1/15/19 Critical Reflection

      From reading Nicole Tucker's 2018 article, Art Activism Matters: Implementing Social Justice Art Pedagogy, I've come to the conclusion that her thesis is centered on encouraging students to examine and show their views on social issues through their art making. This thesis itself is important for today's students because they are becoming more aware of what's happening in the world as technology continues to connect us all, but many aren't able to express their views on such matters or are even given the attention to from adults and teachers. My only worries about this lay in the question of what can and can't be discussed in a classroom setting for students to ponder over. It's all well and good to consider social issues like racial inequality, immigration, feminism, etc. but what about others that may not be as "appropriate" (euthanasia, capital punishment, drug usage, etc.)?

      I find this reading to be quite relevant to my life as I've interacted with many students who's art making is rooted in one or several social issues, many of which were very personal to who they were and what they stood for. At times, it was harder to find someone interested in simply art making or understanding a technique through their work than find someone speaking through their works. One idea that sticks to me more and more as I grow up is the idea that our youth aren't as pure as we make them out to be, and that this is in part our own faults. More and more instructors are looking towards bringing large, complex, and not-so clear cut topics into younger and younger classrooms in the hopes of making them more aware of what's going on in the world. It makes me think about why we can't just let them be kids for a while instead of making them mini adults with an opinion on everything.

Class Questions:
When are students "too young" to be taught about social issues in classrooms? Is there even a limit?
What topics do you believe are viable to be taught in an art classroom?

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

1/31/19 Critical Reflection

          The thesis I picked up from watching this video was that students are capable of adapting to the unknown, whether this be the unknown of a new medium, concept, process, etc. and can create greater meaning in their works on their own and with the aid of teachers. This was mainly supported through the testimonies of the presenting educators and the stories they recalled along with the photos they used to supplement their cases. I found this to be important for art teachers as these stories could inspire new was to interact with students and their arts while also fostering more personal connections between student and teacher. Connections which are vital to help students express their thoughts fully and for teachers to offer the best advice they can give. The concerns that arose for me while watching were somewhat discussed in that these situations have to work in tandem with the regulations placed upon teachers anyways. Along with this, I just worry that...
Read more

Classroom Observations #6

What surprised you?         What first surprised me was the size of the classroom as it was seemingly larger than either of the classrooms I had observed before. This space also had a variety of shelves available to store materials, projects, and student items all while having room for maneuverability around the space. This freedom of space was capitalized by the teacher and students as they often moved around to gather supplies and worked at different angles to suit their preferences. Along with this, I was impressed at the variety of supplies this room had within. Amongst the supplies I expected of an art room, I also spotted bags of clay, a machine to flatten clay, and even wheels to throw clay on. It was surprising to see such an emphasis on clay work within the room as I hadn't experienced ceramic during my middle and high school experiences. What did you learn?          Things I learned during t...
Read more

AED 401 Lesson Plan

Image
Part 1: Unit Overview Unit Title: Ceramics in the Community Space Enduring (Big) Idea: Clay and ceramics throughout history have been used to display representations and a personal history of the world surrounding the artists. They can be markers of time and are often looked to as proof of long-forgotten communities and civilizations existing due to their durability. It is through understanding the power and longevity that clay work holds in embodying our social circles and both the history of ourselves and others that students can then begin to create with a greater purpose behind their works.     Key Concepts about the Enduring Idea: -         Community -         Creation -         Social Circles -         Representation -         Hand crafts -    ...
Read more