Themes of Visual Culture

As we have established, visual culture is an important aspect in the world of art making. In this posting we will go over some of the 6 main themes that children most seem to be influenced by. The 6 themes are as followed:

1) Science Fact & Science Fiction

2) Nature & the Environment

3) Local Communities, Family & Friends

4) The Global Community

5) Fantasy, History & Legends

6) Non Objective Art & Design

As stated in the beginning of the chapter, ". . .since learning is motivated best if interest is already established the child. One of the great joys of teaching art is being able to see children become immersed in learning through something that captures their interest and imagination" (1 Boughton Freeman). This is a big reason visual culture is so essential in the teaching curriculum. Kids use what they are surrounded by continuously as they grow into their adapt mindsets. Below I have provided an image of one of my current students, Kailey. She had brought me a art project she had previously worked on & continued to explain the context behind it. She had stated the piece was involving the things she loved most: water, sun, her cat, dirt and the sky. My first thought was how enthralled she seemed to be by nature & the environment which is one of the 6 themes mentioned previously. As a 3rd grader I see her enjoy things such as mud pies, stick forts and dirt volcanoes. Seeing children's minds actively working and using their imagination is just another factor in the importance of Visual Culture. One main hobby for students in the current times is to watch their favorite movies/TV shows. These kids develop a personal relationship to the characters and these characters act as role models in a way and can have a heavy influence on the way a child may think or act. With a more in depth understanding of what they are seeing and hearing around them students will better be able to retain and apply visual culture to their everyday lives.

Example of Fantasy theme:

Marvel Avengers End Game Movie Poster

As teachers we should create a curriculum that interests students minds in order to keep them engaged. This way students can connect more within their level of interest and remember the lesson being taught. Doing this will allow students to create great works of art and motivation in creating more artwork. In addition, teaching students how to depict their emotion through art is a way for them to express themselves and connect on a deeper level. This way students are able to recognize their emotions and it’s beneficial to their mental health. Connectivity and meaning is a way for students to develop interest in art.  

Boughton, D., & Freedman, K. Lesson Planning. Elementary Art Education: A Practical Approach to Teaching Visual Culture. New York, NY: McGraw Hill