipment, and antennas that receive and transmit
radiofrequency (RF) signals.
[for "chimeres"]
- Note: Outer, sleeveless, floor-length garments,
cut simply in the front and full from a shoulder blade
yoke in back; generally made of scarlet or black silk;
always worn over a rochet.
[for gambi (paper)]
- Note: Japanese paper produced from the short bast (inner bark) fibers of the species Wikstroemia canescens, native to the mountainous regions of Asia. It is first known from ca. 850 CE. Gampi is a fine, fibrous paper made on a papermaking screen that is covered with a waterproof silk cloth, resulting in a silk-like, woven appearance. While gampi is transparent, smooth, and strong, it has poor dimensional stability, used as tracing paper and as interleaves for beating gold, but not for linings.
- Constituent types: Only where appropriate, name
the concept's various types, subdivisions, or categories.
This will rarely be necessary, given that the types, etc.
should typically be listed as children of this concept
and do not need to be repeated here. If you do list types,
etc. in the note, be certain that you list the same subdivisions
as are listed as the hierarchical "children"
of the concept (There are three types of <term>…,
It is divided into three parts …, It comprises …).
- Example
[for "Stone Age" is divided into …]
- Note: Refers to the period and culture associated
with the first age of the Three Age system developed
by Christian Jürgensen Thomsen in 1836. It is a
stage in the development of hominids or of a prehistoric
human culture characterized by the creation and use
of stone tools and weapons, as distinguished from later
stages of culture when bronze or iron were used for
these purposes. The Stone Age is generally divided into
three periods, Paleolithic, Mesolithic, and Neolithic,
distinguished from each other by the degree of sophistication
evident in the fashioning and use of tools.
[for "Chokwe" comprise …]
- Note: Refers to the culture of the Bantu-speaking
people inhabiting the southern Congo and northeastern
Angola. They comprise many aboriginal peoples and conquering
groups of Lunda origin, and they speak a language of
the Benue-Congo branch of the Niger-Congo languages.
They are hunters or agriculturalists, depending upon
which region they inhabit. They live primarily in woodland
savanna and strips of rainforest along rivers.
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3.4.1.5.3 |
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When a term has multiple usages
- Separate concepts
In writing the scope note, do not include usages or meanings
that more properly describe separate concepts. In such situations,
make a separate record for the homograph and write an appropriate
scope note for it. Hint: If the usages and meanings are
described in separate definitions for the term in a dictionary,
you probably are dealing with homographs, not the same concept.
- Same concept
If there are variations in meaning for a term and the term
is correctly a single concept, describe the usages in the
scope note.
- Examples
[for "dice"]
- Note: Small polyhedral objects, usually cubes, that are marked on each face with dots, symbols, or numbers, used as game pieces, for casting lots, and for other purposes. An example is dice marked on each face distinctively with from one to six dots such that opposite faces add to seven; may also be used for similar cubes marked with other numbers or symbols specially created for gambling or certain other games.
[for "municipia"]
- Note: Refers to certain cities, towns, or colonies in the Roman Empire and Republic, or later on the Italian peninsula, originally where citizens assumed communal obligation in exchange for the privileges and protections of citizenship. Eventually two orders of municipia developed, one where citizens had the right to vote and other rights if Roman, the other with lesser rights if they were tribal centers under Roman control.
- General vs. specific
In legacy AAT editorial rules Scope Notes were sometimes written to account for both general and specific usages of a term. This practice was feasible when the AAT was monolingual. However, now that the AAT is multilingual, editors should avoid writing "general vs. specific" scope notes. This is critical because scoping a term with such a wide range of meaning creates problems when translating into another language, where there may be separate terms for the general and specific usages.
Each AAT record should stand for only one unique concept. If a term has both a general and a specific meaning, either a) describe the specific meaning as an example of the concept (where appropriate), or b) make a separate record for the homograph. It is strongly preferred to adopt solution a) rather than making a separate record for a homograph, unless absolutely necessary.
- Examples
[legacy "general vs. specific" scope note for "additive (material)"]
- Note: Generally, any substance that is added to another to impart certain qualities to the resulting product. Specifically, often used to describe those chemical substances added to foods to produce given effects.
[new scope note for "additive (material)"]
- Note: substance that is added to another to impart certain qualities to the resulting product. Types of additives include chemical substances added to foods to produce given effects.
- Variations in usage of Used For terms
Caveat: If there are variations in the usage of Used For terms and thus you find yourself tempted to explain the differences in the scope note,
in most cases the Used For term should be a descriptor in a separate concept record.
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3.4.1.5.4 |
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Spelling of AAT, ULAN, TGN, CONA, and IA terms
If you refer to another AAT term in the scope note, use the
descriptor or alternate descriptor of that term.
- Example
[for "aerial views", AAT descriptors are
in quotation marks]
- Note: Refers to views achieved by photographing from an aircraft or other high location, or in any medium imagined as if seen from such a high location. When emphasizing a photograph itself, use "aerial photographs." For nonphotographic depictions having high viewpoints, typically prefer "bird's-eye views" or "bird's-eye perspectives."
- If you use a TGN name or IA subject name, use the preferred English name
for the place (TGN) or the preferred name for the IA subject.
- If you use a ULAN name or CONA title, use the preferred display name
(natural order form) for the person or corporate body (ULAN) or the descriptive Title for a work of art or architecture (CONA).
- Example
[for "Cubist," the names of artists are
the preferred display ULAN names]
- Note: Refers to the international art movement
begun by Pablo Picasso and Georges Braque in 1908,
which developed in phases and lasted until the early
1920s. The style is characterized by an emphasis on
the flat, two-dimensional surface of the picture plane,
the rejection of traditional methods of representation,
and the dissolution of objects by making several sides
visible simultaneously.
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3.4.1.5.5 |
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Avoid circularity
Do not define the concept by using a closely related term.
Instead, explain the meaning of the second term within the
context of the first scope note.
- Example
[for "history painters," explain what "history
paintings" are]
- Note: Artists who produce history paintings,
which are multi-figure narrative scenes of real or legendary
events.
[NOT this]
Note: Artists who produce history paintings.
[for "axonometric drawings," explain what
"axonometric projection" is]
- Note: Refers to drawings created by using
axonometric projection, which is a system of portraying
a three dimensional object by depicting projectors parallel
to each other and generally where at least one of the
three spatial axes is inclined to the plane of projection.
In modern architectural parlance, the term sometimes
refers only to drawings depicted as if an orthographic
rendering of the object has been tilted to the plane.
[NOT this]
Note: Refers to drawings created by using axonometric
projection.
- Avoid tautology. Do not define the term by a mere
repetition of the term itself or simply paraphrasing the
term. For example, do not define abrasive paper as
"paper that is abrasive."
- Example
[for "ceiling papers"]
- Note: Wallpapers designed for use on ceilings,
often with tiny repeating patterns or astronomical
motifs.
[NOT this]
Note: Papers for ceilings.
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3.4.1.5.6 |
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Respect hierarchical placement
Be sure that the scope note does not exclude any of the narrower
concepts. Also be sure that it fits as a type of its broader
concept and by extension all the way up the hierarchy. If
this cannot be done, then either the placement of the concept
in the hierarchy is wrong or the scope notes on the other
terms should be adjusted.
- The wording of the scope note must agree with the syntax
and meaning of its broader term. Order the note to reflect
the hierarchical placement. For instance, if a term is located
under a guide term < … by form>, begin the scope
note by outlining the form of the concept, not its function.
- Example
[for "capstan tables," which are under
"<tables by form>"]
- Note: Tables with a circular top that expands
on an iron frame to allow eight extra leaves to be
inserted. Patented by Robert Jupe in 1835.
- If the term has multiple parents, compose a note that
will work with the concept's alternate hierarchical positions
as well.
- Example
[for "chapels," which is under single
built works and also under building components, so
the note accounts for both by beginning "Rooms
or small buildings…"]
- Note: Rooms or small buildings that serve as sanctuaries or places of Christian worship. A chapel may be used for private worship in or attached to a church, palace, house, prison, monastery, or school. It may alternatively be used for public worship of the established Church, subordinate to or dependent upon the parish church, the accommodation supplied by which it in some way supplements. The concept includes both freestanding chapels and rooms or recesses serving as chapels in churches or other buildings. The Latin "cappella" or the French-derived "chappelle" or "chapelle" are occasionally used for "chapel" in English texts. In its original meaning, the term referred specifically to the shrine in which the kings of France preserved the cape (cloak) of St. Martin.
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3.4.1.5.7 |
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Coordinating parts of speech
In general, describe the term with same part of speech as
the term itself. See also the Part of Speech Flag, below.
- Nouns
Most terms in the AAT are nouns; for such terms, begin the
note with a reference to the noun form of the class or broader
context.
- Example
[for the noun "felt," described with the
noun "textile"]
- Note: Textile constructed usually of wool
and fur fiber often mixed with natural or synthetic
fiber by the interlocking of the loose fiber through
the action of heat, moisture, chemicals, and pressure
without spinning, weaving, or knitting.
- If the descriptor is a plural noun, use plural nouns
to describe it in the scope note.
- Examples
[for "ovals"]
- Note: Geometric plane figures having the shape
of an elongated circle.
[for "fans (costume accessories)"]
- Note: Hand-held implements used to produce
a current of air or to serve as purely decorative accessories;
may be rigid or collapsible.
- Verbal nouns
There are no descriptors that are verbs in the AAT. For
verbal nouns (gerunds functioning as nouns), use a gerund
in the scope note as appropriate.
- Examples
[for "felting"]
- Note: Applying heat, pressure, and moisture
to cause fiber to adhere and mat together. For the controlled
shrinking of textile in order to make it thicker and
more compact, use "fulling."
[for "dyeing"]
- Note: Process of applying a coloring matter that is in a solution or fine dispersion so that at least some of the coloring matter is taken up by the substance.
- Adjectives
There are occasionally descriptors that are adjectives in
the AAT. Use a present participle used as an adjective to
describe them.
- Examples
[for "large"]
- Note: Being more ample or extensive than usual
in quantity, spatial extent, or transverse dimensions.
[for "anthropomorphic"]
- Note: Resembling a human form.
[for "fan-shaped"]
- Note: Having a semi-circular form like a stylized fan, typically distinguished from "semicircular" shapes by being less regular than a semicircle or by having radiating elements, as the folds of a fan.
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3.4.1.5.8 |
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Simplicity and clarity
The scope note must be concise, clear, and include only essential
information. Include only the most important and critical
characteristics of the concept. State the differentiating
characteristics precisely.
- Avoid "Use for." Do not begin the note
with the phrase "Use for …" (this
phrase was used in old AAT Scope Notes, but is awkward and
confusing to many users); instead use "Refers to
.. " or a noun.
- Avoid overly technical terminology. In the note,
use relatively simple terminology that will be familiar
to the end-user. Keeping in mind that most AAT users will
be specialists in art and architecture, and thus will understand
some specialized terminology in these fields. However, if
you must use a highly specialized term that is likely to
be unknown to most users, define it in the Scope Note.
- Avoid negative statements. Use affirmative statements
when possible. Generally state what the concept is rather
than what it is not, except where necessary for clarity
(as in the example below).
- Example
[for "bookmakers," exception, where the
note mentions what the term is not]
- Note: People who make physical books, including
bookbinders, printers, and others. The term does not
generally include authors, who write the intellectual
content of books, although it may include artists
who make books by hand, including writing or drawing
the content by hand. Do not use for a broker who accepts
wagers from gamblers.
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3.4.1.5.9 |
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Brevity
The scope note should be brief and concise. It is intended
to clarify usage and touch upon the major relevant points;
it is not a comprehensive encyclopedia entry.
- A minimum note may be one or two lines of text.
- Do not write notes longer than 250 words (or 1500 characters
with spaces, or 25 lines in the VCS Note window).
- Even though the Scope Note could, according to the
database limitations, contain up to 4000 characters,
it is contrary to editorial policy to write long, compendious
notes. If you feel you must write a note significantly
longer than 1500 characters, consult with your supervisor.
- Examples
[short note, for "exterior views"]
- Note: Refers to photographs or other representations
of the exterior of a building or other structure
or object that has interior and exterior spaces.
[longer note, for "bird's eye views"]
- Note: Refers to nonphotographic depictions
having a viewpoint well above normal eye level.
They are typically prints, drawings or paintings
that incorporate a point of view as if the viewer
were looking at the ground from the level of the
clouds. The advantage of the high angle is that
more detail can be displayed, as the foreground
does not obscure the background. This view has been
used since the time of ancient Rome, when it was
used to portray battlefields; it is also commonly
used to portray urban developments, for landscape
garden plans, and for palaces and towns. Bird's-eye
views depict a vantage point higher than one taken
from just above roof-level, but lower than a map-view.
For architectural drawings in precise perspective,
use "bird's-eye perspectives." For photographs,
use "aerial views" or "aerial photographs."
For pictorial maps, use "map views."
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3.4.1.5.10 |
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Use authoritative sources
All information in the Scope Note must be derived from an
authoritative source. A brief list of sources appears below
under Sources for Scope Note.
- Cite the source
It is required to cite your source and page number. See
Sources for Scope Note below.
- Plagiarism
Do not plagiarize: Paraphrase the information - do not copy
it verbatim.
- Literary sources
If information in the note ultimately comes from a literary
or mythological source (as opposed to a modern authoritative
source) be careful not to state it as if it were proven
fact (e.g., the reference to the Bible and "legend"
in the example below). At the same time, refer to religious
texts in a neutral and respectful tone.
- Examples
[for crèches (Christmas)]
- Note: Refers to a representation of the events
surrounding the birth of Jesus Christ. It is typically
characterized by being three-dimensional and including
the infant Jesus in the manger, the Virgin Mary and
Saint Joseph, sheep, the ox and ass, and other attending
figures, such as shepherds, magi, and angels. The term
"cr$02eche" derives from the animals' manger
in which, according to some translations of the Gospel
of Saint Luke, the Virgin placed the newborn Jesus.
According to legend, Saint Francis of Assisi popularized
the Christmas cr$02eche in 1223 at Greccio, Italy, when
he is said to have celebrated Midnight Mass in a stable
where men and animals re-enacted the Nativity.
[for"trimurti"]
- Note: Hindu concept of the collapse of the three main Hindu gods, Brahma, Vishnu, and Shiva, into a single form with three faces. Some scholars consider the trimurti as a way to reconcile different monotheistic approaches with one another and with the concept of ultimate reality (Brahman) since the trimurti manifests the cosmic functions of the Supreme Being. The trimurti was classically expressed in the poem 'Kumarasambhava' by Kalidasa (ca. 4th-5th century).
- Currency of the information: Keep in mind that
the Scope Note may not be updated for some time, so do not
use it to record extremely volatile situations that may
change in a few months. Instead, situations recorded here
should be relatively long-standing.
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3.4.1.5.11 |
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Be objective
Avoid bias or critical judgment. Express all information in
a neutral tone. Do not write from a subjective or biased point
of view, even if your source expresses a fact in a subjective
way.
- People, events, art works
Do not express biased views about rulers, other people,
art, architecture, or events. That is, do not express views
that are subjectively negative; likewise, do not express
positive information in a subjective way. Instead, state
views that are held by the scholarly or professional community
in an objective way.
- Controversial subjects
When referring to a disputed or controversial matter, remain
perfectly neutral, giving equal emphasis to both points
of view.
- Religious and cultural biases
Avoid using language that expresses biased views about religion
or religious groups. Do not state or imply negative or Western-centric
views about native peoples.
- Avoid using terminology for that may be considered
offensive by groups of people. For example, when speaking
of the indigenous populations of the Americas in the
scope note, do not use the term "Indian,"
which is offensive and also ambiguous, since it more
correctly refers to the people of the subcontinent of
India, but instead use the name of the tribes. If you
don't know the name of the tribe or need to speak in
general terms, use "Native American," "Amerindian"
(where appropriate), or "First Nations" (where
appropriate).
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3.4.1.5.12 |
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Uncertainty and ambiguity
Explain any controversies or ambiguous issues. If an issue
is in dispute, be careful not to express it as a certain fact.
- Knowable vs. unknowable information: On the other
hand, be careful not to imply that a fact is unknown simply
because you happen not to know it (generally because time
and editorial priorities do not allow you to do the research
required to resolve the issue). If a fact is knowable
(but just not known by you), it is generally better to omit
it entirely rather than to state it with qualifying phrases
such as "probably," because this implies more
knowledge of the issue than you have.
- Disagreement among sources
Know your sources. When two sources disagree, prefer the
information obtained from the most scholarly, authoritative,
recent source.
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Indexing important information
Caveat: The Scope Note is not an access point for retrieval.
Therefore, if you mention important information in the Scope
Note, in order to facilitate retrieval, index it in the appropriate
controlled fields elsewhere in the record (e.g., in Names,
Display Dates, Associative Relationships, or alternate Hierarchical
Relationships).
- Explain information indexed elsewhere
Explain uncertainty, ambiguity, or complexities surrounding
terms, associative relationships, or hierarchical relationships.
Index terms and relationships in the appropriate fields.
- Display Date notes
In addition to the Scope Note, you may also use the Display
Dates for Terms, Hierarchical relationships, and Associative
relationships to briefly express information or uncertainty.
In fact, if the information is directly related to one of
these other fields, it should be recorded in a Display
Date (and repeated in the Scope Note, if necessary). Note
that Display Dates may refer to subjects other than date,
but must be indexed with Earliest and Latest Dates. See
the appropriate section for instructions regarding Display
Dates.
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3.4.1.5.14 |
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When to include a Scope Note
- For new records
Include a scope note for all new AAT records. Include all
appropriate topics as discussed in Topics above.
- For existing records
Add scope notes for existing records as time and editorial
priorities allow.
- Guide terms
Guide terms generally do not require scope notes; however,
guide terms may have scope notes if necessary to explain
what specific function the guide term serves in its hierarchical
placement, which usually means saying what the terms located
beneath it have in common. Scope notes on guide terms usually
begin with the phrase "Collocates descriptors for
...".
- Example
[for ]
- Note: Collocates descriptors for molding types originally developed in architecture, though often adapted for use on other objects.
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3.4.1.5.15 |
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Style [1]
Note that some older Scope Notes in AAT do not follow the
currently approved style. If you are editing an AAT record
with an outdated note, and if time and editorial priorities
allow, edit the note to comply with the current stylistic
guidelines.
- Complete sentences
The note need not be written in complete sentences, although
complete sentences are recommended when necessary to unambiguously
convey meaning.
- Follow all other grammatical rules for standard English
composition. If writing a scope note in another language, follow standard rules for grammar and composition in that language.
- Examples
[for "hollow (form attribute)"]
- Note: Having an empty space or cavity within;
not filled in with matter.
[for "internationalism"]
- Note: Refers to the political theory or belief
that the focus of political activities should be the
universal human condition rather than the interests
of a particular nation. For the similar philosophical
approach not limited to the context of politics but
discussed or applied in a broader social, cultural,
scientific, ecological, or humanistic context, see "globalism."
- Capitalization and Punctuation
Write the note in mixed case (not all upper or all lower
case). Use Unicode. In legacy data, diacritics are expressed using diacritical codes in Appendix
A.
- In general: The first word of the Scope Note
should begin with an uppercase letter. The note should
end with a period. If you use complete sentences, begin
each sentence with a capital letter and end with a period.
Use the semi-colon to separate phrases.
- Examples
[for "baluster columns"]
- Note: Columns resembling balusters, composed
of a base, a potlike element, a bulbous shaft, and a
capital.
[for "Viking"]
- Note: Refers to the period, culture, and style
of art produced between the later eighth century and
early 12th century in Scandinavia and Scandinavian settlements
overseas. The term is derived from the old Norse noun
"víkingr," and narrowly refers to sea
pirates and raiders. However, it is usually applied
to the broader realm of Scandinavian culture from this
time period.
- Serial comma: Use a comma before and and or in
a series of three or more.
- Example
[for "bay windows"]
- Note: Windows, either single or in a series,
forming a bay or recess in a room and projecting outward
from the wall in a rectangular, curved, or polygonal
form.
- Quotation marks: Use quotation marks for a title
or when citing a term within the note. Place periods and
commas that punctuate the paragraph inside quotation marks.
Place semi-colons and colons outside the quotation marks.
- Example
[for "craftsmen"]
- Note: Refers to those who practice an occupation,
trade, or pursuit requiring manual dexterity or artistic
skill. For those who create or construct artifacts directly
by their own labor, especially as their profession or
primary occupation, see "makers."
- Parentheses: Use parentheses sparingly (commas
usually suffice to set apart a statement). Parentheses
may be used to express an example (using "e.g.,"),
dates for a named person or event, or occasionally as
a parenthetical phrase in a complex sentence in order
to avoid ambiguity.
- Dashes. Do not use dashes to set apart a phrase.
Instead use commas or rephrase.
- Paragraphs
The note must be written as one paragraph. Do not include
a carriage return or tab.
- Abbreviations
Avoid abbreviations.
- Exceptions: The following abbreviations are
preferred to spelling out the words:
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ca. |
circa |
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BCE |
before current era |
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CE |
current era |
- Ampersand. Do not use ampersands; always spell
out and, unless it is a proper name correctly spelled
with an ampersand.
- Prefer First World War, Second World War;
however, World War I or World War II are
also acceptable. Avoid WW I and WW II.
- Prefer United States not US or U.S.;
USA is acceptable, because it is the "display
name" for that nation.
- Referring to dates
A short set of rules appears below. For further discussion
of Dates, consult the rules for Display Dates (which are
short notes) in Appendix B.
- BCE and CE: Prefer BCE and CE;
avoid BC and AD. Unless otherwise designated,
years will be assumed to be CE. However, to avoid end-user
confusion, use CE for dates within a few hundred
years of year 1.
- Very ancient dates: For very ancient dates,
use before present or years ago; use whichever
convention your source uses. Do not abbreviate as BP
or YA; do not use BCE. For very ancient
dates, use about rather than ca. (e.g., created
about 75,000 years ago).
- Example
[for "Abbevillian"]
- Note: Refers to the period of European prehistoric
stone tool development dating to just after 700,000
before present, and known from tools found in sediments
in a suburb of Abbeville, France. The culture is characterized
by distinctive stone tools, including the earliest hand
axes that are bifacially flaked, with deep flake scars
and jagged edges, and thick flakes. The period is usually
considered closely related to the Acheulian tradition.
The concept of the earliest hand-axe culture in Europe
was formerly known as Chellean, but the concept is now
known as Abbevillian, and the implements from Chelles,
France that formerly defined the culture are now grouped
with Acheulian.
- Hyphen: Spans of years: Separate the years with
a hyphen. Do not omit digits in the second year (e.g.,
1911-1943, NOT 1911-43). Do not use M-dash,
N-dash, or other special characters. VCS cannot accept
special characters.
- Apostrophe: Do not use an apostrophe when referring
to decades or a century (e.g., in the 1920s, NOT
1920's; 1500s, not 1500's).
- Century: Spell out century and millennium; do
not abbreviate unless absolutely necessary (e.g., 15th
century, in the early 20th century, in the 15th
and 16th centuries).
- Hyphens with centuries: When the date is substantive,
do not use a hyphen (e.g., during the 15th century).
- When the date is an adjective, hyphenate it (e.g.,
in 15th-century paintings; early-20th-century architecture).
In a span of multiple centuries, first century mentioned
must have hyphen and then space (e.g., in 15th-
and 16th-century paintings).
- Mid is a prefix and always needs a hyphen (e.g.,
in the mid-19th century, mid-19th-century artists).
- Mid is a prefix and always needs a hyphen (e.g.,
in the mid-19th century, mid-19th-century artists).
- More re. centuries: Emulate the following examples.
Where the preposition precedes the whole phrase and the
only thing intervening between the two century names is
a conjunction, and maybe an adjective, the plural "centuries"
is used. Where a preposition intervenes, the singular
"century" is used.
- In: in the 17th and early 18th centuries
- Between: between the 17th and 18th centuries
- From/to: from the 17th to the 19th century.
- Referring to Numbers
- Numerals vs. numbers written out. Spell out
numbers from one to ten, inclusive, unless they are
measurements or dates (e.g., having
two apprentices but an area of 2 acres, in the 2nd century).
Beyond ten, use numerals, unless the number begins a
phrase or sentence, then write it out. Exception: when
a sentence begins with a century, use the numeral (e.g.,
19th-century developments having...).
- Superscript and other special characters: VCS
cannot accept special characters. Never use superscripts;
never paste them in from Word or Web pages. For example,
for "th" or "1/2" type, 19th-century
NOT 19th--century. Do not use M-dash, N-dash, or other
special characters.
- Fractional numbers: Spell out the value when
referring to portions of land, buildings, money, populations,
or other objects (e.g., one half of the town, two
thirds of the population). Use a hyphen if used
as an adjective, e.g., valued at one-fourth pence
or a church two-thirds destroyed). For measurements,
you may use either decimals (e.g., 4.5 miles),
or fractions (e.g., 2 1/2 x 4 inches), depending
upon what is offered by your source. Include both if
you know them.
- Measurements
- Metric units or inches, miles, etc.: You may express
measurements using either metric units or inches, feet,
yards, or miles, depending upon what is offered by your
source. Provide both if known.
- Example
[for cartes-de-visite]
- Note: Note: Refers to small-format photographs
affixed to card stock, particularly the card photographs
patented by the Parisian photographer Andr$00e-Adolphe-Eug$02ene
Disd$00eri in 1854 and similar items produced by Mathew
B. Brady and other photographers. They went out of fashion
in the 1870s. The photographs were typically portraits
and the image was a standard size of 3 1/4 x 2 1/4 inches;
they were generally produced by a multiple-lens camera
that created several images on a single full-sized negative
plate. Full-size prints from the plate were cut into
4 x 2-1/2-inch sections, and the pieces were often mounted
on cards, which initially served as visitors' cards;
it later became the custom to exchange them on birthdays
and holidays, and to collect cartes-de-visite of friends,
family members, and celebrities in albums.
- Spell out inches, feet, yards, miles. Use standard
codes for metric units: mm, cm, km. Do not use periods
after the codes for metric units.
- Use an "x" between two dimensions (e.g.,
2.2 x 6 mm); it is also allowed to use "by"
(e.g., 2.2 by 6 mm) but be consistent within the
context of each note. You need state the unit only at
the end (i.e., not 2.2 mm x 6 mm).
- Omit the space between the number and the metric code
if the measurement is used as an adjective (e.g., "…was
35 mm long" distance but "she worked
mainly with 35mm film.").
- English versions of proper names
For proper names of places, people, corporate bodies, buildings
and other works of art, use the preferred English name.
- Capitalized words
- Proper names: Capitalize proper names as appropriate,
following ULAN editorial rules for persons' names and
using the TGN preferred English name, as warranted.
- Example
[for " Illyrian helmets"]
- Note: Open-faced helmets with cheekpieces
and a closely fitting skull, at first made of two
and later of only one sheet of bronze. They originated
in the Peloponnese in the early 7th century BCE.
- Capitalization: Special cases
- Prefer Bible and Biblical capitalized.
(Webster's and Random House dictionaries prefer it
capitalized.)
- Use the lowercase adjective classical unless
you are referring specifically to the 5th-century
Greek period by that name, when you should capitalize
Classical.
- If you are referring specifically to the planet
Earth (as when discussing its physical feature), capitalize
it (as you would for the name of any other planet).
When speaking metaphorically, use lowercase earth
or avoid using the word earth; instead, use
world ("the tallest structure in the
world," not "the tallest structure
on earth").
- Titles of books and art works
If the title of a book, art work, or other work is mentioned
in a note, put the title in quotation marks (VCS does not
allow for italics). Capitalize the title as appropriate,
following VP editorial rules for citations.
- Common grammatical and spelling errors
- Which" versus "that": Generally,
if the subordinate clause is dependent for its meaning
on its prior noun, then use that (e.g., A
medieval that is characterized …).
- If the trailing clause can stand alone and the
initial clause can stand alone, then use which
(e.g., Developed from an earlier machine, which
itself was … or A system of beliefs
under which …). In general, because Scope
Notes are tightly worded, there will be comparatively
few instances where which would be used.
- Hyphens: Words beginning with non or
ending in like do not need hyphens unless any
of the following is true:
- If the root word is a proper noun (e.g., write
Picasso-like).
- If it results in two or three "l"s
or two "n"s in a row (e.g., write tool-like,
shell-like but towerlike, tablelike.)
- With semi- , which is usually a prefix,
and thus needs a hyphen; but some words have closed
up with heavy usage. Use Webster's 3d International
Dictionary as a guide.
- With self-, which always takes a hyphen
when used as a prefix.
- With an adverb ending in "ly" followed
by an adjective, you do not need a hyphen (e.g.,
critically acclaimed design).
- Toward: Prefer toward and forward, not towards or
forwards (a preference more than strict rule).
- And/or: Do not use and/or if it can possibly be avoided.
It can usually be rephrased using one or the other without
suggesting that the inclusion or exclusion of one or
the other is absolute.
- Double consonants: For verbs with "ing"
or "ed" endings where either a single or a
doubled consonant is acceptable, prefer the single consonant
(e.g., traveling, modeling).
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3.4.2 |
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Sources for the Scope Note |
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3.4.2.1 |
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Definition
A reference to the sources used for information in the Scope
Note, typically published sources. |
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3.4.2.2 |
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Fields
- Brief Citation: A brief reference to the source.
See Appendix C: Citations.
- Full Citation: A full citation for the source,
including the author's name, title, and place and date of
publication. See Appendix C: Citations.
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3.4.2.3 |
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Values
Sources for the citations are title pages of the works.
- Values are controlled by the Sources file in VCS. A source
must be added to the Source file in order to be used in
(linked to) the Subject (place) record. For a discussion
of how to add sources to the Sources file, see Appendix
C: Citations.
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3.4.2.4 |
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RULES
- It is required to cite the sources used to write the
Scope Note. In the Page Field, it is required to cite the
volume, page number, date of accessing a Web site, or other
appropriate indication of the specific location of the information
in the source.
- Examples
- Brief Citation: Princeton Encyclopedia (1979)
Full Citation: Princeton Encyclopedia of Classical
Sites. 2nd ed. Princeton, New Jersey: Princeton University
Press, 1979.
Page: 29
- Brief Citation: Encyclopedia Britannica
Online (2002-)
Full Citation: Encyclop$70aedia Britannica.
Britannica Online. Chicago: Encyclopedia Britannica,
Inc., 2002-. http://www.eb.com/ (1 July 2002).
Page: "Himalayas," accessed 29 July
2004
- In general, notes must have sources. An exception, requiring
no source, is notes for guide terms.
- If there are multiple editions or multiple publication
dates for a source, link to the specific source that you
are using.
- If there is an author indicated for an encyclopedia article
(e.g., Grove), whereas you need not list the full author
and article name if it is a source for only a name, if you
have paraphrased significant information in the Scope Note,
give the author credit by citing the article name and author
in the page field.
- Examples
- Brief Citation: Grove Dictionary of Art
online (1999-2002)
Full Citation: Grove Dictionary of Art (online
edition). Jane Turner, ed. New York: Macmillan Publishing
Ltd., 1999-2002. http://www.groveart.com (3 December
1999).
Page: Lowenthal, Anne W., "Claesz, Pieter,"
accessed 3 March 2005
- Brief Citation: New Catholic Encyclopedia
(1967-1979)
Full Citation: Catholic University of America.
New Catholic Encyclopedia. New York: Publishers Guild
in association with McGraw-Hill Book Co., 1967-1979.
Page: Vailh$00e, S.,"Caesarea Palaestinae,"
3:89 ff.
- For rules for constructing Brief and Full Citations,
see Appendix C: Citations. The Brief Citation should
be a short reference to the source. The Full Citation is
full reference to the published or unpublished work.
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3.4.2.4.1 |
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Preferred sources
Some commonly used sources for Scope Notes include the following:
- Major dictionaries and encyclopedia.
- Oxford Companion to Art. Harold Osborne, ed.
Oxford: Clarendon Press, 1996 (17th impression, originally
published in 1970).
- Books on specialized subjects.
- Definitions and glossaries provided by authoritative
sources, including museum or university Web sites.
- Mayer, Ralph, Artist's Handbook of Materials and
Techniques. 5th ed., revised and updated by Steven
Sheehan. New York: Viking, 1991.
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3.4.2.4.2 |
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Translating the Scope Note
-
Translations should be done only by experienced translators who are bilingual or at minimum expert in both English and the target language. It is also highly recommended that the translator is a subject expert in the topics covered in the section of the AAT being translated, for example, art history or another pertinent specialty.
-
When translating the Scope Note from English into another language, the second scope note should include the same information as the original English scope note, but it need not be a direct, literal translation. While translating, if you find that important information is missing from the original English scope note, or if the English scope note defines the term too narrowly or incorrectly, please consult with the Vocabulary editors.
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3.4.3 |
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Contributor for the Scope Note |
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3.4.3.1 |
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Definition
A reference to the institution or project that contributed
the Scope Note. |
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3.4.3.2 |
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Values
Controlled by a link to a file of controlled terminology;
the list changes as new contributors are added. |
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3.4.3.3 |
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RULES
- It is required to have at least one contributor for every scope note.
- The default Contributor is VP (Vocabulary Program).
Other contributors' initials will have been added during
the data load, and typically do not need to be edited. If
you feel it is necessary to change a link from one contributor
to another, consult with your supervisor.
- If you are adding data by hand, even if the data was given
to you in a printout or other form by an institution or
project that is a contributor, the contributor should be
VP because the Vocabulary Program is actually entering
the data (and thus some amount of interpretation is going
on). The Source of the Scope Note would refer to
the institution or project, but they are NOT the Contributor.
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3.4.4 |
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Language for the Scope Note |
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3.4.4.1 |
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Definition
The language of the Scope Note. All records should have a scope note in English. Where qualified translators have provided translations, scope notes in other languages may be included. |
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3.4.4.2 |
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Fields
- 1. Language: Word or words referring to the language of the term.
- 2. Language Code: Unique code for the language in VCS. Related languages have codes within a given range, to allow retrieval of related languages.
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3.4.4.3 |
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Values
Controlled by the languages file. |
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3.4.4.4 |
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RULES
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[1]Some
rules and examples are from the Purdue University Online Writing
Lab (http://owl.english.purdue.edu/) and the ANSI/NISO Z39.19
draft standard. |
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Last updated 5 October 2017
Document is subject to frequent revisions |
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