Lesson 1, March 25-April 3

Class: Art 2, 3, and 4

Objective: We are exploring how art and culture are intertwined.

Step 1: Read Chapter 3 "Cultural Crossing" of But is it Art? by Cynthia Freeland
Here is the link to the online pdf: Book
Step 2: Answer the following questions on a Word Doc. The questions are in order :
1) According to John Dewey, why is art important in relation to culture?
2) Ignoring the original context of an art piece and collecting work from 'exotic' cultures like trophies is an example of what? (hint: Cultural....)
3) Every culture has its unique aesthetic. Despite this, is intercultural contact/mixing common? Give me an example of a culture being influenced by another according to the book.
4) Decontextualization is when you remove something from its original context. For example, taking a mask that belonged to a tribe member to do rituals and displaying it as high art on a pedestal inside a museum and striping it of its original context. Why did the "Primitivism and Modern Art" exhibit at the MoMa in 1984 evoke so much criticism in relation to Decontextualization?
5) Many people use art as a form to express their identity. In the 1980's, many young people of mixed backgrounds/cultures used art as a form to explore which kinds of issues that affected them?
Step 3: Make sure you write your first and last name, the date, class period, and your teacher's name at the top of your paper.
Step 4: Submit your assignment as to me via school email.

*DUE DATE:* This assignment is due April 3, at 3pm

Extra details:
This 1st lesson is optional. The rest are required.
Our next assignment will be an art piece about your own respective culture. Start thinking about it. What is your family history? What are your friends like? What is your aesthetic and where does it come from? What kind of things do you subscribe (place value) to? What is your identity?