Blog Entry #2 View and Respond to Art

Laocoon and his Sons

1.What big ideas does your MUMAA artwork contain?

This work contains big ideas about story, perspective/ point of view, characterization, myth, defining/climatic moments, history, storytelling

2.How would you utilize the artwork in a “juicy” Tiger Artist lesson?

I would use this piece to talk about how different points of view can change how someone looks at a situation or work of art.  The story of Laocoon is essentially that he tried to warn the people of Troy that the Trojan horse should not be let inside the city walls and so Poseidon sent snakes to kill him and his two sons.  The people saw this as an omen and the horse must be good as the gods protected it so brought it inside, leading to their ultimate demise.  Students would be asked to look at this work from the characters in the pieces perspective and how those not depicted saw the situation.  Laocoon saw his actions as something good for the betterment of his people but because of Poseidon’s intervention, the people saw it only as a bad thing and did the opposite of what Laocoon had pleaded them to do.  Students would also look at how history, myths, and different stories about this piece throughout history could change the meaning of the piece and what their own knowledge about Greek mythology brings to the table.

3.Referencing your reading in the Walker text, develop essential questions that your students could investigate

·         How does the storyteller/artist's point of view impact the meaning of a story/image?

·         Who’s stories usually get told and why?

·         Why are various points of view important?

·         How does background knowledge affect the story?

·         What kinds of stories might be told if someone other than the main character tells them?

4. Develop key artistic concepts connected to the Big Idea contained in the work from which TA students could make meaning and build art-making knowledge.

Point of view is about

·         Purpose

o   Why is the story being told

·         Plasticity

o   The ability to change one's views, assumptions, or opinions in light of new information.

·         Empathy

o   Multiple points of view increase our understanding of people and situations

·         Characterization

o   Visual tools or symbols we use to convey traits