Brie’s Art Unit Plan: Art should “comfort the disturbed and disturb the comfortable” OR Ready Made Movement
This unit plan explores the idea that art should ‘comfort the disturbed and disturb the comfortable’ through looking at and making art in the style of the ‘ready made’ movement. Students explore the art of Ai Weiwei and Carey Newman and also have multiple opportunities to make their own ‘ready made’ work.
Grade Level: 8
Element of design: Form
Big Idea:
- Artists often challenge the status quo and open us to new perspectives and experiences.
Aspect of the Element of Design:
- Recognizing and exploring the relationship between a sculpture and its surroundings
First Peoples’ Principles:
- Learning involves recognizing the consequences of one’s actions.
Curricular Connections
- This unit integrates well with the Social Studies 8 curriculum, particularly the Big Idea: Changing ideas about the world created tension between people wanting to adopt new ideas and those wanting to preserve established traditions.
Important Note: Some of the content of this unit is sensitive in nature (including visual profanity and discussion of children’s deaths in residential schools). It is best practice to send out an email to parents prior to the beginning of the unit explaining the content and purpose and encouraging them to contact you if they have any questions or concerns.