The Cultural Viewpoint
Big Ideas
Romare Bearden - Piano Lesson
Overview:
Artists create works of art that visually comment on representation, role expectations, and social conflict. The power behind these images lie in their ability to educate viewers about the cultures of others. Students will begin by exploring the works of Romare Bearden, Edgar Degas, Norman Rockwell, and Miguel Covarrubias.
Essential Questions
Miguel Covarrubias - A Sunday Afternoon in Xochimilco
Does art reinforce role expectations?
How does art frame other art forms?
Can works of art encourage personal examination?
How does art examine culture?
How does art elicit inquiry from the viewer?
How does art call attention to social conflict?
How does art address class and race?
How is social tension critiqued in art?
How does art frame other art forms?
Can works of art encourage personal examination?
How does art examine culture?
How does art elicit inquiry from the viewer?
How does art call attention to social conflict?
How does art address class and race?
How is social tension critiqued in art?
Lesson Objectives
Students will examine the ways in which these artists use culture and social expectations as their standards of representation. Students will also explore and critique the narratives used in these artworks. At the end of the lesson, students will create their own artistic interpretation of representation, including aspects of their own culture by focusing on their understanding of roles, representation, and cultural expectations.
Tools and Materials
Acrylic Paints
Paintbrushes
Sketchbooks
Canvas
Disposable Digital Cameras
Adobe Photoshop
Scissors
Glue
Magazines
Poster-boards
Students will examine the ways in which these artists use culture and social expectations as their standards of representation. Students will also explore and critique the narratives used in these artworks. At the end of the lesson, students will create their own artistic interpretation of representation, including aspects of their own culture by focusing on their understanding of roles, representation, and cultural expectations.
Tools and Materials
Acrylic Paints
Paintbrushes
Sketchbooks
Canvas
Disposable Digital Cameras
Adobe Photoshop
Scissors
Glue
Magazines
Poster-boards
Introduction and Procedure
Norman Rockwell - Girl at Mirror
Day 1-2: The art narrative will be introduced with handouts and a viewing of the documentary, American Masters The Artists: Portraits of Creativity. Norman Rockwell. Homework reading chapters will also be assigned.
Day 3: Working in groups of 3-4, students will be assigned an artist. Orally, students will discuss the conventions used to comment on culture, representation, and society. In addition, students will compare and contrast their assigned works of art with those of the other artists covered in this lesson. Their findings should discuss the techniques each artist used to portray acceptable roles of behavior, expectations, representation, and identity.
Day 4-5: Individually, students will create an image that narrates their personal lives. Images must contain themes such as role representation and cultural and social expectations. The images can either accept or reject the expectations of social representations.
Written summary: Students will write a 2-3 page personal reflection on either the assigned readings or the supplied documentary.
Day 3: Working in groups of 3-4, students will be assigned an artist. Orally, students will discuss the conventions used to comment on culture, representation, and society. In addition, students will compare and contrast their assigned works of art with those of the other artists covered in this lesson. Their findings should discuss the techniques each artist used to portray acceptable roles of behavior, expectations, representation, and identity.
Day 4-5: Individually, students will create an image that narrates their personal lives. Images must contain themes such as role representation and cultural and social expectations. The images can either accept or reject the expectations of social representations.
Written summary: Students will write a 2-3 page personal reflection on either the assigned readings or the supplied documentary.
Assessments
Edgar Degas - The Ballet Dancers
1. Individual oral critique: Students will be assessed based on their participation in the class discussion. Their ability to provide positive feedback of their peer's artwork will count as a participation grade. Students will also be assessed on their ability to develop ideas about artistic intent.
2. Individual written critique: In a 2-3 page written summary students will be assessed on their ability to identify symbolism and representation in the presented artworks.
3. Individual student critique: Students will be assessed on their ability to develop works of art that depict modern themes of cultural and social representation.
4. Group critique: Students will be assessed on their participation and contribution of ideas.
Artists:
Romare Bearden
Edgar Degas
Norman Rockwell
Miguel Covarrubias
References
Wallach, A. (2006). The norman rockwell museum and the representation of social conflict. In Johnston, P. (Ed.), Seeing high and low: representing social conflict in american visual culture (pp. 280-289). University of California Press: Berkeley.
Belnap, J. (2006). Caricaturing the gringo tourist. In Johnston, P. (Ed.), Seeing high and low: Representing social conflict in american visual culture (pp. 266 - 279). University of California Press: Berkeley.
Documentary: American Masters The Artists: Portraits of Creativity. Disc 5, Norman Rockwell.
Romare Bearden Foundation. (2001). Retrieved September 28, 2011. http://www.beardenfoundation.org/artlife/biography/biography.html
The Dance Lesson by Edgar Degas. (2011). Retrieved September 28, 2011. http://www.nga.gov/feature/artnation/degas/index.shtm
Wallach, A. (2006). The norman rockwell museum and the representation of social conflict. In Johnston, P. (Ed.), Seeing high and low: representing social conflict in american visual culture (pp. 280-289). University of California Press: Berkeley.
Belnap, J. (2006). Caricaturing the gringo tourist. In Johnston, P. (Ed.), Seeing high and low: Representing social conflict in american visual culture (pp. 266 - 279). University of California Press: Berkeley.
Documentary: American Masters The Artists: Portraits of Creativity. Disc 5, Norman Rockwell.
Romare Bearden Foundation. (2001). Retrieved September 28, 2011. http://www.beardenfoundation.org/artlife/biography/biography.html
The Dance Lesson by Edgar Degas. (2011). Retrieved September 28, 2011. http://www.nga.gov/feature/artnation/degas/index.shtm