Date of Graduation

1998

Document Type

Thesis

Degree Type

MA

Department

Art Education

Committee Chair

William J. Thomas

Abstract

In planning and preparing a project for a Masters degree in Art Education my concerns and intentions were to design and implement a learning experience that would teach an art history topic and involve children in theatre production from the beginning stages to final production, integrating theatre as well as art history into the elementary art curriculum. This would involve designing a production in which the subject would be based in the area of art while the vehicle for the subject would be live theatre. Through this project I hoped to create a better and more memorable understanding of the life and work of an artist by having older students acting out characters in such a way as to explain the artist as both a person with real feelings and ideas as well as providing explanation about the work of the artist by delving into the real life characters portrayed in the artists’ work. The value of this project will be in its ability to provide the opportunity for a higher level of understanding of the life of the artist by bringing him face to face with the audience while also introducing children to an area of fine arts they may otherwise not have the experience to participate in as theatre is not offered in the elementary curriculum. While the process and production of theatre in itself is an immediate and concrete goal, I view this process as a vehicle by which higher levels of critical thinking can be acheived as children create personalities for characters such as the artist and people who were portrayed by the artist as they write about the characters and explain the artists’work to the audience. The audience will benefit by having the chance to see this artist and his work through the eyes of their peers. The project is meant to involve the entire school population either in the production of the play or as an audience. To create the most professional production possible I used the visiting artist program through Monongalia County Schools to hire professionals to assist the students in their work. The areas in which I felt we would need the most help are in the areas of playwriting and direction of the actors in the play.

Download

Share

COinS