Exploring Social Issues Through Art

Student Example

Social Issues are prevalent in all cultures. It starts with a problem that many people desire and strive to solve. The current issues that our society faces are not lost on our student artists. They have opinions, stances and feelings about current social issues. Using our current circumstances as an example, I introduced the idea that art can be used to lead to awareness and in some cases social change. 

Together, my Drawing & Painting students and I watched and discussed a documentary on Netflix called The Social Dilemma. We had rich conversations about all the issues that this documentary brings to light, namely that the technology that connects us also controls us, manipulates us, polarizes us. 

I introduced artists like John Lekay, Banksy, and Micah Ian Wright. As a class, we compared and contrasted the two war time propaganda posters of Rosie the Riveter by J. Howard Miller and Norman Rockwell, respectively. These two propaganda posters are considerably opposing regarding gender appearance. This was the opinion and argument most of my female students voiced as we analyzed these two works. Establishing a safe environment to speak, create and feel heard as a student artist makes for the best art room experiences. The art making time is productive and lively, which keeps the conversations going. 

 

Miller, J. Howard, Rosie the Riveter, 1943.                                      Rockwell, Norman, Rosie the Riveter, 1943.

For this assignment, each student had time to brainstorm and research the social issue they were interested in exploring through art. Many of the social issues explored were from personal experiences with the issue, which made this art assignment meaningful and important.  

Teacher Example

Student Example

Student Example

Student Example

Student Example

Student Example