Sheree Banez

Professor Ward
Art 133
4 February 2016
Unit Paper 1
In Art and Integrated Curriculum, Michael Parsons explores the opportunities that art
education affords academic disciplines. Art is more than a fine art that exhibits elements of
design. It is a tool for revealing deeper thoughts and communication. The more knowledgeable
and in touch an artists is with the subject of his composition, the more tools he will have to
represent meaningful ideas through visual imagery. Todays modern culture is seemingly
addicted to sharing their life experiences through social medias like texting, Instagram, Facebook, and the like. So quick are we to hit the send button we dont usually take the time to ask
how these representations define our identities. An artist is not just limited to what he captures on
film, he has the extension of his imagination to juxtapose ideas and influence his audience with
decisions about technique, style, and the editing of content. Because viewers make assumptions
about what they can only see, one should take more responsibility with how they represent
themselves or their subject matter on film or in other art forms. Parsons sites in one of his
references that artists works can raise awareness of current events while at the same time
composing possible outcomes. Art education can impart a vast amount of knowledge to students
through visual learning; therefore, it is the responsibility of the instructor to have a solid
understanding of various academic and social topics of interest.
Young children do not have the aptitude to digest complex ideas. Depending on their
age, they may not even be able to read. They can however react to visual images. Some of the
suggestions that Parsons makes for integrated study by students include culture, a study of self
through thoughts and feelings, and current social practices and conflicts. Educators can prompt
inquiry and broaden understanding through exercises like VTS. Our class observation of the
Cindy Sherman photograph allowed us to deconstruct the image in an effort to explain the parts
to the whole, and then reconstruct it again to reveal ideas about the identity and situation of the
subject. Both the thoughtful creation of meaningful art, as well as the thoughtful and informed
investigation of art are valuable ways to integrate art into curriculum.