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politics & art: activity ideas

Activity Ideas | Related Resources

  1. Murals: A Powerful Public Art Form

    Grade Level: 6-8; 9-12
    Subject: The Arts; Social Studies

    Murals have emerged as an important public art style in communities throughout the United States, serving as a powerful canvas for political, cultural and social expression.

    Have students read the article "The Art of the Mural" by Professor Judith Baca on the American Family web site. Discuss with students murals for the Latino community became places where people depicted social issues and reclaimed their ethnic and cultural identity. You may also point your students to the photo tour of murals on the The New Americans Web site. Ask students why murals are often found in public spaces? Have students investigate what other types public artwork exists in their community.

    Begin your class mural project by having the students brainstorm a list of local, national and international issues they are aware of. Ask them to consider their sources: newspapers, television, Internet, radio, etc. Compile a group list. Brainstorm a list of ideas to be included in the mural. (Suggested topics include popular culture, social issues, politics, environment, technology) Students can work in teams or you may want or have the class work on one mural after a topic is agreed upon. Have students choose one of the topics to illustrate. Discuss the layout of the mural. (i.e. one single panel, a main panel with numerous side panels) Be sure take advantage of local resources such as artists, community leaders, and institutions such as museums or community centers to assist with this project.

    Online Resources

    Independent Lens: The New Americans -- The Latino Mural Tradition:
    http://www.pbs.org/independentlens/newamericans/culturalriches/...

    Political Murals:
    http://home.att.net/~rpmurals/political.html

    The Murals of Los Angeles:
    http://www.geocities.com/TheTropics/6788/murals.htm

    Print Resources

    Murals: Walls That Sing by George Ancona

    More Recommended Resources

  2. Art and Propaganda

    Grade Levels: 9-12
    Subjects: Social Studies; Reading & Language Arts; The Arts

    Brainstorm with your students the meaning of the term "propaganda." (According to the Oxford Heritage Dictionary, propaganda is "the deliberate attempt by the few to influence the beliefs and actions of the many through the manipulation of ideas, facts, and lies.") Who generally uses propaganda and for what purposes? (politicians, advertisers, etc.) Ask students to cite recent examples. Discuss what techniques are often used. List student responses on the board.

    One of the most common and accessible propaganda tools is art -- books, paintings and film, etc. One of the most notorious examples of art as propaganda are the films of Leni Riefenstahl, especially "Triumph of the Spirit," (1935) which documented the Nazi Party rallies at Nuremberg. Visit the PBS site Culture Shock and ask students to answer the questions posed. (The activity features Nazi Party imagery. Please review the content prior to recommending the site to your students). Is the aesthetic merit of Riefenstahl's work enough to honor her as an artist? Is art tainted, diminished, or elevated by its political content?

    During times of war, most countries use visual arts to communicate propaganda. The United States in World War II used colorful posters to rally support for the war cause on the home front. Have students view these posters. Ask them for their reactions. What are some of the emotions these posters are designed to create? Which posters communicate a more positive message (pride, unity, etc.)? Which posters, on the other hand, promote stereotypes?

    Have students creative an original artwork to illustrate a propaganda technique. They should pick a political issue or current event and come up with images that strongly communicate their message/position. After the posters are completed, tape the posters up around the school or community. Have a contest to pick the best poster.

    Online Resources

    Speak Truth to Power: Arts and Human Rights:
    http://www.pbs.org/speaktruthtopower/hr_art.htm

    Culture Shock:
    http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/cultureshock/index.html

    Truman Library: World War II Poster Slideshow:
    http://www.trumanlibrary.org/museum/posters/

    The Center for the Study of Political Graphics:
    http://www.politicalgraphics.org/

    PBS Lesson Plans/Activities

    Our Century: Picture Power:
    http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/peoplescentury/teachers/tgpicture.html

    Frontline World: Protest Violence with Painting:
    http://www.pbs.org/frontlineworld/educators/cross_art.html

    Print Resources

    Art and Propaganda in the Twenty-first Century by Toby Clarke

    More Recommended Resources

  3. Pop Protest

    Grade Level: 6-8; 9-12
    Subjects: Social Studies; Reading & Language Arts; The Arts

    Throughout the 20th Century, American singers/songwriters have used powerful songs to help bring the nation's attention to important issues and causes. While the most famous "protest" songs hail form the 1960s from folk and rock artists, many other music styles have proven to be effective and powerful messengers. One such song is the anti-lynching song "Strange Fruit," written by Lewis Allen and made famous by Billie Holiday in the 1930s. Browse the Independent Lens Web site "Strange Fruit" to read about the fascinating history and legacy of this haunting song. Discus the lyrics and dissect the imagery of the song.

    Use the sites listed below to find other examples of protest songs from different eras of American history. Ask each student to choose two or three song verses to analyze. Have them copy the lyrics and explain in a paragraph why the song was written and what the lyrics call for. Then ask them to do the same for a song from the past five years that they feel is a protest song. Ask them to bring a recording of the song into class to share (be sure to approve the selection). Have each student explain to the class why their chosen protest song is so effective.

    Online Resources

    Independent Lens: Strange Fruit:
    http://www.pbs.org/independentlens/strangefruit

    Get Up, Stand Up: The Story of Pop and Protest:
    http://www.pbs.org/wnet/getupstandup/

    Protest Songs:
    http://www.sfheart.com/protest/index1.html

    Survey of American Popular Music: The Folk and Protest Movement:
    http://www.music.eku.edu/faculty/nelson/mus273/folk.html

    Print Resources

    Music and Social Movements: Mobilizing Traditions in the Twentieth Century by Ron Eyerman, Andrew Jamison, and Jeffrey C. Alexander

    More Recommended Resources

Published: September 2005