Problem Based Learning (Art Issue)
Problem Based Learning (Art)
Lauren Gosser
1) Driving Question:
What makes an artist and artist? Are artists self-defined?
The question of who, exactly, is an artist — what that word means, who defines it — has always been a tricky one. All sorts of surveys report the number of artists in the US, from the government census to independent initiatives, but the terms of the discussion have never been entirely clear. Are artists self-defined? Must they make a certain amount of money off their creative work? What kinds of creative work count? Can you be a professional artist if you have a 40 hour a week job that is completely unrelated to art?
Before more questions are prompted and any research is done, students will write down their already preconceived ideas on what they think makes an artist an artist. After their projects are finished, we will compare the student’s original opinion to their post research opinion.
2) Grabber
Here are some resources that should prompt more questions.
What Makes an Artist an Artist?
What Makes an Artist? (video, duration: 1:20:37)
These resources as well as others found by the students will be used for research to include in their research essays.
3) Culminating Activity
Purpose:
Identify and analyze what it means to be an artist
Clearly express ideas and opinions about what makes an artist clearly
Gain perspective on what life as an artist is really like
Allow each student to see that anyone can be an artist, including them
Research:
Students will research “What makes an artist an artist?” indepthly as well as provide other questions that prompt the driving question.
Research Essay:
Students will culminate their research into a 2-3 page paper that discusses “What makes an artist an artist?” This essay will also include sources that support the students opinion. This essay must show that there has been research done for this assignment. Remember: this essay is opinion based; it’s a persuasive essay. Persuade your audience to agree with your opinion on “What makes an artist an artist?”. Get creative!
Post Research Questions:
What makes an artist an artist?
Are artists self-defined?
What creative work from an artist counts as art?
Who can be an artist?
Does being artist mean earning an income from art made?
Has your opinion of what makes an artist changed?
The overall drive for this assignment is to push the students to think that anyone can be an artist. There aren’t a set of rules or requirements to follow in order to be an artist. Though there is a lot of scrutiny over what really does make an artist an artist, not usually from the art community, there is nothing from stopping anyone from finding a love in art.