What the Heck Is That? A Look at Expressionism
OBJECTIVE
The student will be able to identify expressionism in art and theatre and be able to discuss the emotional impact it has on an individual. Recommended Grade Level: 9th-12th Time Required: 40 minutes
TEKS OBJECTIVE CORE TEKS Art I §117.302 (C)(1)(D) Make judgments about the expressive properties such as content, meaning, message, and metaphor of artwork using art vocabulary accurately. Art I-VI §117.302 or §117.303 or §117.304 or §117.305 (C)(2)(D) create original artwork to communicate thoughts, feelings, ideas, or impressions;
THEATRE TEKS Theatre I & II §117.315 & §117.316 (C)(2)(E) employ physical techniques consistently to express thoughts, feelings, and actions non-verbally
Theatre III & VI §117.317 & §117.318 (C)(1)(B) experiment with stage movement;
MATERIALS NEEDED
Copies of paintings (provided) Discussion Questions for Teacher (provided) Emotion cards (provided) Timer/phone (optional)
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What the Heck Is That? A Look at Expressionism INSTRUCTIONS
Hook: As students come in, have them sort into even groups (up to six groups) and give each group an art comparison handout (provided). Have students discuss in their group how the different elements that the artist uses in the painting, how they make them feel, and what they think the artist was thinking. Step by Step Activity Details: 1) Using the discussion questions provided, discuss the painting and elements of expressionism. (5-10 minutes) 2) Give each group an emotion card. Now, explain to the class that each group will be making two tableaus (a frozen stage picture that does not talk or move) that display their emotion. One of their tableaus should reflect realism and the other one should reflect expressionism. Remind them that every student in the group must be a part of both tableaus. 3) Give students 10 minutes to create their tableus and rehearse them. (10 minutes) 4) Have the groups display their tableaus one at a time and have the class discuss the differences between the realism and the expressionist tableus. (10 minutes) Closure: As a class and using the discussion questions on the resource page, discuss how you think expressionism will be used in Dear Charlotte.(5 minutes) Assessment: Displaying tableaus and closure discussion.
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What the Heck Is That? A Look at Expressionism Resources
Gustave Courbet “The Desperate Man”
David Padwarney “Untitled m976”
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What the Heck Is That? A Look at Expressionism Resources
Fransico de Goya “Unknown”
Nick Leppman Untitled
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What the Heck Is That? A Look at Expressionism Resources
Dima Dmitriev “Jump for Joy”
Paul Klee “Hungry Girl”
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What the Heck Is That? A Look at Expressionism Resources
Cagnaccido di San Pietro “Portrait of Segiarce Vighi”
Nick Leppman “Study of an Angry Man”
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What the Heck Is That? A Look at Expressionism Resources
Igor Barkhatkov “Portrait of a Women”
Grant Wood “American Gothic”
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What the Heck Is That? A Look at Expressionism Resources
Shekiha Rajaria “The Scream of Joy”
Darwin Leon “The Delusional Confusion”
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What the Heck Is That? A Look at Expressionism Resources
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What the Heck Is That?  A Look at Expressionism Resources Discussion Guide (For the Teacher) Hook Activity- Comparing Paintings? (5 minutes) It is suggested that you write these on the board so that the students make have a self-paced discussion. What are the different elements of the paintings? Are they similar or different? How do the two paintings make you feel? Do they make you feel different things or similar things? What do you think the artists were thinking when they painted these pictures? Discussing Hook and Expressionism? (10 minutes) Do both of the pictures make you feel something? Do they use different strategies to achieve these feelings? What are the major differences between the pictures styles? Does anyone know what expressionist means? When an artist cares more about displaying the feeling of an experience rather than how the experience actually looks or sounds. This can be done in visual art, theatre, and music. With this in mind, how are the pictures different now? Discussing Students’ Tableaus Use as few or as many questions as you have time for. Can you guess their emotion? Why? What does the realism tableau make you think of? What does the expressionist tableau make you think of? What are the differences between the tableaus that reflect realism and those that reflect expressionist? Which one is more powerful? Why? Expressionist Use in Theatre Use as few or as many questions as you have time for. How do you think expressionism is used in theatre? Why do you think a playwright would want to use expressionist theatre? Why do you think a director would want to use expressionist theatre? What does the audience get from expressionist theatre?
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