Written by Liberal Arts Assistant Professor Kat Medill
Art history, a subject that delves into the human story through visual expression, can feel distant and irrelevant to students today. However, when taught creatively, it can become a vibrant and engaging exploration of human creativity, cultural values, and social change. This article explores innovative approaches to teaching art history that resonate with contemporary learners.
Understanding the Importance of Art History
Why Study Art History?
Studying art history provides a unique window into the human experience. It encourages us to explore how societies have evolved, their core beliefs, and the values that have shaped them. By examining art from different periods and civilizations, we encounter perspectives that challenge our own assumptions and the prevailing norms of our time. Art serves as a tool for social and political commentary, reflecting and responding to injustices and inequalities. Through studying these artistic expressions, we gain insights into historical events and how they shaped and were influenced by humans.This process fosters critical thinking and encourages us to learn about ourselves and others whilst serving as a platform to question and challenge existing power structures and values.
Challenges in Teaching Art History
Teaching art history presents several significant challenges. The abstract nature of art historical concepts, such as stylistic movements and philosophical underpinnings, can make them difficult for students to comprehend. Moreover, the sheer volume of information and the intricate chronological framework of art history can be overwhelming, making it challenging for students to synthesize and retain knowledge. Traditional lecture-based approaches may not effectively engage or motivate all students, leading to disinterest and difficulty in grasping complex concepts. Finally, students may struggle to connect historical art with their own lives and experiences, making the subject seem irrelevant and distant from their own realities.
Creative Approaches to Teaching Art History
To overcome these challenges, educators can employ a variety of creative teaching approaches.
Storytelling Through Art
Teaching art history can present challenges, but educators can employ creative approaches to make the subject more engaging for students. One effective strategy is to humanize the past. Instead of focusing solely on dates and art movements, instructors can emphasize the human stories behind the art. This involves exploring the lives and experiences of artists, their motivations, and the social and cultural contexts in which they worked.
Interactive and Hands-on Activities
Interactive and hands-on activities can significantly enhance the learning experience. Studio-based learning, which integrates hands-on art making, allows students to understand artistic techniques and processes firsthand. Role-playing activities, such as having students assume the roles of historical figures or participate in mock debates about art, can foster critical thinking and engagement. Museum visits and field trips provide valuable opportunities for students to encounter real-world examples of art and connect with the subject on a deeper level. Finally, scenario based learning in which students work through a hypothetical “real world” process like creating an engagement activity for museum visitors works well to engage asynchronous students.
Leveraging Technology and Multimedia
Leveraging technology and multimedia can open up new avenues for learning and exploration. Virtual tours and online art history teaching resources, such as Google Arts & Culture and Khan Academy, provide access to art collections from around the world. Interactive maps and timelines can help students visualize historical events and the geographical spread of artistic movements. Encouraging students to create multimedia presentations using videos, images, and sound allows them to express their understanding of art historical topics in creative and engaging ways.
By incorporating these creative approaches, educators can transform art history from a dry recitation of facts into a dynamic and engaging learning experience.
Making Connections to Contemporary Culture
Bridging the Past and Present
One crucial aspect of understanding art history is to explore its connections to the present. Contemporary artists continue to draw inspiration from and respond to historical art movements and traditions. By examining how contemporary artists engage with the past, we can gain valuable insights into the enduring power of art and its ability to evolve in response to changing social and cultural contexts.
Pop Culture and Art History
Music videos provide a fascinating case study in the interplay between art history and popular culture. By analyzing the visual language of music videos, we can identify how artists borrow from and reinterpret art historical references. This might involve incorporating elements of famous paintings, referencing iconic sculptures, or evoking the atmosphere of specific architectural styles.
Fashion also serves as a powerful medium for expressing and reflecting art historical influences. For example, the Cubist movement, with its emphasis on fragmented forms and multiple perspectives, significantly impacted 20th-century fashion, leading to designs that incorporated geometric shapes, asymmetrical lines, and a playful distortion of the human figure.
Filmmakers have long recognized the power of art history to enhance their storytelling. By incorporating art historical references into their films, directors can create visually striking and emotionally resonant experiences. These references can be used to establish mood, develop visual metaphors, and provide deeper layers of meaning to their narratives.
Engaging with Current Events
Art history is not confined to the past; it remains a vital tool for engaging with contemporary issues. Art has long served as a powerful medium for social and political activism, addressing issues such as racism, gender inequality, and environmental degradation. By examining how artists throughout history have used their work to challenge injustice and promote social change, we can gain valuable insights into the role of art in contemporary society.
Exploring contemporary art movements, such as street art, performance art, and digital art, allows us to understand how artistic practices continue to evolve in response to new technologies and social realities. It is crucial to examine these contemporary movements in relation to their historical precedents, recognizing both their continuities and their departures from past traditions.
The impact of technology on the creation, dissemination, and reception of art is a critical area of inquiry. The rise of digital art, virtual reality, and artificial intelligence is transforming the art world in profound ways. By exploring these developments, we can gain a deeper understanding of the evolving relationship between art, technology, and society.
Collaborative Learning Techniques
Group Projects and Presentations
Group art history projects and presentations can foster teamwork, critical thinking, and a deeper understanding of art history. Curatorial projects provide a unique learning experience by allowing students to curate their own exhibitions, selecting artworks that explore a specific theme or artist. This requires students to develop research skills, curatorial vision, and the ability to present their work effectively. Collaborative research projects and presentations encourage students to work together to investigate and present on a particular artist, movement, or period in art history, fostering teamwork, shared learning, and the development of research and presentation skills.
Peer-Led Discussions
Peer-led discussions are another valuable tool for fostering active learning and critical thinking. Peer teaching and mentoring further enhance learning by providing students with opportunities to teach each other about specific artworks, artists, or concepts through presentations, workshops, and peer feedback sessions. This can be applied to various assignments, including research papers, presentations, and creative projects.
Finally, online discussion forums can provide a valuable platform for ongoing learning and interaction. They allow students to engage in conversations about art history topics, share their insights and perspectives, and connect with other students who share their interests. Online discussions can foster a stronger sense of community.
Examples of Innovative Art History Education
Museum Partnerships and Field Trips
Museums offer invaluable resources for art history education. Partnerships with local museums can provide students with access to original artworks, allowing them to directly experience the power and beauty of art firsthand. Guided tours led by museum staff can bring art history to life, making it more engaging and memorable for students. Furthermore, students can participate in museum projects, such as creating labels or assisting with exhibitions, providing them with valuable hands-on experience and a deeper understanding of museum operations. Museum internships offer students the opportunity to gain practical experience in art handling, research, and education. Docent training programs allow students to develop their communication and interpretive skills by training them to lead tours and engage visitors with the museum’s collections.
Gamification in Learning
Gamification can make art history more engaging and interactive for students. Online quizzes, interactive simulations, and virtual museum scavenger hunts, can transform learning into a fun and interactive experience. Students can participate in scavenger hunts within the classroom, online, or at museums, searching for specific artworks or elements within them. Gamified learning platforms that incorporate points, badges, and leaderboards can motivate student engagement and achievement. Role-playing games can also be effective, allowing students to step into the shoes of historical figures, make decisions, and experience the challenges and triumphs of artistic life. Students can role-play as artists, art critics, or museum curators, engaging in creative and critical thinking.
Cross-Disciplinary Projects
Connecting art history to other subjects can make it more relevant and engaging for students. Exploring the relationship between art and literature through comparative analyses of paintings, sculptures, and literary texts can provide deeper insights into the cultural and historical context of both art forms. Investigating the connections between visual art and music, such as the influence of art on musical composition or the use of art in music videos, can reveal unexpected connections. Furthermore, exploring the use of technology in the creation and presentation of art, such as digital art, virtual reality experiences, and online art platforms, can help students understand the evolving relationship between art and technology. Cross-disciplinary projects can help students develop a broader understanding of art within a larger cultural and historical context.
Addressing Diverse Perspectives in Art History
Traditional art history curricula often prioritize the works of Western European male artists, neglecting the contributions of women, artists of color, and artists from non-Western cultures. It is critical to address this imbalance by including diverse voices in the classroom.
Highlighting Underrepresented Artists
This involves introducing students to the works of underrepresented artists, discussing the historical and cultural contexts that have shaped art history and challenged dominant narratives, and exploring how art has been used to express social and political dissent, challenge oppression, and give voice to marginalized communities. By highlighting these underrepresented perspectives, teachers can create a more inclusive and nuanced understanding of art history that reflects the true diversity of human creativity.
Expanding Beyond Western Art
It is essential to expand the scope of art history beyond Western art to encompass the rich artistic traditions of other cultures. This involves introducing students to the art of Africa, Asia, Latin America, and other regions of the world. By comparing and contrasting different artistic styles, students can gain a deeper understanding of the diverse ways in which humans have expressed themselves through art. Furthermore, exploring how artistic ideas and influences have traveled across cultures and time periods can help students recognize the global interconnectedness of art and its role in shaping human history and culture. By broadening the scope of art history, teachers can provide students with a more comprehensive and global perspective on the human experience.
Tips for Teachers: Implementing Creative Techniques
But how can educators actualize a creative and inclusive art history curricula?
Start with Relatable Themes
To make art history more engaging for students, instructors can start with relatable themes. Explore contemporary art movements and how they reflect contemporary issues and concerns. Connect art to popular culture by analyzing how it is used in music videos, movies, advertising, and other forms of popular culture. Encourage students to connect their own experiences and perspectives to the artworks they are studying by using personal narratives. By starting with themes that are relevant to students’ lives and interests, teachers can pique their curiosity and make art history more meaningful.
Use Digital Resources
Incorporating technology into your teaching can significantly enhance student learning. Utilize online museums, art databases, and educational websites that offer a wealth of information and interactive resources. Have students create digital presentations using multimedia tools such as Loom, PowerPoint, or video editing software. Facilitate online discussions and debates on art history topics using platforms such as Google Classroom or online forums. By embracing digital resources, teachers can make art history more interactive, accessible, and engaging for today’s tech-savvy students.
Encourage Critical Thinking
Fostering critical thinking skills is paramount in any art history class. Encourage students to analyze artworks from multiple perspectives, considering their historical, cultural, and social contexts. Promote open-ended discussions and create a classroom environment where students feel comfortable sharing their ideas and engaging in respectful dialogue. Encourage creative interpretation by allowing students to develop their own interpretations of artworks and express their ideas through creative projects. By encouraging critical thinking, teachers can help students develop deeper understandings of art and its significance in human history.
There is no formula on how to teach art history, but by implementing these creative approaches, teachers can transform art history from a dry recitation of facts into an engaging and meaningful learning experience. By making the past relevant to today’s students, we can inspire a lifelong appreciation for art and its enduring power to shape our understanding of the world.
Ready to dive deeper into Art History and Teach the Next Generation of Artists and Designers?
At Rocky Mountain College of Art + Design, we offer an on-campus Bachelor of Fine Arts in Art Education degree as well as an online Bachelor of Fine Arts in Art Education degree, allowing you to select the program that aligns with your current needs and professional goals. Request more information about our fine arts degree programs today.
Bibliography
General Art History Texts:
Stokstad, M., & Cothren, M. W. (2018). Art History. Pearson. (A comprehensive textbook with a strong emphasis on visual analysis.)
Kleiner, F. S. (2017). Gardner’s Art Through the Ages: A Global History. Cengage Learning. (A textbook that covers a broad range of art from around the world.)
Art History and Cultural Studies:
Mirzoeff, N. (2016). An Introduction to Visual Culture (3rd ed.). Routledge.
Mirzoeff reframes the field as visual activism, emphasizing the power of images to challenge power structures and promote social change.
Preziosi, Donald (ed.). 2019. The Art of Art History: A Critical Anthology (Oxford History of Art). Oxford University Press.
A foundational text that explores the core concepts and debates within the discipline of art history.
Said, E. W. (1978). Orientalism. Vintage Books.
A seminal work on the construction of “the Other” in Western thought, which has significant implications for the study of art history.
Spivak, G. C. (1988). Can the Subaltern Speak?. Columbia University Press.
A critical analysis of postcolonial theory and its relevance to understanding marginalized voices.
Butler, J. (1990). Gender Trouble: Feminism and the Subversion of Identity. Routledge. A key text in queer theory, which challenges traditional understandings of gender and sexuality.
Resources for Teaching Art History:
Google Arts & Culture: https://artsandculture.google.com/ (Provides high-resolution images, virtual tours, and interactive experiences for exploring art from around the world.)
Khan Academy: https://www.khanacademy.org/humanities/art-history (Offers a wide range of art history resources, including videos, articles, and interactive exercises.)
Smarthistory: https://smarthistory.org/ (Provides high-quality images, essays, and videos on art history topics.)
