We are consistently challenged with the idea of teaching across the curriculum. I felt it would be challenging, and also that it would be beneficial from a learning standpoint to explore American art in a historical manner, and also explore one's own cultural experiences by the creation of their own pieces of art.
I am currently studying the impact of culture through art, and trying to get a sound understanding of how art demands humanity and cultural respect. I felt that "tying" historical art and VTS together, along with the input of my students would help me gain a better understanding of art & culture as a whole. My focus for this entire semester has and will remain cultural growth through Historical Art & VTS.
CONCEPTS - PARTS OF THE UNIT
The Unit will be broken into 5 categories:
- And So, A Ship Settles - Early American Settlers
- My Culture Tis of Thee - Art of the Revolutionary War
- The Three Branches - Political Paintings of a Constitutional Democracy
- From The Mountains, To the Prairies - Art of the American Frontier
- We Shall Not Be Moved - Slavery In America
ESSENTIAL QUESTIONS
The Unit will consist of a primary Essential question for each category. They are as follows:
- Early American Settlers - How does the art depictions of the early American settlers reflect upon the hardships endured while trying to survive in the harsh conditions of the New World?
- Art of the Revolutionary War - What are the relatively repeating schemes that follow each of the Revolutionary Artworks?
- Political Paintings - Do you try to picture yourself present at the signings of the Constitution and Declaration of Independence while viewing historical paintings? If so, how and why?
- American Frontier - The westward movement was monumental for both economic and cultural reasons. How was America culturally changed in its move to the west.
- How does the horrific ideology of slavery impact the relationship to the artist and the work of art?
STUDIO ACTIVITY IDEAS
There will be a specific graphic design related studio activity following each of the assigned categories:
- Early American Settlers - The First Thanksgiving. Students will be reminded of the wonderful luxuries that we have today vs. the "inevitable nothings" that existed during colonial times for the settlers. Students will create a visual Cornucopia of 6 things that they would have brought along with them to the first Thanksgiving meeting were they able to travel through time to that period. They will discuss why they would bring the luxury item, and how it would help with their survival
- Revolutionary War - Students will come up with a slogan for helping to recruit young colonials to help fight the British in the Revolutionary War. They will then design a poster using similar styles of art of that era that would help the recruiting process.
- Political Art- Students will design an informational flyer breaking down the specifics of the US Constitution in efforts to make readers more aware of the finest document in the land.
- American Frontier - Students will choose a specific flower that would be found growing wild on the Oregon Trail, and will create a logo using that specific species of flower in efforts to signature their new company, Oregon Trail Travel Agency.
- Slavery - Students will consider the effects of slavery and create a flyer advertising the Underground Railroad. The flyer will be made to look as though it came from that period of time, and must contain specifics involving the Underground Railroad.
There will be a minimum of VTSs for each lesson. I think that it is important to give multiple examples of work to view in efforts to grasp the true cultural differences that are evolving during this time of American development. Some Image Examples:
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| Brook Watson And The Shark, John Singleton Copley |
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| Fall Of The Alamo, Robert Jenkins |
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| Declaration Of Independence, John Trumbull |
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| Washington Crossing The Delaware, Emanuel Louts |
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| Harriet Tubman's Underground Railroad, Paul Collins |
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1 comments:
Your proposals for student art making sound very engaging. It will be interesting to see how students might personalize these assignments, making them meaningful to their own lives and times. For example, if I were traveling backward in time to the first Thanksgiving, I'd have to include a Swiss Army knife in my Cornucopia! (Clearly, I don't like to "rough it!") Silk long johns would be another must. I HATE being cold!
When I read your proposed assignment for the Underground Railroad, I thought of a book I read several years ago called "Hidden in Plain View" (by Jacqueline Tobin) of how traditional quilts and quilt patterns were used to guide slaves from safe house to safe house as they moved northward and without being detected by slave owners. It would be interesting to see if they could incorporate this idea of signaling without being recognized into their flyers.
Your proposed iamges are rich and very VTSable as well! Can't wait to learn how this is unfolding!
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