Appendix
Our school is an IB (International Baccalaureate) certified school and I am implementing IB’s framework for teaching and learning in arts for the Middle Years Programme (MYP). For this unit, the key concept I will focus on is Aesthetics. This is because it deals with the characteristics, creation, meaning and perception of artistic beauty. This study of aesthetics will develop skills for the critical appreciation and analysis of film as art, culture, and its nature. The related concepts (promoting a deeper learning of the key concept) will be Visual Culture and Interpretation. The global context in which the students learn from is Personal and Cultural Expression with the exploration to develop being Analysis and Argument. This is the proper context since the students will be introduced to films/videos as an art form and learn to recognize as well as understand the visual choices the directors made in creating the video. Students will identify parts and relationships (to art), and interpret information to reach conclusions about moods conveyed. That way, they can better understand this art form as a whole. The approach to learning that I will teach these students is called Creative Thinking Skills. The expectation is to make connections among ideas as well as apply existing knowledge to generate new ideas and a product (a mini video of their own). In addition, they will explore the ways in which they study, reflect on, extend and enjoy creativity; this unit thus serves as an extended appreciation of the aesthetic in films or any moving pictures for that matter.
National Core Arts Standards Addressed
Anchor Standard 1: Generate and Conceptualize artistic ideas and work.
VA:Cr1.1.8a Document early stages of the creative process visually and/or verbally in traditional or new media.
Enduring Understanding: Creativity and innovative thinking are essential life skills that can be developed.
Essential Questions: What conditions, attitudes, and behaviors support creativity and innovative thinking? What factors prevent or encourage people to take creative risks? How does collaboration expand the creative process?
Through their observation, analysis, and class discussion, students will be able to understand a filmmaker /director’s approach in aesthetics, and realize the tone and mood they are trying to convey with their use of specific elements.
Anchor Standard 8: Interpret intent and meaning in artistic work.
VA:Re8.1.8a Interpret art by analyzing how the interaction of subject matter, characteristics of form and structure, use of media, art making approaches, and relevant contextual information contributes to understanding messages or ideas and mood conveyed.
Enduring Understanding: People gain insights into meanings of artworks by engaging in the process of art criticism.
Essential Question(s): What is the value of engaging in the process of art criticism? How can the viewer "read" a work of art as text? How does knowing and using visual art vocabularies help us understand and interpret works of art?
Through this study, students will better understand that there should be purpose by every process and creation. In addition, they will implement film elements in their own work to convey a specific idea and mood.
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