Duchamp & Dadaism
Age Group; 7-10 years old
Time: 1 hour
Objectives:
Materials: colored pencils, magazines, white cardstock paper, glue sticks, watercolor, crayons
Time: 1 hour
Objectives:
- Understand importance of Dadaism
- Exercise creativity in manipulating art
- Express emotions regarding personal or social issues through art
Materials: colored pencils, magazines, white cardstock paper, glue sticks, watercolor, crayons
The first half of the hour was a short intro to Duchamp and Dadaism. Then I transitioned into how Dada is considered anti-art. We discussed the differences between fine/high and anti-art. A strong example was looking at Leonardo da Vinci's Mona Lisa and comparing it to Duchamp's version.
The first activity involved the students creating their own version of anti-art. They used the same colors but change a few things in order to be humorous or satirical. |
The second half hour concentrated on art as a political/social statement. Dada art depicted the negative reactions to the horrors of World War I. I asked the students to think about some issues that make them angry or sad. It could be bullying, poverty, the Newtown school shooting, sick family members, or homelessness.
Students talked about how they feel about these issues and used magazine clippings and other art mediums to create a collage. As a conclusion, the students presented their artwork and realized that art can be a powerful tool for expressing humor and other emotions, but also for a political/social purpose. |