Art Ed FAQ

NOTE: I do have a Bachelor’s Degree in Art Education, K - 12. However, I am NOT an expert. This is merely a collection of my humble answers to questions people have asked me. I decided to post them here to help others who might have similar questions.

I don’t see an answer to my question here. I’d like to ask one.

What is your philosophy of Art Education?

In your opinion, what is art?

What is your response to art?

What do you define as criticism in the art world?

I don’t see an answer to my question here. I’d like to ask one.

If you have a question you would like to ask, you may e-mail me at myriad@geocities.com. However, this web page is my hobby. Depending upon my schedule, it may take me a few weeks to reply. And, I do not guarantee a reply. I am happy to help if I can, but I do not want to be handing out “instant answers” for students to plagiarize.

What is your philosophy of Art Education?

See the second paragraph of my Philosophy of Education. If you are doing this for an assignment, please don’t just copy my philosophy and call it yours. Have a high standard of ethics and integrity...And develop your own thoughts.

In your opinion, what is art?

This sounds like a question an art instructor is asking YOU to answer. Nevertheless, I will give an abbreviated version of my opinion.

A work of art, as art, has two “dimensions”: craftsmanship and social value. Craftsmanship is how skillfully the artist did his or her work. Social value is the effect the work has on the emotions and thoughts of the people who view the work. A true work of art will be skillfully done, and will have a positive social effect. (When I say “positive”, I don’t mean that it’s going to make people happy. A work of art can also move a person to tears. This use of the term “positive” has ethical value with ties to personal responsibility.)

What is your response to art?

This sounds like a question an art instructor is asking YOU to answer. A person responds to different works of art in different ways, depending upon their own opinions and experiences. Imagine yourself viewing a well-done work of art (whatever that would be to you), and a poorly-done work of art (whatever that would be to you). What would your own responses be?

What do you define as criticism in the art world?

This definitely sounds like a question YOU are supposed to answer for an art assignment. The art world is very fickle. One decade it likes “Romance” and the next decade it likes “Impressionism”. One decade it likes Picasso, and the next it likes “junk art”. Criticism in the art world is subjective. Perhaps you should do some more research and formulate your own answer.