Assessing how artists’ responses, such as poetry or artwork, can aid interpretation of an event or historical context.
Art as primary source
Recommended Duration:
One full class session.
Objective:
Consider artistic and literary works as primary sources for both history and the intersection between art and literature.
Outcome:
By examining artists’ books and other artwork items, students will have a broader understanding of what a primary source can be and what it can do.
Activity
Students will receive a handout asking them to examine an item with particular attention to the context and point of view of the artist(s), the text author (if relevant), and what message they are trying to convey through the piece.
Standards (based on Guidelines for Primary Source Literacy):
- Critically evaluate the perspective of the creator(s) of a primary source, including tone, subjectivity, and biases, and consider how these relate to the original purpose(s) and audience(s) of the source. (GPSL 4B)
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