Lesson Plan | Active Methodology | Art: Social Critique

Premises: This Active Lesson Plan assumes: a 100-minute class duration, prior student study both with the Book and the beginning of Project development, and that only one activity (among the three suggested) will be chosen to be carried out during the class, as each activity is designed to take up a large part of the available time.

Objective

Duration: (5 - 7 minutes)

Defining clear objectives is essential to establish the lesson's focus and to help students understand what is expected of them. By outlining specific goals, the teacher guides students on the skills they need to develop and how these skills relate to exploring art as social critique. This clarity enhances students' readiness and optimizes classroom time for practical engagement and meaningful dialogues.

Objective Utama:

1. Enable students to identify and analyze how art can serve as a powerful tool for social critique by exploring two key social movements.

2. Cultivate the ability to present and discuss artworks in critical contexts, connecting them to the studied social movements.

Objective Tambahan:

1. Encourage thoughtful reflection on the impact of art in contemporary society.

Introduction

Duration: (15 - 20 minutes)

The introduction aims to engage students through problem-oriented scenarios that prompt them to critically assess the role of art in society. It seeks to contextualize the significance of the topic, linking it to real examples that resonate with students. This approach fosters an active and relevant learning environment, preparing the ground for meaningful activities and discussions in class.

Problem-Based Situation

1. Imagine visiting an art gallery and encountering a series of artworks that address the refugee crisis. How do you think these artworks might shape public opinion on the subject?

2. Consider a striking mural you pass by each day on your way to school that illustrates social inequality. How could this artwork inspire change in the community or influence local policies?

Contextualization

Art has historically reflected and questioned the social realities of its time. From the muralists of Mexico to contemporary artists using digital platforms, social critique has been integral to art. This ability to confront pressing social issues makes art a potent medium for raising awareness and encouraging change. Moreover, studying art as social critique enriches our cultural understanding and invites us to ponder how we can respond to the challenges facing our society today.

Development

Duration: (75 - 85 minutes)

This development stage enables students to actively and interactively engage in applying the concepts studied about art as social critique. Through playful and collaborative exercises, students will thoroughly explore the themes addressed, fostering a deeper understanding. The choice of one primary activity aims to maximize engagement and assure full immersion in the creative and critical process.

Activity Suggestions

It is recommended that only one of the suggested activities be carried out

Activity 1 - Circle of Critiques: The Social Enchantment

> Duration: (60 - 70 minutes)

- Objective: Enhance critical analysis and visual presentation skills, connecting artworks to specific social movements.

- Description: In this activity, students will be grouped into teams of up to 5 members, each provided with a selection of artwork images addressing various social issues such as inequality, injustice, and ecological concerns. The task for each group is to identify the social movement represented by each artwork and create a visual presentation using digital tools to showcase the social critique inherent in the pieces.

- Instructions:

• Form groups of no more than 5 students.

• Distribute a series of images representing various social critiques to each group.

• Ask groups to identify the social movement depicted in each artwork.

• Guide them to utilize digital tools (like computers or tablets) to create visual presentations emphasizing the social critiques.

• Each group will have 60 minutes to prepare their presentation.

• Finally, each group will present their findings to the class, discussing the artistic decisions and the impact of the social critiques illustrated in the artworks.

Activity 2 - Mapping Artistic Activism

> Duration: (60 - 70 minutes)

- Objective: Deepen understanding of the influence of public artworks and their ties to social activism.

- Description: Organized in groups, students will be given a city map with various marked locations, each associated with a piece of art from a particular social movement. Their challenge is to explore these sites (either in-person or virtually) and create an interactive map that illustrates how these artworks contribute to artistic activism and social awareness.

- Instructions:

• Divide students into groups of up to 5 members.

• Provide each group with a map featuring marked locations.

• Ask them to research the artworks linked to each point on the map.

• Students must gather insights about the social movements each piece represents and their contributions to social awareness.

• Using digital tools, each group needs to develop an interactive map that elucidates the connections between the artworks and the relevant social movements.

• Groups will have 60 minutes to finalize their task.

• Conclude with presentations of the interactive maps, allowing each group to share their findings with the class.

Activity 3 - Dramatizing Critique: A Social Play

> Duration: (60 - 70 minutes)

- Objective: Nurture creativity and expressive skills through theatre, exploring and conveying social critiques.

- Description: In this activity, students will adapt a work of art or a social movement into a short play. Each group will choose a specific theme to develop, write a script, set up basic staging, and ultimately perform their play for the class, delving into the social critiques and dialogues presented by the chosen artwork or movement.

- Instructions:

• Form groups of up to 5 students.

• Each group selects a work of art or a social movement for their play.

• Groups will need to write a script that emphasizes the social critiques embedded in the selected work or movement.

• Students must arrange simple staging and rehearse their plays.

• Allocate 60 minutes for the preparation of the plays.

• Finally, have the groups perform their plays, followed by discussions on the conveyed messages and the effectiveness of the social critiques represented.

Feedback

Duration: (15 - 20 minutes)

This stage aims to empower students to express and solidify the knowledge they gained from the activities, while also honing their argumentation and critical thinking skills. The collective discussion serves as an opportunity for students to reflect on their understanding of art as social critique and how it translates into their personal lives. It also provides a platform for the teacher to gauge students' comprehension and modify future teaching strategies if necessary.

Group Discussion

Facilitate a collective discussion with all students, where each group shares their discoveries and experiences from the completed activities. Begin the discussion with a brief introduction, clarifying that the objective is to gain insights from one another and reflect on how art can serve as an influential tool for social critique and activism. Encourage students to discuss not only the content of the artworks or plays but also their creative processes and the perceived impact on their perspectives and society.

Key Questions

1. How did the art you explored today enhance awareness of the social issues discussed?

2. In what ways can various media and techniques in art shift the perception of critical messages?

3. Was there any artwork or presentation that particularly resonated with you? Why?

Conclusion

Duration: (5 - 10 minutes)

The conclusion phase serves to consolidate the insights gained throughout the lesson, ensuring that students can link hands-on activities with the theoretical content studied. Furthermore, it underscores the practical significance of the topics covered, equipping students to apply their newfound knowledge in real-world situations. This summary and final reflection reinforce the relevance of the tactics studied and recognize their utility and impact in the society around them.

Summary

In this final stage, the teacher should encapsulate the key concepts discussed during the lesson, emphasizing the role of art as a vehicle for social critique and activism. Recapping the activities conducted, the teacher can highlight the social movements examined and the artworks involved.

Theory Connection

It is crucial for the teacher to connect the practical activities with the theoretical concepts previously explored by the students. Explain how the activities, which included analyzing artworks and creating presentations and plays, enabled the direct application of theoretical knowledge concerning art's social critique, solidifying their learning in an engaging manner.

Closing

Finally, it is important to underscore the relevance of examining art as social critique in the lives of students. Discuss how the messages relayed by artworks can influence perceptions and actions regarding social issues, and how they, as active citizens, can leverage this understanding to foster positive changes in their communities and society.