POSTMODERN ART EDUCATION AND THE SOCIAL SCIENCES�TEACHING ART THROUGH MEANINGFUL CURRENT EVENTS
David Andrew Hernandez, M.A.
The University of Texas at El Paso
May 2002

Postmodern Approach to Teaching Art

Interdisciplinary � Societal Events
Social Studies, Language Arts, Reading
�Moral Education should be grounded in forms of learning that arise out of specific relations that connect the principles and practices of classroom life with the concrete struggles that inform community life and the dynamics of the wider society.� �Henry Giroux

Students must be challenged to think critically and link relative information to their prior knowledge and their affective environment.
Postmodern Approach
Link societal events and art production without barriers or formalist principles.
Discipline-Based Art Education (DBAE)
Academic Subject
4 Areas of Study
A. Art History
B. Art Criticism
C. Aesthetics
D. Art Production

Problems with DBAE
A. Multiculturalism
B. Separate Components
C. Creativity
Multiculturalism
A. Defers the study of the dominant culture.
B. Extends from European perspectives.
C. Fails to challenge the art of the dominant culture.
D. Sprinkle and stir approach.

Separate Components
A. Four Disciplines: AH, AC, AE and AP.
B. Art has no connection with other realms of experience, including the society that produced it.
C. It ignores the reality of art as part of and as a result of a changing social realm.

Limits Creativity
A. Formalist
B. Elements and Principles of Design
C. Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills (TEKS) [State Curriculum]
A Revised Vision
A. Consider Goals of Education.
B. Education aims for students to become active citizens of this country who respect each other�s cultural differences.

Social Reconstruction Approach
A. Connections with everyday experience
B. Social critique
C. Creative expression

This approach is locally specific to �allow for local cultural needs and personally meaningful learning through and in the arts.� (Anderson,1996, p.57)
Students who use current events as the subject of their work:
A. Understand people, minorities and cultures
B. Explore history
C. Explore geographical region
D. Explore implications

Art is a channel for learning current events.
Goals
A. Create an interest in the social sciences.
B. Empower self-expression through art.
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