Chapter 4 Lesson Plan: Art History, Criticism, and Aesthetics

Chapter 4 Lesson Plan: Art History, Criticism, and Aesthetics

Enduring Idea:

Humanity (What does it mean to be human? What is our relationship with each other, culture, nature, etc?)

Art History:

1. Homework to Prepare: 
1. Watch the 3 Picasso at Work videos (without sound is fine) 
2. Write a 2 paragraph response answering the questions:
1. Describe what you see in the videos. What forms does the artist paint? How does the lines look?
2. How does this art style make you feel? Why would an artist choose to draw or paint this way?
2. Engaging Activity: Start class by selecting 1-5 students (who are comfortable having photos taken of them. Have them pose in an interesting arrangement. Allow students (maybe a limited number) to pull out their phones and take a photo from where they are standing. Have everyone upload the pictures to a shared google doc then present it in front of the class. Ask students about what they see and what they feel that they are learning from the different perspectives. What would be the difference between just one image, and seeing them all together?
3. Introduce Pablo Picasso

Art Criticism:

1. Discuss themes like war in paintings and Surrealism. How does fragmentation play a role in those themes? History, like Picasso's art and like the opening activity, is complicated and has many different perspectives.
2. Put Picasso into context of Spanish History and Civil War.

Aesthetics:

1. Define Cubism and show examples of Picasso's work. Talk about perspective and how art becomes more "realistic," when you can recognize multiple perspectives.
2. Engaging activity/Picasso Assignment: Have the students either draw each other, or the classroom, in a Cubist style. Use only geometric forms - identifiable shapes. Trace drawing with a thick sharpie and fill shapes with rich watercolors. Have fun!
3.  Introduce Collage Influence.