Creator: Marisol Fila
Duration: 3 class periods
Published: Summer 2021
Overview
In this lesson students begin by discussing and reflecting on various definitions of art and artists’ roles to subsequently compare them with definitions of feminist art, along with the role and practice of feminist artists. Students are encouraged to reflect on the connections between art and social, historical and cultural issues, as well as differences across countries and art forms. From the work done in the two activities, in the final assignment students are asked to create their own feminist art manifesto that expresses their understandings and characterization of feminist art.
Keywords: Art, Feminist Art, History and Culture, Creative Work, Manifestos
Country sites: Brazil, India, Russia, USA
Learning Objectives
- Understand different definitions of art and artistic practices
- Reflect on different understandings of the artist’s role
- Understand the connections between art and social, historical and cultural issues
- Reflect on the connection between art and feminism
- Discuss different understandings and definitions of feminist art
- Reflect on different understandings of feminist artists’ roles and practice
- Reflect on the connections between feminist art and women’s lives and experiences
- Discuss the differences and similarities of feminist art and practice in different countries and socio-historical contexts
- Be able to expose main ideas and arguments of feminist art.
- Understand main characteristics and elements of feminist manifestos
- Build hands-on skills by producing a creative project
- Understand and apply the basic principles of presenting and exposing an argument
Resources
Activities
Activity One: What is Art? This first activity introduces the students to different definitions of art and the role of artists by comparing quotes from artists, writers, art critics and scholars with excerpts from interviews to feminist artists, scholars and art critics from the Global Feminisms Project. This activity builds the base for the second activity, which is focused on definitions and practices of feminist art. The activity is divided in two parts, in both parts the students alternate group work with whole class discussion and follow up. Duration: 50 minutes | Download Materials |
Activity Two: What is Feminist Art? This second activity builds on the work done in Activity 1, by presenting definitions and understandings of feminist art and the role and pratice of feminist artists. In the activity, students begin by reading and discussing quotes from feminist artists, scholars and writers to then work with new interview’s excerpts from the interview they have already worked with in Activity 1. Throughout the activity, students are encouraged to consider the relation between art and feminism and the importance of feminist art and feminist artists for the women’s movement, as well as how feminist art speaks of women’s lives and experiences and social and political issues as a whole. This activity builds the base for the work that will be done in the assignment. Duration: 50 minutes | Download Materials |
Assessment: A Feminist Art Manifesto The final assignment builds on the work done in Activity 1 and 2 by asking the students to create a feminist art manifesto. Students will be working in the same groups they formed for Activity 1 and 2. The manifesto can take different forms, it can be done as a text, audio, video or collage, among other forms of creative work. An introduction to feminist manifestos can be done in class in preparation for the assignment using the resources provided in this packet. After each group has produced their manifesto, they will be presenting it to the class and explaining their process as well as their definition of feminist art and how it is reflected in their manifesto. | Download Materials |
