Art as a Reflection of Society

How is Rodin's "Monument for the Defense of Paris" an example of the birth of democracy? What does the sculpture say about the price of liberty and democracy? To conclude a three-lesson unit that asks class members to analyze works of...

Guide your class on an art adventure sharping with them the changes reflected in Renaissance art. Students will use a T-Graph and a Venn Diagram to compare what they notice in art from the Middle Ages and Renaissance. They will note...

What makes a society civil? High school freshmen search for examples of justice, kindness, peace, and tolerance in news media and brainstorm how they can promote these attributes in their schools, communities, and world. The well-rounded...

Learners formulate a definition of art in the introductory lesson for a unit on various art forms. The learning emphasis is placed on Oregonian artist Duff Severe and reflective writing. Students compose an essay describing various art...

What does "The Sword of Damocles" have to do with the formation of American democracy and the US Constitution? Class members begin their study of changes in a democratic society by considering the allusions in English painter Richard...

Art can express acts of injustice and move society to action. Upper graders analyze contemporary art relating to specific moments in history. They discuss propaganda, anarchy, sociology, and violence as activism. After researching and...

If you've used any of the New Class Museum lessons exploring the theme, Unmonumental, then check this out! Included are three different final project ideas that tie into the other seven Unmonumental lessons. Kids create community through...

Our art often reflects who we are as individuals and as part of a larger community. The painting Hopi Eagle Dancer reflects the history and culture of the artists who created it. Critical thinkers analyze the piece and then compose a...

Why would an artist destroy his own work? Kids examine the Malagan practice of creating and then destroying art. They talk about the cultural and spiritual significance of this practice, as well as how it relates to consumerism in...

Paul Chan's latest exhibit includes seven manifestations of light. Today, kids analyze the pieces 1st Light  and 5th Light. They consider the concept of opposed or dualistic realities found in literature, society, and Chan's work. They...