-Carolyn Christov-Bakargiev
This quote is a great summary of what the queer theory represents. Queer artists take ordinary, everyday objects and transform them into new pieces of art that call to question social standards and ideologies. We looked at a variety of artists to see just how vast queer art is. This form of art comes in a variety of ways including dance, sculpture, paintings, rooms, photographs, and group protests.
Artisits discussed:
Felix Gonzales-Torres
Pepon Osorio
Collier Schorr
Jeff Koons
Artists such as Osorio explain the stories behind their pieces of work as in this video:
http://www.pbs.org/cgi-registry/mediaplayer/videoplayer.cgi?playeraddress=videoplayer.cgi;media=%2Fart21%2FPO3_video_lo.rm%2C%2Fart21%2FPO3_video_hi.rm%2C%2Fart21%2FPO3_video_lo.mov%2C%2Fart21%2FPO3_video_hi.mov%2C%2Fart21%2FPO3_video_lo.wmv%2C%2Fart21%2FPO3_video_hi.wmv;title=%22En%20la%20Barberia%20no%20se%20Llora%20%28No%20Crying%20Allowed%20in%20the%20Barberhop%29%22%20by%20Pepon%20Osorio;widescreen=true;playertemplate=%2Fart21%2FTemplates%2Fart21_mp.html
We looked at the group Improv Everywhere as they silently but very publicly deomonstrate how ridiculous the social norm of "beauty" really is.
http://laughingsquid.com/111-shirtless-men-go-shopping-at-abercrombie-and-fitch/
In keeping with the theme we made our own Jeff Koons balloon animals. We had a demonstration at the front of the classroom and we practiced making them. To include other areas of cirriculum, we had each student think about one subjec they were passionate about. After thinking of adjectives that would describe this passion, we had them write with permanent markers these words they had come up with.
http://www.expertvillage.com/video/14883_basic-balloon-animals-moose.htm (we used this link to learn how to make other kinds of animals if the children want to be creative)
In keeping with the theme of unusual art (uncluding media), Dan taught us how to recycle plastic bags to make material and yarn. We looked at these artists who have done a lot with this new fabric:
- Cayce Zavaglia
- Joana Vasconcelos (crochet drawing on sculpture)
- Michael McDowell
- Emily Barletta
- Felieke Van Der Leest (jewelry)
- Dan Steinhilber (MOA exhibit)
- Sheila Pepe (radical knitting/subversive lace)
- Carol Hummel (Tree Cozy)
- Knitta (Hollywood)
- Mleak
- Cathy Kadan (clothing)
In order to make this yarn, you need to lay a bag lying down with one face up. Cut it into about one inch strips long ways to keep them as circular strips. Once you have them all cut out, loop them together to make it a long continous strip. You can later crotech with it or other various textiles.
This "elephant" below is a demonstration of how to make bag fabric. Between two piece of parchment paper, place a plasitc bag. Iron over it for a few seconds, then flip over and do the same. The bag will shrink and harden and once you have done one bag you can connect bags by ironing two bags together at once. Make sure you don't iron right on the plastic because it will melt onto your iron!
They don't have to always make shapes. Mine just happened to look like an elephant.
http://www.threadbanger.com/post/5599/recycled-plastic-bag-dresses
To explore the Queer Theory, I'd like to have my class choose one subject matter that is seen daily to create a project about (maybe a student's desk, or a school bus) and try to look at that mundane thing and recreate it or use it as inspiration to create something else. They could use various media. It would be really cool to see all the different ways to look at something that is seemingly mundane.
ReplyDeleteTo adapt this lesson to my own classroom I think it would be fun to find books that fit with the queer theory and read them in class. They could be illustrated unusually, told in an unusual way, or include something else unusual. One example could be The True Story of the Three Little Pigs by Jon Scieszka. This book tells a familiar story from a different perspective. There are many other options of books that could be used.
ReplyDeleteI loved your lesson! Great job! I thought the use of the Abercrombie store video was quite effective. I've never really thought about how random and strange it is to have the models in there-but yea, it's weird. Another thing we could include in this lesson is how women torture themselves, wearing uncomfortable shoes, to look cute! People don't think twice about how it. The purpose of a shoe is to provide comfortable protection- but many people throw that thought out the window, all for the sake of fashion. I admit I'm guilty of this myself and never really worried about it either, until my brother went off on a tangent one day. I think it's kind of funny now.
ReplyDeleteI loved the balloons! I've always wanted to learn how to make balloon animals. We could incorporate making balloons in animals in a biology class after learning about different animals. :) Great job ladies!
Wow this lesson was so great! I learned a ton! I really liked the quote from Carolyn Christov-Bakagiev- I felt that her definition of the Queer Theory was dead on! In my classroom to challenge the norm I would ask students to find objects in the classroom and have them analyze it. I want them to realize that an object does not only have one purpose. It can have multiple purposes. I would also want them to take this lesson home and discuss it with their families and bring back an object from home that has been normalized. The activity of balloon animals was great!
ReplyDeleteawesome lesson. I would definitely have my class create their own queer theory art, inspired by the art discussed in the lesson. I would encourage the students to come up with a very bizarre way to demonstrate an idea through art. I would tell them to really go the extra mile to find a totally new art medium that we do not use in class. I think this would really get them thinking outside the box about the queer theory.
ReplyDeleteThis lesson was so fun. I think it is especially applicable to Rube Goldberg science projects, and the way that a huge machine can be made out of everyday objects. I really love how this lesson can be fitted for any grade level.
ReplyDeleteYou guys did awesome!! I think in order to make this lesson my own I might reinforce the idea that the Queer theory includes art being expressed in many different and unusual ways. I might explain this to my students and then have them go throughout the week observing the world around them and trying to find ways in which the art around them can be "queer". This could include buildings, statues, clothes, anything.
ReplyDeleteYou guys did a great job. Personally for me, I would have showed different types of queer art forms, and the many different ways there are to make art, I know you had some pictures, I would just try to have forms in the class room.
ReplyDeleteThis lesson was wonderful! For some reason I have had a really hard time thinking about how i could incorporate this into my classroom, but something i think that would be cool after teaching this theory and lesson would be to teach the kids about sociology. Sociology is full of ironies and we could take the time to look around us at social ironies. I think it would be a cool project for the kids to apply to their lives. I was thinking we could talk about why we do what we do, why we talk the way we do, or act the way we do, and give them an assignment for a week to find a social norm that they do, and to break it. I would love for them to record how it feels to maybe stand up for someone when they are being picked on, or to offer help to someone that maybe might not need it, or compliment someone if they are a more shy personality. I think this would be a really cool activity for the beginning of the year to kind of break kids out of their comfort zone because we would all be doing it together and this would hopefully create a type of bond. Plus how fun would it be to dance around school instead of walk (another example)?! So great!
ReplyDeleteI think another idea for this lesson would be to have your class bring in objects from home and then have them recreate them in an unusual way through any median.
ReplyDeleteI think that a fun way to adopt this into my classroom would be to have a lesson on individuality. You could talk about how its okay to step out of the social mold and be the person that you want to be. I would then have a dress up day where kids can where something crazy to school that they feel allows them to break the traditional mold of dress.
ReplyDeleteGreat lesson! I think it would be interesting to talk about the differences of the definition of the word "queer" today, and what it was back then. That might be a good introduction to the lesson. Maybe even write a little paper on it or something. You can also talk about other words whose meanings have changed over time, and why that might be. What cultural and societal acceptances have changed, and what changes have been made in general?
ReplyDelete