Teaching

Unit:

Instruction on Visual Culture/ Art History Lesson

Three female artists journey and their gender struggle: Mary Cassatt, Vivian Maier & Cindy Sherman

Instructor: Zena Kirby

Grade: 12- Advanced Placement Art History Class

Rationale:

Students will research three female artists, Mary Cassatt, Vivian Maier and Cindy Sherman and focus on the struggle they dealt with on being a woman in art. Gender in society is an on-going issue, however for these students to see this has been happening throughout history, especially in art is an amazing eye opener.

The development of how these artists managed their sense of self is very important and this will allow students to understand how confidence and inner strength is so important in believing in yourself and finding your true passion and not letting anything in society stop that drive.

Objective:

Students will be engaging in research on the three women assigned to them and present their findings and answer the essential questions in a in class presentation. This will account for some of my lecture, however the majority of this lesson will be directed and taught by the students in the class. This assignment allows for critical thinking about society and integrating it into facts and knowledge displayed upon presenting. Knowing the struggles these women had to encounter will allow students to see the gender roles that are dealt with in everything, especially art.

Essential Questions:

1. Explain the background/history of these women, is there anything interesting you found?

2. Why were these three artists selected, what do they have in common?

3. Why did they create art?

4. How did being a woman interfere or help their journey in being an artist, explain the gender roles?

5. Did the environment in which these women lived affect their fame?

6. Being a woman, does society tell us what we can and can’t do involving art?

Materials:

-Classroom books & school library/media center

-Paper

-Pencils &pens

-Computers (programs loaded on computer)

-Projector & Screen

New Jersey State Standards:

1.1 The Creative Process All students will demonstrate an understanding of the elements and principles that govern the creation of works of art in dance, music, theatre, and visual art

1.2 History of the Arts and Culture All students will understand the role, development, and influence of the arts throughout history and across cultures.

1.4 Aesthetic Responses and Critique Methodologies All students will demonstrate and apply an understanding of arts philosophies, judgment, and analysis to works of art in dance, music, theatre and visual art.

Instruction:

Day 1:

Students will be introduced by lecture from me for a full 40 minutes on the three women that this assignment revolves around: Mary Cassatt, Vivian Maier and Cindy Sherman. The reason why I selected these women is for the in depth amount of information is there is on how gender played an enormous role in how and why they became artists. I feel it is important for me to lecture on the background history of whom these women are. I will not go into detail about the gender aspect of this assignment, since that is the objective of the students to research.

During this lecture students are required to use their computers/notebooks to take detailed notes on my lecture. They will use the information provided by me as a starting point for their research and presentation to the class.

Homework for day 1 involves students watching three films, which will be discussed on day 2.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RVcscoIfVco

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vDewAU-rgIM

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UXKNuWtXZ_U

Day 2:

Students will use the 40 minutes to research and ask questions about the three artists, if a student needs to utilize this time to use the library they will be allowed to do so. We will also discuss the three films that were assigned for homework the night before. This will be part of the students grade, I will be walking around making sure all students are on track and properly researching and setting up their presentation on the computer in Power point.

Day 3:

Repeat day 2

Students will use the 40 minutes to research and ask questions about the three artists, if a student needs to utilize this time to use the library they will be allowed to do so. This will be part of the students grade, I will be walking around making sure all students are on track and properly researching and setting up their presentation on the computer in Power point.

Day 4:

Students will use the full 40 minutes to present their research in front of the class. The students will be graded during their presentation, which I will be working off of a rubric, see below.

Day 5:

Final day of presentations.

Grading Rubric: