Dead White Guys & Cultural Appropriation
As cute as this often-shared cartoon is... what's missing?
If you are working from art history samples of dead white guys, you are doing your students a disservice. It is important to teach our students about the diversity of artists, cultures, and modes of creation. Even if you may not like the work of Jean-Michel Basquiat, his influence and importance to the contemporary art world is undeniable. Endeavor to keep your selection of artists as diverse as possible. Students need to know that people of all nationalities, cultures, genders, etc. create expressive works of art. If you work in a diverse district, you will likely be expected to be thoughtfully proactive in this.
If your comfort zone is Western Art, take time to explore the art of other cultures. Visit museums to expose yourself to more diverse examples. Visiting art spaces is a great way to generate ideas for new art explorations for your students. You can also join online groups of art teachers and seek out ideas. You need not "reinvent the wheel." Facebook is currently a great place to join art educator forums and ask for ideas and samples. (My forum's link HERE, but please answer the questions to enter.)
As you teach, particularly about cultures, be cautious of cultural appropriation. According to Lexico.com is, “The unacknowledged or inappropriate adoption of the customs, practices, ideas, etc. of one people or society by members of another and typically more dominant people or society.” Having students paint macaroni and then stringing them on yarn and calling it an exploration of Native American culture is an example of cultural appropriation. The connections between noodles and cultural tribal jewelry are trivialized and removed from their inherent spiritual significance. Trivializing a culture's rich history can add to problems of cultural insensitivity. It would be impossible to explore all cultures in a way they deserve, so focusing on either diving deep into one culture with the help of someone from that culture or exploring one process (like weaving) across many cultures is a more respectful way to go.
Instead of noodle necklaces, explore the jewelry of many cultures, discuss their significance, and make materials available to students to perhaps express their own cultural backgrounds through the creation of a wearable work of art/jewelry. Alternately you could explore the expressive meanings of color and shape and use that for students to explore jewelry making in a way to express their mood, experiences, hopes, or families symbolically. Students could also be given diverse cultures to explore, in groups or individually, and share with the class to introduce a culturally connected art lesson.
As the world becomes a small place through the internet and globalization, respect for cultures and diversity will grow as well. Set a good example with diverse examples and thoughtful explorations.
If you are interested in more topics like this, as a form of online professional development, click HERE.
If you are working from art history samples of dead white guys, you are doing your students a disservice. It is important to teach our students about the diversity of artists, cultures, and modes of creation. Even if you may not like the work of Jean-Michel Basquiat, his influence and importance to the contemporary art world is undeniable. Endeavor to keep your selection of artists as diverse as possible. Students need to know that people of all nationalities, cultures, genders, etc. create expressive works of art. If you work in a diverse district, you will likely be expected to be thoughtfully proactive in this.
If your comfort zone is Western Art, take time to explore the art of other cultures. Visit museums to expose yourself to more diverse examples. Visiting art spaces is a great way to generate ideas for new art explorations for your students. You can also join online groups of art teachers and seek out ideas. You need not "reinvent the wheel." Facebook is currently a great place to join art educator forums and ask for ideas and samples. (My forum's link HERE, but please answer the questions to enter.)
As you teach, particularly about cultures, be cautious of cultural appropriation. According to Lexico.com is, “The unacknowledged or inappropriate adoption of the customs, practices, ideas, etc. of one people or society by members of another and typically more dominant people or society.” Having students paint macaroni and then stringing them on yarn and calling it an exploration of Native American culture is an example of cultural appropriation. The connections between noodles and cultural tribal jewelry are trivialized and removed from their inherent spiritual significance. Trivializing a culture's rich history can add to problems of cultural insensitivity. It would be impossible to explore all cultures in a way they deserve, so focusing on either diving deep into one culture with the help of someone from that culture or exploring one process (like weaving) across many cultures is a more respectful way to go.
Instead of noodle necklaces, explore the jewelry of many cultures, discuss their significance, and make materials available to students to perhaps express their own cultural backgrounds through the creation of a wearable work of art/jewelry. Alternately you could explore the expressive meanings of color and shape and use that for students to explore jewelry making in a way to express their mood, experiences, hopes, or families symbolically. Students could also be given diverse cultures to explore, in groups or individually, and share with the class to introduce a culturally connected art lesson.
As the world becomes a small place through the internet and globalization, respect for cultures and diversity will grow as well. Set a good example with diverse examples and thoughtful explorations.
If you are interested in more topics like this, as a form of online professional development, click HERE.
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