I am not too sure what postmodernism is... but I would hope that the way that
we teach art has nothing to do with denying tradition, not accepting cultural
iconography or focusing soley on "originality". We learn primarily from an a
priori sequence... to reject the spirituality of early art is absurd. We may
not accept spirituality in our present teaching environs, but we cannot deny
it historically. The vast majority of art from primative times to present is
based on "spirituality" depending on one's definition of that term. There is
little original anything out there, and it is a rare find in the classroom in
postmodern times. If this quest for originality is the basis of art ed theory
we need to get rid of it. Some students have only the popular culture (nike
logo) in their experience. This is the point from which we depart... if we
want a class full of logo designers then pursue "originality"...but to teach
art is to move from one set of developed skills to another, building as we go
the ability, the vocabulary, the "spiritual" need to express.... I for one do
not value originality for its own sake... I don't teach originality... each
of my students is an original and that is enough. What they give may be
derivative in my world but original in theirs. I think that you may need
Larry or Woody or anyone else on this list for philosophy, but I am compelled
to respond to your post. Thanks. Peter
Most cultures outside of the western European
tradition have valued repeating old ideas, symbols, designs and icons
thereby gaining some kind of spiritual access to their ancestors. Is this
part of postmodernism?? Are we hopelessly achaic valuing originality?
Where are the philosophers on this list? Sid
