Art is a form of human expression that encompasses a wide range of activities and creations. It includes music, literature, film and a variety of visual arts such as painting, sculpture and drawing. It is a broad term that has been defined in many ways throughout history.
It is hard to pin down what exactly art is, but most agree that it consists of any activity that evokes an emotional or aesthetic response from the viewer. This definition makes art inclusive of many activities, but excludes certain things such as sport and science, which may be considered more practical than artistic in nature.
The purpose of art is to communicate ideas, emotions and a world view. Art can also be used to represent cultural traditions in a way that encourages understanding and acceptance of those cultures. It is an incredibly powerful tool that has the ability to level the playing field and bring awareness of all aspects of culture, history and tradition to a global society.
As with most subjects, the topic of art is continually evolving. The meaning and value of art changes with societal, political and economic changes. This is the beauty of art – its capacity to transcend time, space and even language.
While the concept of art continues to change, it can be helpful to establish the foundational criteria for an art critique at the outset. This will help students know what is expected of them in order to make accurate and valid interpretations.
Having clear criteria will also help students identify key details in an artwork that can support the interpretations they are making. This can include an examination of the composition and examining how the artwork is balanced. Color and shape relationships can also reveal information about the work’s underlying themes, for example asymmetrical compositions can imply instability or disorder.
There are many great resources available to help teachers incorporate art history into their lessons. One option is The Art History for Elementary Students resource, which utilizes a chronology of different eras to showcase the progression of art through time. This allows students to understand how art has evolved, as well as how each era builds upon the works that came before it.
Another resource that helps students explore the historical context of art is The Art of the Past: A Chronological Approach. This book provides a chronological overview of the evolution of art, from prehistoric cave paintings to contemporary abstract expressionism. It is an excellent resource to use in conjunction with other visual art resources such as art videos, slideshows and artist websites.