Art Education On The Road To Globalization PDF Download

Globalization is often perceived as a force that is creating a hybrid culture where societies are mutually influencing one another and growing together as one. Students today face a constant bombardment of visual images that influences their visual culture and identity. In my research project, I investigated the following questions: What are the benefits and challenges to educators in the era of globalization? What occurs when students in Chicago, USA and Cairo, Egypt explore their own local visual culture, and compare it to the other through a critical cultural exchange? How can students explore global perspectives in the art classroom? And how can the educator create an environment and curriculum that allows for this exploration? My critical action research took place over two months with two groups of students. The first group of students was a public charter high school in Chicago serving predominately low-income Latino students. The second group was a private international high school in Cairo, Egypt, serving a majority of the elite Egyptian class of Cairo. Methods I used in my data collection included fieldwork notes, interviews with the cooperating teachers and students, videotaped critiques and discussions, pre-assessments, post- assessments, reflections, and students' artwork. The students completed the unit by participating in a live Skype critique. Through the collection of data I discovered that the students' ability to develop global perspectives was improved by their critical analysis of their local visual culture and how it affects their personal and national identity in a globalized world. From this understanding, they were able to critique and compare other students' visual culture in relation to their own, which generated a dialogue around globalization. My results suggest that if students participate in meaningful pedagogy in the art classroom, they will be able to engage in critical discourse about globalization outside the classroom. In an era of global uncertainty, it is essential that students learn and connect with one another worldwide in order to better understand cultural complexities, and how these global connections influence their surroundings. Through critical discussion and reflection about the student's lived experiences of globalization and visual culture, the art classroom can become a place for students to participate in global interactions that can contribute to productive world citizenship.