Week of 3/8

The role of new media today is influenced greatly by modern technology. Artists are able to accomplish much more due to new inventions such as printmaking and computer generated images. Artists are also using materials in new and interesting ways. For example, impressionists developed a painting based style by creating mood with little detail, whereas Cubists manipulated real world art into abstract creations. Photographers today change their photos by distorting images, altering colors or making double or triple images. One of my favorite examples was Cindy Sherman’s artwork in which she transformed herself into a different person by dressing in different costumes and then took photographs of herself.
There are many ways the students can use photography and video in a classroom that is educational and involves communication. One way the children could use photography and video would be identifying themselves as characters in a book/play by dressing up in certain clothes and choosing a different setting for the background and taking pictures of or videotaping themselves. Children could also use their communication skills to discuss pictures of different faces in magazines and the mood and feelings those faces express. In this activity students could also discuss the differences between ordinary photos and what is qualified as artwork. Using a video camera, students could create their own commercials, role-play various social settings involving their school and home experiences, or act as an art teacher by demonstrating a simple process.

Activity: Question #8 on page 180
First Artist: HA Schult uses trash to create people and sculptures in the world’s most major cities.
http://img.weburbanist.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/06/trash-art-people.jpg

Second Artist: John T Unger uses bottle caps to create pieces of art.

http://johntunger.typepad.com/.a/6a00d8341c4fdf53ef01348651474b970c-pi

Students could make mosaics by using clippings of recycled materials such as old magazines, newspapers or flyers to create a recognizable image, such as an animal or another object. They could also collect trash around their neighborhood and create sculptures just like the artists did above. The main idea is for students to create an artwork using the part to whole process in which they use small various parts to create a whole object or image.

Luz Chung’s presentation on the connection between social justice and education was very insightful. I thought it was interesting that she compared the connection between history and today’s culture which influences what is taught in schools. In the video clip, it talked about how school’s standards in the U.S. are primarily based from Texas’s control over information in textbooks. For example, Oscar Romero spoke out against poverty and social injustice and the Texas administration does not want him to be included in textbooks. Freire discusses how there is no “neutral education process.” I think he means that teaching is controlled by biased opinions, which relates to the discussion of how Oscar Romero won’t be included in textbooks because of people with different political views.
I think you can use arts in a classroom in creating a common ground among students with different backgrounds by learning about important figures or activists such as Oscar Romero in various cultures. You could also make the curriculum inclusive by having students express and draw a picture of who they believe is their hero. The hero could be a family member, someone from their historical or cultural background, etc. The students would discuss topics we learned in class such as the idea of “What makes a Hero?” The students would discuss the aspects of a hero- possessions, clothing, situation, position, or actions taken? Students would also describe how people are determined as a hero or the traits that a hero possesses. Teachers should state how everyone has different heroes for different reasons that are important to them. Each student should respect their peer’s heroes. The teacher could also ask students to share their heroes and explain why they believe why their person is a hero. Students will be able to express their opinions and beliefs freely with the respect of their classmates.