Creative Write-Ups

1 

 

 

Legally Blond

Jason Inerarity 

I decided to go in a different direction, and I chose legally blonde, the movie, or the musical. In high school, I actually participated in the musical when my school presented it. That is where my love for music and the arts grew especially the theatre portion of it. Not to mention the message behind the music that is almost always overlooked easily because of its humor.

Sometimes we do certain actions with a singular thought in our minds. As Elle did when she went to Harvard to pursue a career as a lawyer with the goal of winning back Warner (her former fiancé). However, in the process, she ends up discovering herself and realizing that people’s opinions of her don’t have to define her.

 

Despite the enormous amount of pink, she wears she’s still brilliant and ended up graduating at the top of her class in a very prestigious school. While events like those are less likely to occur on average it still shows a good message, about how only you can define who and what you are. The music and the creativity behind it just make me appreciate it so much more.

 

2

 

 

Hedwig and the Angry Inch

Karli Feinstein 

       Hedwig and the angry inch is a screen play turned movie, directed and written by John Cameron Mitchell. The movie was released on January 19th, 2001. Hedwig and the angry inch is about a German immigrant who had a sex change operation and moved to America. When hedwig comes to America he becomes an “internationally ignored" rockstar, while searching for love and fame. The movie musical tells hedwig’s story of survival with each different song. 

        The movie represents finding your other half within yourself. One of the main songs in the movie is called “Origin of love” hedwig sings this song when reminiscing about his past love, tommy gnosis. Tommy had screwed hedwig over in the past so hedwig questions “is his other half is still out there?” As the movie continues hedwig finds himself without having found love again with tommy gnosis. “Hedwigs two halves had made peace with each other in the same body, hedwig is now a whole person with her male and female side balanced (Scott Miller).” The movie can really speak to transgender people struggling with their own identity, while trying to find love within themselves and others. For this piece I can teach a lesson to children about self acceptance in themselves and others, no matter the gender or race of the person. 

        This movie personally speaks to me becomes it reminds me of times with my family. I watched this movie as a kid and was enamored by the amazing music and screenplay describing such a difficult Topic in the most beautiful way. Even though I’m not transgender myself, I resonate with those looking for acceptance in their own minds. I think acceptance of non-typical standards in this society needs to be accounted for. I can teach my students to love themselves and others no matter what. I can plan class activities with drawings to see how my children would describe themselves through art. I would then have the class do a ritual chant expressing their acceptance to everyone in the world.

 

3

 

 

Art Appreciation: What, How and Why

Alexander Francois

 

In this short film Dear Basketball by Kobe Bryant, he talks about his love of basketball. His dedication to the craft and how he wants to thank basketball for everything it gave him. Kobe writes this in his final season of basketball and acknowledges that it is time he retires and finds a new passion to spur him forward. 

 

This video serves as a message that you must dream big and have tremendous dedication and love for your dream to accomplish it. It shows the extreme dedication of one man and what he was able to accomplish. 

 

I would ask my students to write down the dreams they would like to accomplish in their lifetime and what actions they could take every day to achieve them.

 

4

  The night sky depicted by van Gogh in the Starry Night painting is brimming with whirling clouds, shining stars, and a bright crescent moon. The (...) 

Starry Night Delaney Edwards

I chose Vincent Van Gogh’s Starry Night painting. Vincent Van Gogh was born on March 30, 1853, in Groot-Zundert, The Netherlands. He passed on July 29, 1890, in Auvers-Sur-Oise, France. This painting was made in 1889 from his memory. This painting has an “emphasis on the interior, and emotional life that is clear in his swirling, tumultuous depiction of the sky - a radical departure from his previous, more naturalistic landscaped.”

This painting has whirling clouds, a bright crescent moon, and shining stars. The setting he created is relatable to its viewers. The swirls in the sky are what directs the viewer's eye around this painting.

The starry night depicts hope. It looks like Van Gogh was trying to show that it's still possible to see the light even in the dark night. The shining stars in the sky show that there will always be a light guiding you. “The starry night shows the vast power of nature, and the church spire and cypress tree - representing man and nature - both point to the heavens.

In a class, I would teach my students about the deeper meaning behind this painting. I would then have them create their own painting/drawing and share with the class the deeper meaning behind it. You can paint something and have it mean so much to you, but unless you explain that to people, they won’t understand. 

 

5

 

 “A Sunday Afternoon On the Island of La Grande Jatte.”

Jillian Ferreira

 

I chose to do my reflection on Georges Seurat “A Sunday Afternoon On the Island of La Grande Jatte.” It was created in 1884-1886 using oil paint. This painting is now described as Seurat’s greatest work, and one of the most remarkable paintings of the nineteenth century. This painting took an extensive amount of time with Seurat re-workinging the original as well as completing many preliminary drawings and oil sketches. Through this painting, Seurat tackled the issues of color, light, and form. He would put tiny dabs of colors, through optical blending, to create a more luminous look. The shadows that are painted make the figures in the painting silent and enigmatic. 

 

    I chose this painting because I think it tells so much, all on one canvas. It just looks as if it is a casual Sunday with people enjoying the outdoors, but there is so many other easy to depict things happening. It is shadowed but sunlit, it is quiet and still but also noisy, it is beautiful but also mysterious. There are an endless amount of ways to look at this painting and that is what makes it special. 

 

    Also the technique he used to create this piece is called pointillism. Pointillism is when small dots of colors are applied to the canvas in order to form an image. Beurat used this technique because he felt that it would better focus on the color and light of the image. Beurat using pointillism is a very impressive technique and another reason why I chose this painting. 

 

    If I were to use this painting to teach a lesson, I would have my students create a drawing of what they do on Sunday Afternoon. It will allow the students to be creative by drawing something that they have done on a Sunday and they can depict it how they want. It will be good to see how the students draw a day in their life. I will also teach them about pointillism so they can appreciate Beurat's painting as much as I do. I would be excited to see how the students imagine their Sunday afternoons and how they get their thoughts across through art. 

 

 

6

 

 

 

 Mama Mia

Stephanie Mosberg 

I chose the musical show Mama Mia because the characters, music, scenery are uplifting, timeless and I love singing the songs. The musical premiered in London's West End in 1999 and went on to open on Broadway in 2001. The show was popular before it was adapted into the movie that we love today. The show's message is that families come in all different types and embrace them all. As the main character, Sofia is getting married on a Greek Island, and each of her mother's boyfriends arrives with love and support. The musical lyrics are catchy and allow the audience to fall in love with each character.

I would teach a lesson about how families come in all different combinations, and we need to appreciate our differences. I would have my high school seniors watch the show Mama Mia and reflect on the attitudes, acceptance, and support given to the bride by each male character.  Next, my students would use either imagination to draw a picture of their future wedding and add family members most significant in their lives. I would have them share their artwork with the class. 

I feel that all ages can relate to the songs and characters in Mama Mia. The lyrics make one want to sing along and get up to dance. The Scenery in Greece and the beautiful island make our emotions sore, and the theme of different types of families seem not only possible but exciting.

 

 

7

 

 

 

Anastasia: A Superficial Glimpse of Soviet Russia

Madison Beovides

Anastasia, the Broadway musical, written by Terrence Mcnallay, was a piece that had a large impact on me when i was younger. Anastasia had been my favorite movie as a young child and seeing it come to life on the Broadway stage was somewhat like a dream come true. The music and lyrics, written by Lynn Ahrens and Stephen Flaherty, the same people who wrote the score for the movie, transport you into another world as you listen. The costume design, lyrics, and scenery, allow for the viewer to be transported into the world of the characters. 

I was able to see this musical on Broadway in 2018, and it has had a lasting impact on me. Not only was i able to see a beautiful performace live, but I was able to see something that meant so much to me as a child, in real life. The fluidity of the characters on stage and the gracefulness of the music made it hard to remember that i was still sitting in my seat and not a part of the musical myself.

This musical has the opportunity to teach children so many things. Songwriting and story-telling are two key concepts that could be learned by students if studied. Although it is a fictional story, bits of history make their way into the play. A superficial glimpse of soviet Russia is seen and could be used to educate students, while still keeping interest through the use of songs and bright colored set pieces. The death of the Romanov family is also depicted in a way that would be more suitable for a younger class. Pieces of the musical itself could be educational in and outside of the arts.

 

8

 

 

 

 Flower Power: Simple and Fun

Cristina Padron

 
I chose the painting Flower Power by Romero Britto. This painting had very bright colors and uses many different shapes. It also includes many different lines. It is a relatively simple painting and a fun way for students to explore shapes. I also like this painting because Britto is a local Miami artist so his work is well known by students and his work is inspired by what he sees in his Miami community so it will be relatable to students. Britto’s work is also very simple yet very fun.

            I can use this painting in my classroom in many different ways. I can ask the students what shapes and what type of lines the students see in the painting. Britto also uses a lot of symmetry in his work so I can also use his painting to explain this concept to students. I can also ask the student why they think Britto used the colors and shapes that he did. 

            After we discuss this, I can have my students create their own Britto inspired painting using the shapes and lines they want to you use. This will allow not only me to asses that the students are understanding shapes and the paintings, but it also allows them to be creative and use their own imagination. I will not make them use any certain shape or color and will allow them to explore and draw what they feel.

 

9

 

 

 

James Turrell: Perception and Wonder

Jayci Eskalyo

My favorite artist is James Turrell. James Turrell is an American light and space artist who uses his creativity to encapsulate millions of people. His work can be seen in the homes of celebrities such as Kendall Jenner. His work is inspiring to me because it uses something so natural, light, to create vibrant and unique pieces of art. He focuses on perception and the wonder that goes along with it.

“Ganzfeld” is an exhibit done by James Turrell that is very inspiring to me. It looks endless and instead of art only being concentrated on a 12 by 12 canvas, his art takes up a room. It makes me just feel like I am in the moment. There is a lot of science that goes behind his work in order for it to be portrayed in the most brilliant way.

If I were to be teaching about James Turrell to a class, I would start by turning all of the lights off and shining a neon light. I think that it would be very intriguing as to how one light can lead to an abundance of creativity. I next would show a video about James Turrell and then show a video about his work. His work is not just a piece of art that hangs on the wall and gets a glance here and there, his work is an experience and once you see it, you will not be able to take your eyes away. 

 

 10

 

Classical Music: A Tool in the Classroom

Paulina Stein

I decided to pick a classical song as my art piece: Piano Concerto No. 2 in C minor, Op. 18: I. Moderato by Sergei Rachmanioff- Kahatia Buniatishvili.  It is one of my favorite art pieces as it has the potential of helping my mind relax. I am a very anxious person that struggles with it every single day and I have found classical music to help me relax but also change my train of thought. I would use this as a tool in my classroom to help my students unwind before a big exam, a big project or even after a long day of classes. 

I think it is important to implement the well-being of students and make sure their mental health is being taken care of. This piece empowers me and makes me open my eyes in moments of stress. This piano concerto could also have so many meanings behind the sounds. Anyone can make a story of what the song means and how they want to interpret it which is a great tool for all different people struggling with different things. I know that everytime i listen to it, I always find a different story that comes with how I am feeling and what happened through my day. It is 9 minutes and leaves a lot of time for various thinking patterns.

Everyone struggles with something, whether big or small, but the classroom should acknowledge all the battles that kids might be going through. This new generation of social media has brought major mental illnesses to the table as people use them as comparing tools. We need to stop comparing everyone because if we all looked alike, the world would be a very sad place! We should all embrace our differences rather than put people down for them. 

Teachers should be aware of everything coming into play when teaching because there is also a lot of support that should be provided.  Even talking about subjects that could help students better understand their differences is supportive. I believe art should be incorporated more in classrooms because it is so important to humans to understand one another. We need kids to keep their imagination in art and be able to have stories behind every piece. We want well rounded, educated adults that have a large imagination. Music is a great way for students to build a story and help themselves through music.

We all should use art to our advantage!

 

 11

 

 Balance: Fall's Symmetry and Beauty

Xiaoyi Gu

The painting I choose is about the trees in fall. It has the element of balance in art. I believe differnet elements of  art have their own beauty, including balance. The painting is symmetrical and strongly expresses the beatuty of fall. Although it has red, yellow those dark colors, it still transmits the signal of hope and new day.

In terms of art, balance refers to the overall distribution of visual weight in a composition. Each object that we include in a work carries with it a visual weight. When we add an element to one side of our composition, we’ll like need to add another or several elements to balance the visual weight on the other side.

If I teach, I will let studnets go outside and find the object which has balance element. They will use the drawing tool they like to depict and create. After finishing the work, they will discuss the topic they want to express.

 

12

 

 

 Dear Evan Hansen: Conflicts, Main ideas, and Mental Health

Jamie Karen

 

The arts has a vital role in the classroom.  Music, fine arts, dance, acting, and performing are great tools to utilize in the classroom.  Broadway musicals have a lasting affect on the audience witnessing the intricate ideas, serious themes, heartwrenching scenes, and amazing choreography.  The broadway show Dear Evan Hansen has a lot of value in the classroom.   

Dear Evan Hansen is about a boy named Evan Hansen who is lonely.  Evan has no friends, and he feels invisible to everyone.  He experiences depression and actually attempts to take his life.  His therapist recommends that he writes letters to himself as a way for him to utilize positive psychology and positive self-talk.  Connor Murphy found one of these letters.  

He realizes that his sister was mentioned in it (that is Evan's love interest) and Connor takes his own life.  This show takes us on an adventure about how Evan keeps Connor's memory alive.  With meaningful, beautiful songs and lyrics, amazing acting and performing, and intricate choreography and direction, Dear Evan Hansen is an emotional and touching show with hit actor Ben Platt. 

Dear Evan Hansen demonstrates complex and serious themes which include friendship, grief, mental health, and social media.  As Ben Platt takes us on a journey through Evan Hansen's high school social life, the audience begins to fully understand the hardships Evan as well as many high schoolers experience in their teens.  Mental health is becoming a highly discussed topic in schools and society.  In Dear Evan Hansen, several characters are experiencing hardships and obstacles with their mental health as they are facing extreme depression and social anxiety.  

The audience witnesses Evan Hansen's mental health evolution throughout the play.  He begins as a young man who is extremely depressed and has social anxiety.  He does not have friends or communicate with many of his classmates.  Throughout the play, Evan Hansen becomes the face of the "Connor Project," the foundation to help keep Connor's name alive.  Evan almost becomes popular, gets a girlfriend, and is included in a family he has always wanted.  His life begins to crumble because he is living a lie.  Mental health is an important aspect of everyone's life and must be spoken about in the classroom.

I will use Dear Evan Hansen in the classroom to help teach the importance of mental health.  Something to keep in mind is that this lesson is extremely mature and is going to be most effective for early high school students.  I will bring my students to the Broadway Show Dear Evan Hansen.  The next day, we will discuss the conflicts, main ideas, and mental health.  We will learn about mental health and how to improve it. 

I will have my students analyze a song from the play, in groups.  I will pick the songs and each group will have a different song.  They will discuss the context of the song, what the sound is illustrating, and how the song relates to Evan's mental health at that time of the story.  This will be beneficial for students in early high school because mental health is extremely important and students need to learn it's okay to not be okay, and that it is okay to ask for help.  I want to discuss coping strategies and how common poor mental health truly is.  I want to help my students improve their mental health and learn the benefits of taking care of themselves.  

 

13

 

Love and Brotherhood 

Cam Marchel

In today’s world, people have different interpretations of what “art” is. Art can be writing, drawing, performing, or anything that you believe has a deeper meaning. One of my favorite types of art is Cinema and TV shows. My all-time favorite TV show is Sons of Anarchy, starring Charlie Hunnam and Ron Perlman. The show is about a close-knit outlaw motorcycle club out in California. Despite all the illegal activities such as drugs, arms dealing, killing, and fighting, there are a lot of deeper messages that this show has taught me.

 

            To start off, Sons of Anarchy teaches different lessons of about Love, brotherhood, loyalty, and betrayal. What I chose to focus on is the love and loyalty aspect. Jax Teller, the main character, says one quote that taught me a lot about how to live my everyday life and how to treat my friends. “Blood makes you related… but loyalty makes you family.” I choose to live by this quote when I consider my friends and people, I am loyalty. In the show, these club members considered themselves to be a brotherhood. Although they will die for each other, they will go the extra step and kill for each other.

           

            I think this show is a great watch and a great way to teach young adults the importance of loyalty and having your friends back. Although there is a lot of violence in this show, it doesn’t encourage violence, it encourages love and brotherhood. 

 

 

14

 

 

Bent Objects and Distorted Perspective

Olivia Marzovilla

 

I chose to incorporate The Basket of Apples into my art class. This is an oil painting, painted by Paul Cézanne in 1893. Cézanne was a famous French painter. He painted during the post-impressionist era of art. Cézanne painted everything from portraits, to landscapes, to still lifes of skulls and fruit. 

 

I chose this piece of art specifically because I like the way that he chose to do something as simple as apples, but he was creative and distorted the perspective in the painting. This is clear from some tell-tale signs in the painting: for example, the table is covered partially by a table cloth, but the table is at different heights on either side of the cloth. He was able to take something as mundane apples and a table and turned it into a trick on the eye. This painting takes time to absorb and understand. This way of changing perspective was not common at the time but that’s what makes it even more interesting. Cézanne was a trend setter, and broke the rules to make art that he liked, instead of following what everyone else was doing. 

 

         I have never been good at painting, but growing up, I loved to paint still lifes. I thought it was so cool that something so simple as fruit or bottles could become a beautiful painting. I also liked that mundane objects became the star of a piece of art—all you had to do was recognize the beauty in them. Art often focuses on major events or famous people, which I feel can make it unattainable to many aspiring artists or students. However, what I love about still life is that anyone can find the objects for a still life in their house, if you are willing to find the beauty in them.

 

        I would use this painting as an inspiration for my painting class. I would teach a lesson on still life, and spotlight Cézanne’s work throughout the lesson. Then I would put out on the tables objects I found around my home that I thought were beautiful: bottles, fruit, cloth, flowers, and books are a few examples. In addition, the day before, I would have asked my students to find an objects in their house that they thought was beautiful and asked them to bring it in as homework. I would ask them to move the objects around at their tables until they had an arrangement they liked. 

 

They would incorporate what they brought with what I supplied to create an arrangement they liked. Then, I would ask them to paint the arrangement. I would emphasize that it does not have to be perfectly realistic, but it can be how they viewed the arrangement; meaning they can bend objects and distort the perspective to make the arrangement look how they want it. I would continue to display The Basket of Apples on the screen so they can have inspiration.

 

 

15

 

 

 

 Intrinsic Motovation and Creativity

Taylor Tardibuono

 
The type of art that has the most significance to me is not a single piece of art, but more so a genre. The genre is something my high school art teacher described as “trash art”. I’m not sure if this is something he made up, or if this is a larger genre, but it really helped me develop my style as an artist and learn to be more creative. This style of art taught me that art can be anything you make it to be and there really are no rules. 

 

            “Trash art” is not the practice of using garbage to make an art piece. Instead, the idea is to go into the art project an removing all expectations and ideas that it is good or bad. He explained it as, if you go into a project expecting that it will be hideous and the opposite of what you want, you can only be happy with the product. 

 

This idea allowed me to go in and use random materials, mix medias, and really just have fun with my art instead of trying to make it perfect. He taught it to me by giving me every art material I could ask for and just telling me to make whatever I wanted. At first, I was overwhelmed with the options, but as I started to work I started havign fun using supplies that I never had before. I just kept working and working until I had something that was a hodgepodge of paint and pastels and just random things. What stuck out to me was that this was the first time in an art class that I lost track of time and really had fun. 

 

            I think this would be a great lesson to teach to a class because the hardest thing to do as an artist is free yourself from your own expectations. I think this method of experimenting and using as many different medias as possible is a great way to discover your own style and really get creative with your art and what you are interested in. I know for me, personally, I discovered that I love working with acrylics, both paint and ink. I like making art that is very gestural and free flowing. I like to use the paint to make interesting colors and define the general shape of what I’m making and then using the ink to define in more and add more of the gestural quality. 

 

I never would have discovered this by strictly learning to paint or draw. I also think this type of art can help enhance the intrinsic motivation and creativity that many of us have as children, but lose as we get older.

16

 

 

The Beauty of Nature

Jerry Lin

 

I love water lilies  painted by French impressionist Claude Monet. Monet depicts water lilies in his garden in Giveny, France. This series of paintings depict water lilies in the pond in diffrent time of the date and under different lights. Monet utilities different and vivid colors in his paintings. 

 

We can see small white flowers and round leaves of water lilies. The shadow on the water also can be seen in painting. It shows the beauty of nature. Through the painting, I get the feeling that Monet loved his life and nature in Giveny. 

 

The painting is connecting to nature and plants. I can use painting to teach students to draw. A painting about nature can be used to explore and apply various colors. Students can make observations of plants that they have seen in their short lives and paint them in a colorful manner. 

 

 

17

 

 

 Dimensions and Colors

 Julia Khomenko

The art piece I would choose is Starry Night by Vincent van Gogh. This painting has always been important to me. As a child in art class, this painting always stood out to me the most. As I grew older and learned more about the piece and van Gogh, I learned the story behind it. Van Gogh suffered from many mental health issues and lived in a hospital. 

As time went on, he got sicker and became suicidal. In response to this shift, his artwork shifted as well. His work became darker, as reflected and seen in Starry Night. I think a lot of artwork is a direct reflection of what the artist themselves is going through in their real lives. You can learn a lot about someone through their writing, painting, or any other art form. I think that this is a great message to teach students, especially in an art class. It can help students open up and express themselves in a way in which they otherwise wouldn't have. 

This painting is so important and well done because of all of its dimensions. In the water, you can see the reflection of the stars. The shadowing and the depth that van Gogh uses is extremely beautiful, and which is why it is one of the most important paintings of all time. There is a beautiful blue sky, with hills blended into it. There is a village at the bottom of the painting, painted with grey, blue, and yellow. 

Each building at the bottom is clearly outlined in dark black paint. The yellow and white of the moon and stars contrast so starkly to the sky and the dark village at the bottom. This draws the viewers eyes to the sky. I think there is so much beauty in this painting because although the whole painting is very dark, the eyes usually go to the bright yellow stars and the moon. Within such a dark painting, there is still light and there is still so much beauty. I think this message is extremely important and why it would be so productive in the classroom.

For younger students, I can use this painting in a lesson to teach about drawing and painting the sky, stars, and the moon. I can also use it as an introduction to a science lesson about the sky. I think that since learning about science and actual facts about the sky may be boring sometimes, but bringing in an art aspect will be really fun for the kids. It is a more hands on way of learning about the different parts of the sky, because it is actually drawing them instead of just reading about them in a textbook. 

The students can be given a canvas and paint and be asked to replicate their own starry night. Either exactly, the same, or with their own twist, they are all accepted and celebrated. In terms of art, it will teach them different dimensions and colors as well as how to shade. For an older class, I think using this painting within a discussion about mental health would also be extremely productive. Talking about van Gogh and how his mental health directly affected his art in terms of subject-matter and color-choice is a great gateway into good discussion about mental health.

 

18

 

 

 Immersive Art

Katie Goldstein

Arts are an incredibly important aspect of education and the way we educate our students. Arts can help students develop abstract thinking skills. Students can learn traditional skills through artistic means and therefore they can gain a deeper and more full understanding on a specific topic. When students have a better understanding of a certain subject, they will have more confidence and interest to become more comprehensive learners. Additionally, art can teach students to look at situations with varying perspectives and consider alternative views on subjects.

A few weeks ago I noticed that an immersive Van Gogh exhibit came to Miami. It sold out quite quickly and I was unable to get a ticket but I have attended other immersive art exhibits and I find them quite interesting. I plan on going to the Van Gogh exhibit when the tickets are restocked but I am unsure as to when that might be. Nevertheless, I think immersive art is an incredible tool to teach students that art is alive, it moves with you. It is powerful and can be big and bright or small and dark. 

The Van Gogh exhibit in particular can teach students that the term classic does not mean perfect. Classic art can be changed, which can translate to other subjects as well. For example, people used to believe that the earth was the center of the universe, this was a widely accepted notion and yet Galileo decided to explore as to whether this was true and he turned out to be correct. It is important to not just accept the way things are and learn that they can change. Nothing is set in stone. 

I think taking a class to the Van Gogh exhibit would be quite a valuable experience for students as they wander through the lights and explore how the art moves with them. Perhaps the students may even want to dance amongst the immersive art and see how the art moves with their bodies. It is also easy for everyone to participate because the environment is so captivating. This would be a great teaching tool to help students learn about the freedom that exists within the world of art. 

I learned in this class that the relationship between art and education is not limited to what we might define as a traditional art class. Art can be used as a tool to teach a multitude of subjects and I think bringing students to freely explore the Van Gogh exhibit of immersive art would help supplement this way of thinking about education.

 

 

19

 

 

 Fear and Mental Struggles

Claudia Spivak

 Stop This Train

No, I'm not colorblind
I know the world is black and white
I try to keep an open mind
But I just can't sleep on this tonight

Stop this train
I want to get off and go home again
I can't take the speed it's moving in
I know I can't
But honestly, won't someone stop this train?

Don't know how else to say it
Don't want to see my parents go

I'm one generation's length away
From fighting life out on my own

Oh, come on, stop this train
I want to get off and go home again
I can't take the speed it's moving in
I know I can't
But honestly, won't someone stop this train?

I'm so scared of getting older
I'm only good at being young
So I play the numbers game
To find a way to say my life has just begun

Had a talk with my old man
Said, "Help me understand"
He said "Turn 68, oh, you'll re-negotiate"

"Don't stop this train
Don't for a minute change the place you're in
And don't think I couldn't ever understand
I tried my hand
John, honestly we'll never stop this train"

Oh, now, once in a while, when it's good
It'll feel like it should
And they're all still around
And you're still safe and sound
And you don't miss a thing
'Til you cry
When you're driving away in the dark, yeah

Singing
Stop this train
I want to get off and go back home again
I can't take the speed this thing moving in
I know I can't
'Cause now I see, I'm never gonna stop this train

Never gonna stop this train
Oh, I'm never gonna stop this train
Oh, I'm never gonna stop this train
Oh, I'm never gonna stop this train

The song that I have chosen for this assignment is called "Stop This Train" by John Mayer. This song has always been a very powerful and meaningful song to me. Stop this train is basically a story about the fears of growing up, and how life is like a river or train that wont stop moving as much as you sometimes want it to stop. This time of our lives, as seniors in college, graduating and going into the real world, can be very difficult to accept or even comprehend. It is a big step into the rest of our lives.

"I'm so scared of getting older, I'm only good at being young" this lyric is extremely relatable for young adults. Growing up as teenagers and young adults, I remember wishing for the day I would move out and become independent. Time moved slow, and summers felt like they would last forever. As a child I thought the world was black and white, everything seemed so simple then, and problems could be resolved so easily. Now as a 22 year old, I find myself praying for time to stop. Life became so complex and I soon realized that life is full of happiness and also sorrow. 

That being said, these life experiences really help shape a persons life. The reason why I love this song is because it focususes on the fears and mental struggles of growing up, but it also makes you realize that our lives have just begun. The sooner we accept that life is moving quickly the sooner we can realize that growing up is beautiful and you should appreciate every single day. Life is so delicate and precious it is important to look forward and cherish those who you love.

 

20

 

 Variation and Diversity

Lindsley Burke

A piece of art that is meaningful to me is Pablo Picasso's painting of "Boquet of Flowers" or "Boquet of Peace". This piece was created in July of 1958 and is a watercolor lithograph. When I first came to Miami, I was interested in art, but always thought I was not good. I bought a poster of this painting and now I have had it hung in my room's wall all four years of college. This painting really caught my eye and inspired me to delve deeper into art and painting. 

I started with buying a sketchbook at the bookstore my freshman year and now, as a senior, I am minoring in art. I have taken multiple painting classes. Not only do I see myself improving, but I also have found a passion that calms my mind. I really liked the simplicity of this Boquet of Flowers. I liked how it was such a great painting with not having to look exactly like what it was representing, like realism. As a cubist painting, it is emphasizing the essence of the image. 

I also enjoy that it is such a positive painting. It reminds me of many different moments in my life. I also love that anybody could relate or feel this painitng's essential meaning. Its meaning is clear but the interpretation of the specific scenario or setting in which the painting is taking place is up to the viewer. Picasso created this piece for the peace movement in Sweden, which aim was to promote kindness even during hard times. 

I would use this piece to show students that life isn't always the same straight path for everbody. I would do this in two ways. One would be through the meaning of the image. I would prepare an activity where students would view this painting and then write a paragraph on something it reminds them of. I would then encourage students to share with each other, and me, these memories. By doing this, I would show students that everybody has different stories and perspectives, but that is what makes life so full of great events. I also think that this would align with Picasso's purpose when creaing this  gave this piece. 

The second way in which I would demonstrate this lesson would be pointing out how many aspects of Boquet of Flowers had an impact on them, the students. I would then show them other paintings and images that depict hands or flowers, two major feautures of the piece. I would point out how Picasso's looser interpertation of a hand still makes the viewer feel something, which  has an impact on them even if it is not depicted in a realist way. Hopefully my students would learn to see the beauty in the varitation and diversity of choices used by the artisst. The main message students would walk away with is that each one us, being different, keeps our world going. 

21

 

 

Catchy Songs and Fun Dances

Tony Jenkins

The piece I choose for this essay is a movie. I used to watch this movie when I was younger. The movie is called High School Musical. It focuses on a series of musical romantic comedy-drama songs and dances. It has star actors that make the film a pleasant experience. Actors such as Vanessa Hudgens, Zac Efron, Corbin Bleu and others bring to the musical the vibrat energy of that age group.

I had an in interest in watching this show as a kid because of the vibe it had. The songs were catchy and the dances were fun trying to perform as well. I used to watch this show in middle school. I always used to think that when I would get to high school it would be that way. My students would probably feel as excited as I was about being in high in school after watching the show.

I would use High School Musical to teach a lesson because it fits really well within the curriculum, specifically within the competencies of a dance course for 9th - 12th graders. Students would be able to learn different dance techniques. They would be introduced to different dance styles. They would learn how to design the dance structure as well. I think students would enjoy the creative aspects of choroegraphing the songs because it would allow them to be free and be open to express themselves as teenagers.

22

Open for Intepretation

Allie Lutz

I chose to do my reflection on Vincent Van Gogh's "Starry Night."  It was painted in June of 1889.  Vincent Van Gogh was a Post-Impressionist Painter and a Dutch Painter who used oil based paint on a canvas to express his artisitic ability. He used different shades of blue and yellow to express the emotions that the painting portrayed.  Van Gogh became a true star after his death. While he was alive, he only sold one singular painting. However, after his passing he became an artistic hero.

I chose this painting becuase I think it can be open for interpretation. While it obviously depicts a starry night, as it is expressed in its title, it also can be interpretated in many ways and I think that is what makes this painting special. The texture that can be seen on the painting makes it enticing to all audiences becuase everyone is able to find meaning from it.  Some people could see the painting as stormy, while others may see it as clear. Depending on how an individual interprets the colors and texture can create an entirely different meaning for the piece. 

If I were to use this painting to teach a lesson, I would have my students create their own version of the painting. Whether that looks identical to Van Gogh's, or completely different, I would have my students paint their own "Starry Night". This way, each student will be able to express themselves in a way that they would want to. I would be excited to see how students interpret the painting. Would they use new and different textures and colors?  I would like to see. I think this lesson would be great to get the students to be creative. 

 

23

 

 

Celebrating Strength, Courage, and Positive Self-Esteem

Kennedy Stewart 

Music gets people through a lot of things. It is one of the greatest art forms that can help people work through problems, emotions, and personal issues. In my case, the song "Girl Almighty" by One Direction is a song that really got me through my anxiety and is my 'happy' song. The song is from One Direction's album FOUR, and is track number five. It has a very retro vibe to it and just exudes happiness whenever I hear it. 

The beat is infectious and will have you dancing around your room (like it does for me). The song is all about how amazing women are and how we should basically worship them. One of my favorite lyrics in the song is "Her light is as loud as many ambulances / As it takes to save a saviour." It is extremely positive as it paints a beautiful picture of women.

     The reason I chose this specific song is because of the personal hold I have to it. I used to get extremely anxious as a teen and I would let it get the better of me. Especially as an athlete, I would get so nervous on game days or at competitions that I would not perform to the best of my ability because of my anxiety. When I discovered this song, I immediately figured out that my entire mood would shift after listening to it. I wanted to try it out one competition day before warming up and it was like I struck gold. 

The song reminded me how amazing I should see myself. It reminded me that I could truly do anything I set my mind to. That three minute and twenty two seconds song was like listening to straight confidence.  It allowed me to perform my best. 

     In the classroom, I would love to bring this song in March during Women's History Month. I think it is a great example of how amazing women are and how they can be dipicted in the music industry in a positive manner. There is another set of lyrics I love from the song . They really help to emphasize women's best qualities.  This is "Let's have another toast to the girl almighty
/ Let's pray we stay young, stay made out of lightning." 

This song is truly about painting women in a bright and positive light. It can really change a little girls life like it had done to mine when I was a teen. My lesson would be about celebrating strength, courage, and positive self-esteem in and outside of the classroom. It is imporant for elementary and secondary female students to be confident in themselves from a young age so that they know who they are and can make decisions for themselves and be strong minded. This would help them to not give into societal pressures in the future and be their true, authentic selves.

 

24

 

Understanding Colors, Shapes and Feelings 

Moira Neary

 

Art is an extremely important aspect of education that offers so many benefits to students of all ages.  To me, one piece of artwork that has stood out is one from the Claude Monet House of Parliament series.  As a sophomore in high school, I visited France and loved seeing one of these famous paintings in person.  Later that year, I saw another painting from the series at The Art Institute of Chicago. This series of paintings was completed during the early 1900s and follows the Impressionism style of that time.  They are a series of paintings drawn from the same view, but at different times of day and year, so each one is different.

These paintings are important because they demonstrate the style of painting, impressionism, which was prominent during the time of Monet.  They also demonstrate how colors can be used to portray different things.  Even though the view is the same for each painting, the pieces are so different from each other because of their use of color to demonstrate a certain time of day or time of year.  An activity that would be derived from a background lesson on these paintings would be asking students to complete a similar series.  They could pick an object or scene from outside of their house to paint it each day at different times. They would be expected to demonstrate their understanding of how colors and shapes can be used to create different pieces of art, even if the piece corresponds to the same object or scene.

These particular pieces of art can be used in teaching to describe the Impressionism period, as well as how colors and shapes are used to convey different images and feelings.  For example, the painting of the Parliament building "in the fog" is very different than the building "at sunset."  The colors of each one are different and make viewers experience different feelings even though the paintings are based on the same building.  This demonstrates the importance of color and shape, and how these elements are used in a painting.  The paintings are great examples of art from the Impressionism period and would be a great basis for a lesson on colors, shapes, and feelings.

 

25

 

 

Painting Lesson: Impression Sunrise

Jia Hu 

Impression Sunrise is an oil painting created by French Impressionist Claude Monet in Le Havre in 1872. It is the most typical one of Monet's paintings. The painting depicts the sunrise over the harbor of Afar through the mist. It presents a fascinating scene with wonderful changes and movements of light, and vividly depicts the reflection and vibration of light on the wide sea. The painting was shown at the first joint exhibition of the Impressionists, which opened on March 25, 1874. It is now in the Musee de Marmodin in Paris. The first time I saw it, even through the glass, I could feel the temperature of the sunrise.

 

I will show the painting to my students, ask them about their feelings and opinions at the beginning of the creative process, and then introduce them to it. This work breaks through the limitations of traditional subject matter and composition. It takes the perception of visual experience as the starting point by focusing on the expressions of the ever-changing appearance of the piece in the light atmosphere.

 As one of the pioneering works of Impressionism and as a seascape painting, the whole picture is shrouded in thin grey tones. The brush strokes are very random, showing a scene of fog blending. At sunrise, the sea is misty and the water reflects the colors of the sky and the sun. The picture changed the rigorous, standard and attention to composition of the academic school at that time, without any detailed lines and modeling. 

 

This is a kind of breakthrough and innovation that challenged the French Academy at the time. It can also be seen that Monet pays attention to the sense of nature. He is loyal to the truth of human vision, grasp the impression of light and the color moment. He used his own unique bold artistic language to reproduce the hazy beauty of Le Havre port at sunrise. Impressionist painters are to seize the fleeting impression of light and color, to then use their own pen to record the immediate scenery along with their inner feelings. After this introduction, I will ask students to present their new ideas again.

 

In my lesson, I will also introduce my students to interesting stories about the artist. For instance, when Monet first created the sunrise image, it was not appreciated by the public. Yet, he continued to paint nature in color. At the same time, I will give students one week to create their own impression of the sunrise. I will perform and evaluate it seriously no matter what style or color it is. And I will ask them to show it in the class one week later. 

 

I hope that through the study of this painting, students can understand the characteristics of different schools of painting, and at the same time, they can conceive their own art work. I would let them express their own style, and encourage them not to be limited by the rules of realism. I would encourage them to create works that they really feel close to their hearts.

 

26

 

Teaching Valuable Lessons

Raymond Gil 

 

I chose the movie COCO by Disney’s Pixar.  The movie is based on a young boy named Miguel. The boy goes on a journey to find his late family members. His journey takes place while finding the reason why his ancestors banned music. COCO not only introduces a different culture to kids but also brings different topics to light. It encourages family connections, the importance of family unity and the meaning of believing in yourself when you get an opportunity.  

 Talking to children about death can be a bit scary at times. COCO presents it through art and music. Thus, it offers a better way to answer some of the questions students might have. COCO does a good job in presenting that ultimately family is all we have. This is a fact that should always be remembered.

Young children can learn lessons through many forms. Movies can play a role in teaching valuable lessons. Sometimes a certain movie can impact a child’s life more than words can. They can identify with the characters in the movie. They can agree or disagree with the story's message. They can even embrace the overall joy that they get by watching the movie. 

This movie can become a teaching unit. It can serve as a frame for various lessons. Therefore, I would show this movie to a class of young learners. After learning about how we are all different, I would use different forms of art to express our various cultures. We would also talk about how families are all different. I would tell them they can use the movie as an inspiration to draw a picture of their own family. They would end the unit by narrating what their families like to do. 

27

 

The Dangers and Beauty of Nature

Liliana Bravo

I chose to do my reflection on Katsushika Hokusai “The Great Wave off Kanagawa.” It was painted in 1831 and is pretty recognizable, even though it was painted around two centuries ago. Katsushika Hokusai is a Japanese artist, but he is best known for his woodblock prints. He did this painting when he was in his seventies.  There are many more paintings involved in this series, but “The Great Wave off Kanagawa” has been some of his most recognized works. In it, Hokusai illustrates the dangers and, at the same time, the beauty that nature represents to mankind.

I chose this painting because I think it offers an opportunity for students to learn about natural disasters, but also find a way to depict them from a distance. Usually while learning about natural disasters we focus on the aftermath, and in this painting, you see  a beautiful glimpse of what seems like a tsunami wave before it causes destruction. In a way, you are trying to find the beauty in something scary and disastrous, the eternal battle between nature and man.  Some people could see the painting as frightening, while others may see it as a beautiful art piece. Depending on how students interpret the colors and composition of the piece they could derive entirely different meanings. 

If I were to use this painting in the classroom, I would have my students create their own version of the painting. Whether it is about the ocean or not, I would have my students paint their own "The Great Wave off Kanagawa". This way, each student would be able to express themselves freely. The battle between man and nature is applicable to other subjects such as,mental health, social media, etc. Using the inspiration of "The Great Wave," I would love to see how my students would depict their own version of a human battle with nature in which they draw human faces. The expressions of the drawn faces could be a good way to decipher whether students experience fear or pleasure when contemplating Hokusai's piece.

28

 

We Don't Need Nothing But Today

Maddie Terry 

 

Music has always been my favorite form of art, and it has helped me get through the toughest of times. The lyrics to every song have a deeper meaning that I have always been fond of analyzing. Music is a powerful tool in life, as some songs have a personal meaning or connection for certain people.

One of my favorite artists, Mac Miller, has very inspirational music about important topics regarding mental health. I chose to analyze the song Small Worlds because it is one of my favorite songs of his and listening to it always makes me feel better. Mental illness is also something that many people in this world struggle with, and it is a topic that does not get talked about as freely as it should.

The song touches on Miller’s flaws, including a very public breakup with pop star Ariana Grande and a subsequent DUI accident. The beloved, young rapper who died of an accidental drug overdose, always struggled with mental illness and his own personal flaws. He worked through his struggles in each of his songs. This one, in particular, sends the message that although we all make mistakes, we shouldn’t beat ourselves up about it because life is short and we must appreciate the time we have. His isolated thoughts in this song feel hauntingly tragic. 

The chorus reads: “The world is so small, 'til it ain’t.” This is something that has always resonated with me because at times the world may feel small and lonely but then something comes along and makes us realize that the world isn't as small as it feels, and there are students out there struggling with the same things. For this reason, given its use of explicit language, Small Worlds would be a good song to teach a lesson on mental health issues to Secondary School students struggling with substance use disorder and antisocial personality disorder.

An intricate detail that should not be overlooked is the fact that Small Worlds also somewhat encourages the self to be appreciative of life and valuing each day that we are given, and this can be identified in the entire song. However, if one wants to find this in a specific line, this can be identified in these lyrics “…That’s really all it takes, we don’t need nothing but today (today, today, today, today)”.

 

29

 

 

 

Mona Lisa: Teaching How to Express Feelings 

Gabrielle Butman

 

I chose Leonardo da Vinci's painting of the Mona Lisa, also called La Gioconda. This half-length portrait painting of an Italian noblewoman and member of the Gherardini family of Florence and Tuscany was commissioned by her husband. Da Vinci was born in Italy in 1452 and died in 1519. This painting was created by Da Vinci in 1503, during the Italian Renaissance. The painting now sits in the Louvre Museum in Paris, France. It is considered to be one of the most famous paintings in the world.

 

I've always been fascinated by this painting's ability to make it seem like Mona Lisa's eyes are following you. I actually saw the painting several years ago at the Louvre Museum. It was a great learning experience because I got to witness first hand the wonders of this painting. It was crazy to think that this painting was made over 500 years ago and is still considered to be one of the greatest paintings of all times.

 

I chose this painting because it makes me feel at peace when I look at it. Also, I love how there are so many different aspects to the painting worth discussing with my students. For instance, da Vinci's contemporaries copied the then novel three-quarter pose of the woman. Also the Mona Lisa is considered a very realistic portrait. The subject’s softly sculptural face shows da Vinci’s skillful handling of sfumato, an artistic technique that uses subtle gradations of light and shadow to model form. It also shows da Vinci's understanding of the skull beneath the skin. The delicately painted veil, the finely wrought tresses, and the careful rendering of folded fabric reveal da Vinci’s ability to patently observe his subjects. Thus, each time I look at it, I learn something new.  

 

For this reason, I would use this in a classroom to teach students how to interpret art in their own words. Each piece of art has a unique meaning.  Not one student will see the same thing when looking at a piece. Thus, I would like students to express how they feel when they look at Mona Lisa. By writing their reflections on how they feel when contemplating Mona Lisa, I would be combining language arts, art history and art appreciation. I think art observation is a very important skill to learn because it develops in students a sense of focus that is very useful all across the curriculum. 

30

 

 

 

Seven Wonders – Fleetwood Mac – 1987 

Madeline Raynor 

 

I decided to choose a song that I’ve always loved called Seven Wonders by a popular rock band, Fleetwood Mac in the 80s. I grew up listening to many bands similar to Fleetwood Mac – such as the Beatles, The Grateful Dead, and the Rolling Stones, because my mother has always loved classic rock, I have always had a strong connection to this genre of music.  

The song is about a past romance of Stevie Nicks – she is singing about if she ever got to see the seven wonders of the world, it would not compare to how she felt in this moment falling in love. I find this to be very beautiful and wholesome even though many people today find this type of music to be very cheesy. I also love the rhythm and instruments used in the song – it has a very airy and magical sound to it. 

In a classroom setting, I would try to encourage students to listen to music that has a sense of culture to it. I would get them to analyze the lyrics and what metaphors or deeper meaning is behind the message of the songs. I would choose songs from this genre of music, since it is my personal favorite but also because classic rock has some historical relevance to it. In fact,  40+ years later, people my age still love it.  

Music from bands such as the Grateful Dead, Queen, and Led Zepplin (to name a few) have historical significance because of the time periods and the messages they were trying to send. Also, these musicians were involved in some pretty cool events in history – such as the Grateful Dead in Woodstock, a festival that only happened once but was so iconic during the counterculture movement. 

To get more to the point, I would play some songs that are significant, print out the lyrics, get the students to analyze the lyrics. Then I would give a brief introduction to the band of the song. I would ask where they performed, and why they are still relevant in today’s culture. This would be fun to teach because it would be a combination of music and history, and all students love an excuse to listen to music/watch music videos/documentaries in class. 

 

 

31

 

Time

Gabriel Rivera

 

A piece of art to me isn’t a drawing or painting, but rather instrumental music, in this case a soundtrack. The soundtrack is called “Time” by Hans Zimmer.  It was composed for Inception, a 2010 science fiction action film written and directed by Christopher Nolan, who also produced the film with Emma Thomas, his wife. The film stars Leonardo DiCaprio as a professional thief who steals information by infiltrating the subconscious of his targets. It was released under Reprise Records on July 13, 2010. Zimmer scored the film, marking his third collaboration with Nolan following Batman Begins and The Dark Knight.

 I usually am a person that listens to upbeat music, but this song came around when my grandfather died. How I came across this song? I am not to sure, but listening to emotional music this song came through my playlist and I just remember all the memories I had with my grandfather. 

 

The instrumental of this soundtrack connected with me deep down that the only choice it gave me was to let my sad emotions out as well as reminiscing the moments I had with him. This wasn’t the only time I listened to this song when I had an emotional moment. I also went to this song after my final game with my favorite team in high school, a moment where I wasn’t going to play with those guys ever again. 

 

The moral of this music is that whenever I need an emotional outlet, I know I can go to this song. I have developed a deep connection with this music that it becomes a healthy outlet for me to get out any emotions that I may pack inside. Thus, the way I would use it in a leson is by sharing this music with my class or any other soundtrack. I would invite students  to find sounds that they could go to as an outlet for their emotions.   They could find a piece of music that they could  connect with that could inspire them. It doesn’t have to be one specific soundtrack, but rather a genre of music that could help students out. 

 

In conclusion, this piece of music made an emotional impact on me remembering the good things I once had as well as helping me channel those emotions of loss through this soundtrack and others alike. I would definitely recommend teachers to search for types of music to listen to when in an emotional rut to help students channel it and soon enough overcome those emotions.