Towell/Smilan and Hellman Articles Response

These two articles present an interesting approach to how picture books could be used by art educators.  At the beginning of both articles, the internet is mentioned as a growing resource where information can be exchanged between cultures.  I believe the internet in itself is a great tool for any teacher, especially art teachers, to use in her lessons involving students to research new topics and obtain new ideas or inspiration.  However, the articles focus on using picture books as an important way to educate students about different cultures and by studying the illustrations to learn more about art itself.  I believe an crucial aspect of the Towell/Smilan article is the fact that different people interpret symbols and meanings differently based on their individual experiences and cultures.  In the classroom, it is important to establish an aura of respect between the students themselves and the teacher, where everyone's opinion can be stated without judgment or ridicule.  Students are each going to have a differing interpretation about things, especially in an art classroom.  Art teachers should welcome these differences and encourage students to share their experiences with each other so everyone can benefit from what they know.  In this aspect, multicultural picture books can be an important tool for everyone to learn about a different culture other than their own, and to open up discussion about people's cultures to broaden others' perspectives.  I agree with a point the Hellman article made that "today's readers do not read postmodern picture books as much as they experience them" (p. 8).  The teacher should choose books that allow the students to"experience" these different ideas and cultures as a class by using both the written text and the visual aspects included in the illustrations.  The article also states that "no point of view is privileged" (p. 11).  I believe it is the teacher's responsibility to emphasize just because a culture is different than what one is used to, it does not make it better or worse.  The use of picture books should be used in a well-rounded art classroom to educate students in a positive manner while teaching them about respect and appreciation for culture.

Your Place or Mine? Article Response

I have been around children's books for my entire life.  My own childhood is filled of memories of my mother reading to me, and since then my three younger siblings have enjoyed story time as well.  The article Your Place or Mine? presents an interesting way of analyzing children's books through the eyes of an art educator.  The authors focus on multicultural picture books and discuss the way children are exposed to the themes of place, culture/critical pedagogy and art through the values the books portray.  The book discussed in the article is titled Where Fireflies Dance, and is used as an example of how these themes fit into Mexican culture and how the illustrations enhance the experience of the reader.  In my years of being read children's books and of reading them myself, I was always distantly aware of the particular cultures and themes I encountered, however I never analyzed a book in the descriptive way that the article presents. I agree with the thoughts of the article about the benefits of integrated pedagogy in connecting many ideas to enhance the learning experience instead of solely focusing on one subject.  This approach will also allow students as well as educators to "integrate the students' own experiences and sense of local and historical place" (p. 119).  The students' own community can be a great resource of experiences for those who are inspired by the reflection of other cultures and groups.