How to Teach Multicultural Art

While art is universal, teaching multicultural art is a delicate subject. What is sacred in one culture can be pop fashion in another, and imitation isn't always interpreted as flattery. The tasteful balance constitutes students taking pride in their own cultural art, while also learning to appreciate the customs and traditions of others. In preparation for becoming global citizens, learning about the history and significance of art from various parts of the world promotes cultural understanding.

Instructions

    • 1

      Research your lessons. If you are going to teach about Berber silver work, for example, tell the students that as well as being decorative, jewelery was also a means of "savings" in a desert without banks. If the family was short on cash, a bracelet or a necklace could be sold.

    • 2

      Avoid image flooding. This is the practice whereby students are shown so many examples of a particular concept -- say, totem poles -- that they are overwhelmed with the images, while bypassing the information that goes with the cultural art.

    • 3

      Encourage creative collaboration. If you have students from different cultures in your classroom, pair them into cross-cultural arrangements, and see what they create when they blend the motifs of their two artistic traditions.

    • 4

      Promote critical thinking and creativity. Rather than just accepting that art varies from country to country, ask questions about why it developed as it did. Study how nomad art evolved differently from that of sedentary people. Think of the embroidered camel blanket as opposed to the marble statue.

    • 5

      Avoid cliché art symbols such a infographics, found alphabet and hand-rendered. Encourage students to branch out and develop their own style rather than sticking to the same ideas as others.

    • 6

      Assign research projects and class presentations. Rather than leaving the multicultural art as stand-alone pieces, have students write -- and present -- a paper on the piece. Have them outline how their cultural backgrounds influence their art.

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