Critical Thinking: Art Criticism as a Tool for Analysing and Evaluating Art, Instructional Practice and Social Justice Issues

Abstract

Recent educational initiatives have emphasised the importance of fostering critical thinking skills in today's students in order to provide strategies for becoming successful problem solvers throughout life. Other scholars advocate the use of critical thinking skills on the grounds that such tools can be used effectively when considering social justice issues. In this article we make the case that the teaching and learning strategies of analytic art criticism can serve as fundamental tools used not just for the study of art but can also centre critical thinking and analysis in all aspects of the art education curriculum. Our argument begins with a review of literature on the use of art criticism for critical thinking and meaning making. Then we describe our efforts to address critical thinking with our students by using the critical analysis model of art criticism and applying it to learning environments for forming reasoned judgments about teaching and learning, and also as springboard for examining social justice issues. We believe that promoting this form of affectively driven, intellectually guided critical thinking makes our students potentially more successful not just in their encounters with art and education, but also in their lives as human beings beyond school.

An investigating on the ritual elements influencing factor of decorative art: based on Guangdong's ancestral hall architectural murals text mining

“…As a vehicle for visual narratives, murals function as Educationality, Familiality, and Sociability. In addition to the granting of knowledge, modern art education focuses on the transmission of cultural values [83]. In the digital age, traditional art forms are at risk of being marginalized as they appear weak in comparison with the attractiveness of modern technology and media [84].…”

Management of Artistic Practice Pedagogies of Interdisciplinary Art Students With Critical Analysis Learning Method

“…This situation will contribute positively to students gaining artistic production skills in the art education process. Küpeli (2014) stated in his research that the examination of various artists and their works contributes to the candidates in the art education process to put forward different perspectives and original artistic compositions, Parkins (1994) stated that the examination of artworks encourages candidates in art education to naturally stimulate their thinking activities, Broome et al, (2018) stated that the examination of artists and artworks provides thinking strategies by using art criticism in their research, and this is in line with our study about the importance of examining artists and their works to create a supportive platform in the artistic production process.…”

Integration Construction of Teaching Resource Library for Art and Design Majors under Interactivity Orientation

“…It examines how the intellectual theories of the syllabus are assimilated by the students and transformed into their styles for displaying in the creation and design of artworks. Literature [18] emphasizes the importance of critical thinking in the teaching of art and design, which can help students rationally summarize and reflect on the shortcomings and deficiencies in the learning process. Literature [19] describes a hybrid art and design teaching program that combines art practice and digital technology to provide students with a platform for art and design practice that is close to the real world, improves the interactivity of teaching and students' practical ability, and promotes students' thinking about art and design practice and knowledge.…”