Among the criticism levied against modern education is the alarming decrease in historical literacy. The need to understand history demands us to recall George Santayana’s often quoted, “Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it.”
Good Stuff Happens in 1:1 Meetings: Why you need them and how to do them well
Fine Art: A Window for Historical Literacy
1. Fine Art A Window for Historical
Literacy
BY
http://isaacsonseries.com/
2. Among the criticism levied against modern education is the alarming
decrease in historical literacy. The need to understand history demands
us to recall George Santayana’s often quoted, “Those who cannot
remember the past are condemned to repeat it.” President Harry
Truman, considered the best read president, said similarly, “The only
thing new under the sun is the history that you have not read.”
Finding creative and effective methods to restore historical literacy is
paramount to regaining an understanding of the cause and effects of
social movements and recognizing landmark dates and eras that have
shaped human events and portend the future.
3. As a significant body of research finds that the juxtaposition of imagery
and language significantly increases the command and recall of
information, the vast treasury of fine art offers a dynamic tool to
enhance historical knowledge. To illustrate the potential of art to both
instill and enliven history, consider how the powerfully affecting painting
by J.M.W. Turner, “The Slave Ship”, formerly titled “Slavers Throwing
Overboard the Dead and Dying—Typhon Coming On,” 1840, offers a
visual narrative that symbolizes the historical opposition to slavery.
Turner portrays a ship in the background of his work, pitching through a
ferocious sea of stormy water. Chained human forms toss and struggle
in the wild currents, sinking below the violent waves in the painting’s
foreground. Turner’s quick, frenzied brush strokes capture the intensity
of the event. In measuring the personal effect of this iconic work, Mark
Twain observed, …”to see the natural effects in the lurid explosion of
mixed smoke and flame and crimson sunset… recoils me.” The floating
iron chains of manacled hands and arms nakedly exposed the horrors of
the slave trade.
4. Turner’s painting was inspired by a horrific incident in 1781, when the
captain of a slave ship ordered 133 slaves thrown into the churning
ocean to gain the insurance funds awarded when slaves, considered
property, where lost at sea. Although slavery in Britain had been
abolished in 1833, it was still globally widespread, including in the
United States. Turner’s powerful rhetorical image was aimed at
stopping this persisting global travesty.
History possesses organic and consequential visual narratives that
express the story of humankind. Fresh perspectives are urgently
needed to enliven history. Great images vividly capture and boldly
imprint impactful events that present telling views of the history that
has shaped us.
5. The Magic Museum, The Isaacson Series in Youth Literature - An
enchanting children's book that tells the story of a 12-year old
skateboarder (Jack) and a ballerina (Jacqueline) who whispers to him
from an Edgar Degas painting in a fine arts museum. A wonderful way
for parents to introduce fine art and engage children (ages 8 to 12 years
old) in the art of visual storytelling and imagination.
For More Information on The Magic Museum Book, visit -
http://www.isaacsonseries.com