Chapter 1 Notes

Chapter 1: Art, Society, and Schools

Why is Art Ed. so important?

Cultural Understanding: Communicates meaning w/out words
-Cultural identity is maintained, transmitted, and analyzed
-Helps students develop awareness of world around them

National Needs: Creates citizens who can think, communicate, and appreciate nation's diversity.
-This is esp. imp. in our media-based culture

Celebrating Ordinary Experiences: Transforms concept of world
-Elevates the overly-familiar
-Makes everything special

Personal Communication and Expression: Gives form and meaning to personal experiences
-Gives meaning and pleasure to self

Creativity: Promotes higher thought processes
-Recognizes multiple perspectives
-Explores ambiguities
"Imagination is the greatest power of the mind" -Einstein

Vocation: Sparks interest in many careers

Aesthetic Awareness: Increases sensory awareness of nature, art, and life (esp. for birth – age 7)

Visual Literacy and Integrated Learning: Promotes ability to interpret visual symbols
-Incorporates cognitive, affective, and psychomotor learning

Qualitative Approach
-Depth and Breadth
-Art is created when children express their ideas, responses, and reactions w/ honesty, sensitivity, and perceptiveness w/in a framework of compositional principles and design
-This requires substantial time
-Goes beyond initial stimulation and motivation
-Teacher guides students, encourages self-reflection, and encourages students to see more, sense more, and recall more