Socially Engaged Teacher Research
SOCIOECONOMIC STATUS
Upon researching various diverse groups, it stood out to me that there is little research done regarding the influence of socioeconomic status in art education. To become more knowledgeable on the topic, I investigated common themes of socioeconomic status such as consumerism with art and advertising, geographical architecture, and racial demographics. I have acquired more knowledge regarding the socioeconomic status in art education, yet still have much to learn. In addition, I have created lesson plans and community based art projects that take serious consideration of those with low socioeconomic status to promote inclusion in the art classroom and the community.
Summary of and Response to "A National Labor Project: Recovering Unprecedented Number of Working Class Lives and Histories through Art" by Ed Check
Ed Checks (2010) article is an autobiography for Standpoint Theory where he uses the lives of working people as his theory, including his personal experience being raised in a white working class family. Check has also experienced the shift in his salary and education to middle class. The article primarily focuses on expressing value and gratitude towards working class people. He begins with the narrative of his experience teaching middle class students about Labor Day. When he asked his students what Labor Day was, many of them said it was a day to relax and only one out of the sixteen children actually knew what it was. Another story comes from Jane who takes pictures of people, but learns about their working class lifestyle before asking if she can take a picture to document her newfound knowledge and understanding of that person’s life in working class. Roberta White is a graphic and fashion designer who shares the struggles she had adjusting from working class to middle class. She stated that “The middle doesn’t allow for my working class values and ethics" (p. 8).
All of the information in the article created frequent moments of tension and rebuttal due to the lack of inclusion for the additional baggage of modern day standards, such as the expectation that everyone has a phone. When Ed Check took photographs of working class homes as a way to associate the working class as being defined as the same as low socioeconomic status, I began to feel confused again as to what defines someone as being of low socioeconomic status and why it generally only reflected in the materialistic items they obtain as well as their work ethic. These moments of tension arise from my curiosity to learn more. I haven't completed my research by any means; however, I am far more knowledgeable about the difficulties that many face when making the transition between working class and middle class when their values and ethics allow such financial advances,given that it is a large part of their identity.
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Right: PDF file of the article.
Reinventing Urban Spaces
Personal Experience: Craig Walsh
During the summer of 2017 I had the opportunity to travel to Breckenridge, CO with my family for a relaxing vacation. While in Breckenridge, I was able to walk into town at night with my father and sister where we saw beautiful artwork by Craig Walsh at the Breckenridge International Festival of the Arts. He is a site-specific artist who uses digital media and collaborates with local people and communities. He projects images and videos he takes of valued members within the local communities onto trees. Although Breckenridge's demographics consist of high socioeconomic status, this is one way to value those in the community and create a warm dialogue with those that reside there.
Geographical location plays a large role in socioeconomic status and reinventing urban spaces can aid in reviving locations with low socioeconomic status. Creating a space for dialogue through installations, alleyway fairs, and other creative processes provides an atmosphere where healthy connections in the community can be formed.
Above: Video of street art transforming the slums in Brazil
Yarn Bombing
Eric Rieger aka HOTTEA
Street Artist in Minneapolis
Above: Video of Tristian Pollock discussing methods to take back the street using street art.
Above: Michelle Miller, street artist, explaining her passion for yarn bombing.
Michelle Miller
Street Artist
Race, Poverty Consciousness, Advertising, and Marketing
Through marketing and advertising research it has become evident that blacks have a problem with materialism. Psychologists claim that this is caused from their low self-esteem. By enhancing black students self-esteem and making them aware of their personal values, it may be possible to reduce poverty and problems with materialism in poor communities. Although not all poverty stems from race, correlations between the two are evident. When I address these topics, consider how marketing and adverting affect all races as well as black people.
Above: Video about the science of selling to poor black people.
Above: Valeri Love, former American Express finical advisor, discussing black people and poverty consciousness.
While doing my research I found this lovely video by Valeri Love, a former American Express finical advisor, discussing black people and poverty consciousness. She claims that the three problems are:
1. "Flossing" - Buying the best to show off
2. Financial Ignorance - Think money and wealth are the same thing
3. Time - "Get rich quick" by buying lottery tickets
Valeri addresses key problems from personal experience to help those who are struggling financially.
Art Lesson: "Bad and Boujee" on a Budget
Recently, adolescents and young adults have been on board with a new trendy fashion challenge called "bad and boujee" on a budget. Boujee means that one is aspiring to be higher than ones own class which is derived from the term bourgeois. In this sense, people search for clothing items that look high end, yet are very cheap. Since I understood various visual culture references and community cultures, I had immediately thought that designing a lesson around the concept of being boujee on a budget would be ideal; however, I realized that in teaching a this lesson, I needed to integrate all of the valuable skills students would need. This lesson, if not taught properly, conflicts with teaching students the valuable self-esteem they need to avoid poverty and low socioeconomic status. Additionally, purchasing cheap clothes has a deeper meaning related to ethics and morals.
My lesson then became clear to me; students would learn how to become critical consumers by creating a small scale outfits that had the brand, location, and material listed next to the item. Students would realize that other people who produce cheap clothes for people to consume often come from areas of poverty as well. Making students aware of labors worker conditions is an ideal way to address poverty on a global scale. Students would learn to place more value on things in their life that are not materialistic which inherently increases their self esteem. "Bad and Boujee" on a Budget is a great lesson to teach students if implemented correctly. Not doing so can lead to students placing higher values on materialistic items and decrease their self-esteem. Though appropriate teaching and research, this lesson is a great way to make students critical consumers.
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Above: Video of mainstream You Tube culture where a young adolescent does "Bad and Boujee" of a Budget.
