Narrative Study
An investigation of social and cultural perceptions shaped by contemporary influences, personal experiences, & development of self-awareness.
Art work
Perceptions Artist Statement |
Research
Overview
Research Paper |
As I investigate art education in our contemporary world, the diverse bodies of thought intrigue me. Throughout this term I have noticed that there is an underlining theme that connects each component of art education. The theme is perceptions; through our own perceptions we gain an understanding of our world in relation to visual culture. Olivia Gude (2009) explains this concept with ease by saying "perceptions of reality...always involve the projections of self into and onto the world" (p. 4). Without interpreting reality in our own way, we would be unable to find meaningful experiences in the world. It is due to this statement that I took an interest in conducting research on human perceptions: how people challenge and interpret their own life experiences and then how they share those experiences with the world through art education. My goal for this study was to develop a narrative inquiry on how my own experiences in life and in art education have prepared me to investigate identity with middle school students through thoughtful curriculum development. In my narrative writing, I have addressed several key components that enlighten the process in which we understand, interpret, and share with others. The areas that I touch upon are visual culture, self-awareness, social perspectives, and how curriculum development allows art educators to cultivate constructive lessons, which promote creative-self-expression, analysis, critical thinking, collaborative sharing and participation, and democratic understanding and meaning.
In addition to my research, I also created a body of work entitled Perceptions. My work is a visual narrative of how I perceive life in association with my creative self. Each painting is reminiscent of an idea based on how we perceive the world. I am also working on a short curriculum unit that investigates perceptions. My goal is to have students embrace their own self-identity through art making. Students will be encouraged to work in collaboration with their peers to investigate their personal belief systems. They will be instructed to explore one perception that they hold and will create Altered Books to represent that belief system. The students will determine where the belief originated from and how it impacts their opinions as well as how it influences their interaction with others. In addition to this lesson, the students will take interest in deconstructing social labels through the creation of a cartoon or comic strip. Students will investigate how labels affect society and some labels have become stereotypes. Students will learn how labels can be damaging to a society and on a more individual basis; they can become lifetime struggles for people. Further, students will be encouraged to investigate how perceptions change and evolve overtime. The goal of this curriculum unit is to promote awareness through a sociocultural dynamic.
In addition to my research, I also created a body of work entitled Perceptions. My work is a visual narrative of how I perceive life in association with my creative self. Each painting is reminiscent of an idea based on how we perceive the world. I am also working on a short curriculum unit that investigates perceptions. My goal is to have students embrace their own self-identity through art making. Students will be encouraged to work in collaboration with their peers to investigate their personal belief systems. They will be instructed to explore one perception that they hold and will create Altered Books to represent that belief system. The students will determine where the belief originated from and how it impacts their opinions as well as how it influences their interaction with others. In addition to this lesson, the students will take interest in deconstructing social labels through the creation of a cartoon or comic strip. Students will investigate how labels affect society and some labels have become stereotypes. Students will learn how labels can be damaging to a society and on a more individual basis; they can become lifetime struggles for people. Further, students will be encouraged to investigate how perceptions change and evolve overtime. The goal of this curriculum unit is to promote awareness through a sociocultural dynamic.