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Lesson Plans


Re: Field Trip to a very Contemporary Museum in Chicago

From: Janjarreau
Date: Wed Feb 02 2000 - 18:07:58 PST

  • Next message: D Sterner: "RE: Field Trip to a very Contemporary Museum in Chicago"

    In a message dated 2/2/00 6:42:47 PM Central Standard Time,
    BluesTruth writes:
    << Did you ever take your students to a very very Contemporary art museum?
    How
     did you prepare your kids? I am taking my students on a field trip to an
    art
     museum in Chicago similiar to MOMA in NYC. I would also like to do an
     hands-on proj before I take them there.
     How do I prepare them for what they are going to see---woman chewing her
     toenails in a video, vacuum cleaners in plexiglass, man snoring (so what
    else
     is new??) in another creative video, etc.? What is your answer when the
    kids
     say to you "Is this Art?!?!" How do you explain some of the weirder stuff
     they will see? >>

    Jill,
        Start out by giving them a NEW TERM called "avant-garde" and give them
    the definition which is~~~~"The advance group in any field especially in the
    visual, literary, or musical arts, whose works are characterized chiefly by
    unorthodox and experimental methods." (Webster) Tell them the definition of
    unorthodox which is the OPPOSITE of sound or correct in opinion or doctrine
    especially religious doctrine. A non conformist. (Webster.) This should get
    them thinking. Tell them they may be thinking of the words different or
    weird, but these are a better way of describing it. I went to the Warhol
    museum last year and saw some of the sleeping man video, also a room full of
    fans blowing in all directions keeping mylar balloons afloat. He was known
    to have parties and this was a festive way to decorate. You could say is
    weird, but I thought it looked like fun! Just tell them to keep an open mind
    and have them question what they see, by way of putting it in a journal as
    soon as they get back to school. Have fun.
    Janice 

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