1st Edition

History as Art, Art as History Contemporary Art and Social Studies Education

    296 Pages 14 Color & 61 B/W Illustrations
    by Routledge

    288 Pages 14 Color & 61 B/W Illustrations
    by Routledge

    288 Pages 14 Color & 61 B/W Illustrations
    by Routledge

        History as Art, Art as History pioneers methods for using contemporary works of art in the social studies and art classroom to enhance an understanding of visual culture and history. The fully-illustrated interdisciplinary teaching toolkit provides an invaluable pedagogical resource—complete with theoretical background and practical suggestions for teaching U.S. history topics through close readings of both primary sources and provocative works of contemporary art.

        History as Art, Art as History is an experientially grounded, practically minded pedagogical investigation meant to push teachers and students to think critically without sacrificing their ability to succeed in a standards-driven educational climate. Amid the educational debate surrounding rigid, unimaginative tests, classroom scripts, and bureaucratic mandates, this innovative book insists on an alternate set of educational priorities that promotes engagement with creative and critical thinking.

         Features include:

          • A thought-provoking series of framing essays and interviews with contemporary artists address the pivotal questions that arise when one attempts to think about history and contemporary visual art together.
          • An 8-page, full color insert of contemporary art, plus over 50 black and white illustrations throughout.
          • A Teaching Toolkit covering major themes in U.S. history provides an archive of suggested primary documents, plus discussion suggestions and activities for putting theory into practice.
          • Teaching activities keyed to the social studies and art curricula and teaching standards
          • Resources include annotated bibliographies for further study and lists of arts and media organizations.

        This sophisticated yet accessible textbook is a must-read resource for any teacher looking to draw upon visual and historical texts in their teaching and to develop innovative curriculum and meaningful student engagement.

    Part I: Reframing History and Art

    1. Introduction, Dipti Desai, Jessica Hamlin, and Rachel Mattson

    2. Using Visual Historical Methods in K-12 Classroom: Tactical Heuristics, Rachel Mattson

    3. Curriculum as a Creative Process: An Interview with Artist-Educator Thi Bui, Dipti Desai

    4. Artists in the Realm of Historical Methods: The Sound, Smell, and Taste of History, Dipti Desai and Jessica Hamlin

    5. "Committing History in Public": Lessons from Artists Working in the Public Realm, Jessica Hamlin and Dipti Desai

    Part II: Investigating History and Art: A Teaching Toolkit

    6. Introduction to the Teaching Toolkits: Visual Approaches to Teaching about History

    7. Foundations of Citizenship

    Section 1: The Constitution and U.S. Government

    Section 2: Japanese Incarceration

    8. Constructing Race

    Section 1: Slavery and Abolition

    Section 2: Immigration

    9. The United States and the World

    Section 1: Westward Expansion

    Section 2: The U.S. War in Vietnam

    Resources

    Biography

    Dipti Desai is Associate Professor and Director of the Graduate Art Education Program, Department of Art and Art Professions, at New York University.

    Jessica Hamlin is the Director of Education and Public Programs for the non-profit organization Art21, Inc.

    Rachel Mattson is a historian, a teacher educator, and an Assistant Professor, Department of Secondary Education, at SUNY New Paltz.

    "History as Art, Art as History is a powerful and provocative response to schooling that severs the arts and humanities from the social studies and that cuts both from the academic mainstay. It aims to inspire and empower teachers to make intellectually rich classroom connections between contemporary visual arts and history education in a way that strengthens learning in both domains."--Teachers College Record

    Winner of the 2010 AERA Division B Outstanding Contribution Award