Chapter 1
The Power of Art
Instructor’s Manual
Overview
In this chapter introduce the Power of Art. Students are beginning a journey and learning
a new language. Use the basic structure of the chapter as an outline for your first
lectures.
Sub Headers
• Looking at Art
o Methods and Materials
o Placing Art and Artists in Historical Context
o Art and Culture
• The Powers of Art: Bringing Faith to Life
o Prehistoric art and magical powers
o The power of Art for Tribal Peoples
o The Power of Religious Art
• Art Represents ideals
o Art as a declaration of Power
o The Power to Convey Immortality
o The Power to Change our Beliefs
o The Power to Shock
o The Power to Touch our Emotions
o The Power to Awaken Our Senses
o The power to Transform the Ordinary
• The Power of Art for the Artist
o Self Expression
o The Artist At Play
o The Artist’s Memory
• Defining Art
o Folk Art
o Craft and Decorative Art
o Design
o Art is Beauty
o Art is Originality and Creativity
o Ways to Understand Art
o The Artist and the Art
o Art and Art History
1
, • When we know more we see more
o Beginning the Journey
Terms:
applied arts
art
fine arts
folk art
found objects
graphic design
Important Cultural Properties
Impressionists
industrial design
National Treasures
rock art
seeing
sfumato lighting
Lecture #1
Discussion:
In Lecture #1 give an overview of art itself. Briefly review the history of art and discuss
first observation and seeing passively, at the thousands of images we are bombarded with
each day, versus actively looking at an object. Discuss art’s early prehistoric history
focusing specifically on art’s role in everyday prehistoric cultures and in religious and
spiritual life.
Class Questions/Prompts:
The Lure of Mona For the past 500 years, Leonardo da Vinci’s Mona Lisa has
captivated its viewers, recently attracting millions to the Louvre to see the work. Books,
movies, songs, poetry, and visual art have been created in response to the Mona Lisa.
Why? What does the Mona Lisa have that no other portrait has? Why do visitors of the
Louvre hastily pass by numerous masterpieces just to see one rather small painting (it’s
only 30” x 21”)? Discuss what makes Mona special. Compare this portrait of
Leonardo’s to other portraits he created, such as Ginevra de’Benci and Lady with an
Ermine. What does the Mona Lisa have that makes her so iconic that she stands out
above the rest? Read from sources such as Vasari’s Lives of the Artists and from the
recent publication Mona Poetica to find out what others have written about the Mona
Lisa, and view different versions of Mona (go to a site such as “The Mona Lisa on the
Web”).
2
,Who is Mona? The identity of the Mona Lisa is known to be that of Lisa del Giocondo,
a merchant’s wife. However, there are many different theories that rebuke this identity.
Some even speculate that the Mona Lisa is really a self-portrait of Leonardo da Vinci
himself. If the true identity is Lisa del Giocondo, why did Leonardo retain the portrait
instead of giving it his patrons? Why did Leonardo accept the commission from merely a
merchant instead of securing commissions from wealthier and more prominent patrons?
Recent news has suggested that Lisa was pregnant at the time of the commission due to
the significance of her hair being down and not pinned up, as most portraits of married
women would have depicted at the time.
Exercise #1
1. Analysis
a. Have students make observations on materials, methods,
cultural and historical context.
Figure 1-8 Hall of Bulls (left wall), Lascaux, c. 13,000 BC
2. Compare and Contrast
Figure 1-5 Interior of Ho-o-do or Phoenix Hall, Byodo-in Temple at Uji,
Japan, 1053
Figure 1-7 Venus of Willendorf, c. 30,000-25,000 BC
Lecture #2
Discussion:
In Lecture #2 discuss art as a representation of ideals. Examine specific images that
convey power and immortally, challenge our beliefs and inspire us.
Class Questions/Prompts:
Power Play The text addresses how art represents an ideal through many means: Art as
the declaration of power, the power to convey immortality, the power to change our
3
, beliefs, the power to shock, the power to touch our emotions, the power to awaken our
senses, and the power to transform the ordinary. What do you feel is the most important
power? Why?
What is Art? What is a Craft? What is art? is a great question of aesthetics. Discuss
this concept. What is art? What makes a work of art good? Does a work of art have to be
an original, one of a kind object, or can it be done as a series of multiples? What is the
distinction between art and craft? Can something that is useful or utilitarian be
considered a work of art? Why are the fine arts considered high form of art where the
applied arts be considered low forms of art?
The Role of Creativity What is creativity? In creativity tests designed by Paul Torrance,
four aspects of creativity were evaluated- originality, flexibility, elaboration, and fluency-
a form of divergent thinking. Do only artists have these traits? Is Andy Warhol’s 30 Are
Better Than One (Mona Lisa) a creative work of art? Why? Is using someone else’s
image (in this case Leonardo’s Mona Lisa) to create a work of art be considered original?
Can creativity be developed? Under what circumstances?
Exercise #2
1. Analysis
a. Have students make observations on materials, methods,
cultural and historical context.
Figure 1-20 Betye Saar, The Liberation of Aunt Jemima, 1972
1. Compare and Contrast
Figure 1-17 Hans Holbein the Younger, Henry VII, 1540
Figure 1-18 Renato Bertelli, Head of Mussolini (Continuous
Profile), 1935
4
The Power of Art
Instructor’s Manual
Overview
In this chapter introduce the Power of Art. Students are beginning a journey and learning
a new language. Use the basic structure of the chapter as an outline for your first
lectures.
Sub Headers
• Looking at Art
o Methods and Materials
o Placing Art and Artists in Historical Context
o Art and Culture
• The Powers of Art: Bringing Faith to Life
o Prehistoric art and magical powers
o The power of Art for Tribal Peoples
o The Power of Religious Art
• Art Represents ideals
o Art as a declaration of Power
o The Power to Convey Immortality
o The Power to Change our Beliefs
o The Power to Shock
o The Power to Touch our Emotions
o The Power to Awaken Our Senses
o The power to Transform the Ordinary
• The Power of Art for the Artist
o Self Expression
o The Artist At Play
o The Artist’s Memory
• Defining Art
o Folk Art
o Craft and Decorative Art
o Design
o Art is Beauty
o Art is Originality and Creativity
o Ways to Understand Art
o The Artist and the Art
o Art and Art History
1
, • When we know more we see more
o Beginning the Journey
Terms:
applied arts
art
fine arts
folk art
found objects
graphic design
Important Cultural Properties
Impressionists
industrial design
National Treasures
rock art
seeing
sfumato lighting
Lecture #1
Discussion:
In Lecture #1 give an overview of art itself. Briefly review the history of art and discuss
first observation and seeing passively, at the thousands of images we are bombarded with
each day, versus actively looking at an object. Discuss art’s early prehistoric history
focusing specifically on art’s role in everyday prehistoric cultures and in religious and
spiritual life.
Class Questions/Prompts:
The Lure of Mona For the past 500 years, Leonardo da Vinci’s Mona Lisa has
captivated its viewers, recently attracting millions to the Louvre to see the work. Books,
movies, songs, poetry, and visual art have been created in response to the Mona Lisa.
Why? What does the Mona Lisa have that no other portrait has? Why do visitors of the
Louvre hastily pass by numerous masterpieces just to see one rather small painting (it’s
only 30” x 21”)? Discuss what makes Mona special. Compare this portrait of
Leonardo’s to other portraits he created, such as Ginevra de’Benci and Lady with an
Ermine. What does the Mona Lisa have that makes her so iconic that she stands out
above the rest? Read from sources such as Vasari’s Lives of the Artists and from the
recent publication Mona Poetica to find out what others have written about the Mona
Lisa, and view different versions of Mona (go to a site such as “The Mona Lisa on the
Web”).
2
,Who is Mona? The identity of the Mona Lisa is known to be that of Lisa del Giocondo,
a merchant’s wife. However, there are many different theories that rebuke this identity.
Some even speculate that the Mona Lisa is really a self-portrait of Leonardo da Vinci
himself. If the true identity is Lisa del Giocondo, why did Leonardo retain the portrait
instead of giving it his patrons? Why did Leonardo accept the commission from merely a
merchant instead of securing commissions from wealthier and more prominent patrons?
Recent news has suggested that Lisa was pregnant at the time of the commission due to
the significance of her hair being down and not pinned up, as most portraits of married
women would have depicted at the time.
Exercise #1
1. Analysis
a. Have students make observations on materials, methods,
cultural and historical context.
Figure 1-8 Hall of Bulls (left wall), Lascaux, c. 13,000 BC
2. Compare and Contrast
Figure 1-5 Interior of Ho-o-do or Phoenix Hall, Byodo-in Temple at Uji,
Japan, 1053
Figure 1-7 Venus of Willendorf, c. 30,000-25,000 BC
Lecture #2
Discussion:
In Lecture #2 discuss art as a representation of ideals. Examine specific images that
convey power and immortally, challenge our beliefs and inspire us.
Class Questions/Prompts:
Power Play The text addresses how art represents an ideal through many means: Art as
the declaration of power, the power to convey immortality, the power to change our
3
, beliefs, the power to shock, the power to touch our emotions, the power to awaken our
senses, and the power to transform the ordinary. What do you feel is the most important
power? Why?
What is Art? What is a Craft? What is art? is a great question of aesthetics. Discuss
this concept. What is art? What makes a work of art good? Does a work of art have to be
an original, one of a kind object, or can it be done as a series of multiples? What is the
distinction between art and craft? Can something that is useful or utilitarian be
considered a work of art? Why are the fine arts considered high form of art where the
applied arts be considered low forms of art?
The Role of Creativity What is creativity? In creativity tests designed by Paul Torrance,
four aspects of creativity were evaluated- originality, flexibility, elaboration, and fluency-
a form of divergent thinking. Do only artists have these traits? Is Andy Warhol’s 30 Are
Better Than One (Mona Lisa) a creative work of art? Why? Is using someone else’s
image (in this case Leonardo’s Mona Lisa) to create a work of art be considered original?
Can creativity be developed? Under what circumstances?
Exercise #2
1. Analysis
a. Have students make observations on materials, methods,
cultural and historical context.
Figure 1-20 Betye Saar, The Liberation of Aunt Jemima, 1972
1. Compare and Contrast
Figure 1-17 Hans Holbein the Younger, Henry VII, 1540
Figure 1-18 Renato Bertelli, Head of Mussolini (Continuous
Profile), 1935
4
