Art Education and Cultural Perspectives

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Questions and Answers

What has shaped the narrow understanding of art among some educators?

Diverse artistic influences from all over the world.

Prejudiced notions concerning race and gender. (correct)

Cultural appreciation of crafts and art.

The belief that art is subjective and personal.

Which of the following assumptions about art does the text suggest should be challenged?

Individual aesthetics take priority over cultural meaning. (correct)

Great art is produced regardless of access to materials.

Art exists in relation to religious beliefs.

Arts and crafts are perceived as equally important.

How is ethnocentrism characterized in relation to racism?

It is a specific form of art that celebrates local traditions.

It is an implicit part of racism. (correct)

It encourages appreciation of diverse artistic expressions.

It serves to unify different cultures through shared experiences.

What has been excluded from the dominant Western artistic canons?

Individual artistic expressions from various cultures. Signup and view all the answers

What does the text imply about teaching in art education?

It should prepare students for a multicultural future. Signup and view all the answers

What role do power dynamics play in the understanding of art, according to the text?

Power dynamics may exclude the art that holds significance for different communities. Signup and view all the answers

What must art educators confront to improve the curriculum?

Their own fears and biases around racism and prejudice. Signup and view all the answers

What is the term used to describe the most naive form of ethnocentrism?

Phenomenal absolutism Signup and view all the answers

How does Sumner characterize a group exhibiting ethnocentric behavior?

As centered around their own group and rating others based on it Signup and view all the answers

What do ethnocentric attitudes often regard other cultures as?

Incorrect, inferior, or immoral Signup and view all the answers

What did recent letters in Art Education suggest about color relationships?

They should be universally accepted. Signup and view all the answers

Which philosopher's views reflect a universalistic definition of man during the European Enlightenment?

An unnamed philosopher Signup and view all the answers

What does the term 'egocentrism' relate to in comparison to ethnocentrism?

Focus on individual experiences similar to cultural values Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following statements exemplifies ethnocentrism?

Artists should be judged based on their cultural background. Signup and view all the answers

What characteristic describes an ethnocentric individual's worldview?

Insistence on the superiority of their own culture Signup and view all the answers

According to Sumner, what kind of pride do ethnocentric groups typically exhibit?

Pride and superiority Signup and view all the answers

What is one primary goal of art education as mentioned?

To ensure cultural respect and recognition in the classroom Signup and view all the answers

How can art students contribute to the classroom environment?

By sharing their cultural art and knowledge Signup and view all the answers

Which publication first addressed cultural pluralism in art education?

The National Art Education Association Journals Signup and view all the answers

What influenced the early multicultural approaches to art education in the United States?

The Seminar in Art Education at Pennsylvania State University Signup and view all the answers

Who is noted for their contributions to multiculturalism in art education from the 1965 seminar?

June King McFee Signup and view all the answers

What was a common belief about non-white individuals regarding their contributions to civilization?

They were seen as lacking ingenuity and contributions to civilization. Signup and view all the answers

Who is credited with the early classification of races, including a hierarchy that included an animal-like category?

Linnaeus Signup and view all the answers

What stereotype was commonly associated with black people according to early European literature?

Brutish and ignorant Signup and view all the answers

Which group was NOT mentioned as being subject to scrutiny regarding their intellectual capabilities?

European males Signup and view all the answers

What impact did racial craniometry have on art education?

It promoted the notion of racial superiority. Signup and view all the answers

What was emphasized as a determining factor for philosophical classification?

Race Signup and view all the answers

Which statement reflects the attitude of the time towards women and people of color?

They were often deemed less capable of contributing intellectually. Signup and view all the answers

During which period did the Western study of aesthetics begin?

The European Enlightenment Signup and view all the answers

What contributed to the judgment of non-whites regarding their philosophy and way of life?

The lack of perceived intellectual capabilities. Signup and view all the answers

In what way were women also characterized by the dominant European males' perspectives?

As having lesser intellectual capabilities. Signup and view all the answers

What is the title of Zerffi's influential work on art history?

Manual of the Historical Development of Art Signup and view all the answers

Who was the manual dedicated to by Zerffi?

Edwin J. Poynter Signup and view all the answers

What aspect of art does Zerffi's analysis in his manual address?

Ethnology and its bearing on art Signup and view all the answers

What belief influenced Zerffi's views on art?

Natural inequality among human beings Signup and view all the answers

How did Victorian racial attitudes affect discussions of race, according to the content?

They often mixed observations from travelers with common prejudices. Signup and view all the answers

What does Marsden suggest about the essence of racism?

It assigns social significance to physical attributes. Signup and view all the answers

What misleading type of scientific inquiry did Zerffi cite?

Dubious studies about brain size and facial angles Signup and view all the answers

What character trait did Zerffi attribute to 'the Negro' in his comments?

Slowness of temperament Signup and view all the answers

What is identified as a source of Zerffi's racial perspectives on art?

Sociocultural habits of the Victorian era Signup and view all the answers

How did the Victorian era influence the authority of racial observations?

It provided more coherent and authoritative observations. Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Ethno- and Egocentrism in Art Curriculum

Elitist and prejudiced assumptions about art originate in biased understandings of race and gender, primarily portraying European male artists as the sole producers of great art. These viewpoints are rooted in Eurocentric notions.
Eurocentric male-dominated theories and social orderings (both biblical and pseudoscientific) significantly shaped, and continue to affect, art education.
Art education exhibits ethnocentrism in its curricula in North American schools, which often favor specific notions of "good art" over others, perceived as Eurocentric, culture-bound, elitist, and racist.
Art curricula often exclude works and perspectives of various cultures. Art educators must address these biases in order to move toward a more inclusive multicultural curriculum.
Power structures often marginalize differing art forms, distorting the perception of artistic value. Power imbalances in art education promote a hierarchy based on certain cultures and traditions.
Those in power use art to distinguish themselves from others, emphasizing formalist aesthetics (culture-free) to enhance their status.
Multicultural education is essential for students' future development, demanding curricula that celebrate diverse artistic traditions.
Western art canons promote biased assumptions. Best art being made by Europeans, oil painting, sculpture, architecture as most important forms, significant difference between art and craft, and best art being produced by men.

Culture-Bound Assumptions About Art

Dominant Western art canons assume the best art is produced by Europeans, predominantly focusing on oil painting, sculpture, and architecture.
A hierarchical distinction exists between art and craft.
Art is perceived as being created by individual geniuses.
Judgments about art focus on elements like arrangement of lines, colors, shapes, textures, realism, proportion, media use, and expressiveness according to pre-conceived standards.
Sociocultural meaning is considered secondary to aesthetic responses.

Ethnocentrism

Ethnocentrism (judging other cultures based on one's own culture) is implicit in racism. It involves viewing one's culture as superior, often associated with power, wealth, leisure, and white males.
In the past, art educators have held ethnocentric views, viewing their own art as more worthwhile than others. This contributes to culturally biased curricula.

Racism and Art

Nineteenth-century art educational thought (like that of Zerffi) demonstrated racist biases, particularly in defining art forms produced by non-white races as inferior.
The concept of "racial inferiority" and "cultural inferiority" were common throughout nineteenth and early twentieth-century art education thinking and practice. These biased perspectives lead to exclusion and devaluation of non-white and female artists.

Cultural Contexts in Art Education

Diverse cultural contexts must be respected when teaching art historically and contemporaneously.
Understanding different cultural values, artistic traditions, and perspectives is crucial for inclusivity, appreciation of diverse arts, and fair evaluation of art works.

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Description

This quiz delves into the challenges and assumptions surrounding art education. It examines how ethnocentrism and power dynamics influence the understanding of art, while also questioning the dominant Western artistic canons. Art educators are urged to rethink their approaches to create a more inclusive curriculum.