A lesson in "art"

When I was younger, there was a movement in my school to expose students to the German-American cultural heritage of the region they were growing up in. Speakers came in to explain the local culture; we were also taught how to make folk art and sing songs in the local dialect.

I think my generation was one of the last few to experience these things because, if I remember correctly, around that time, the multicultural education began...

One of the first people to integrate multiculturalism into the school curriculum was a gay elementary school art teacher who loved abstract art and art from Africa. Interestingly enough, this teacher had been recognized by the state for being an "excellent teacher". I remember feeling honored to be a student of such a highly-regarded man. I could tell he liked art and getting students to do projects. At the same time, I was honestly a bit confused as to why the state thought his teaching methods were so great, especially when I couldn’t think of a single student who felt more enthusiastic about his art class than any other art class in the years which followed.

Of course, I realize now that the state probably wasn't rewarding this man for his "excellent teaching". Today, I am convinced that the state had made an example of this man so the other teachers would follow his lead and also begin to promote the "right" things in the classroom. Moreover, because of the special recognition the teacher had received, we the students were convinced that the projects he gave us, which involved “great African art”, were true art and of great value; so began a battle for our young minds, because my instincts told me that the art was simple and unappealing.

I wasn't alone in my views.

I remember lying on the cold floor atop an enormous piece of ripped-out, cardboard-colored art paper in the school hallway. A friend and I were working together to complete one of the projects we had to do for the art class. The assignment was to have a friend trace the outline of your body onto the art paper. After that, we were to paint in the body based on African art we had seen in this one magazine, which featured half-naked figures wearing traditional garb and making weird faces. I remember hearing some students grumble that the project was "stupid". And I remember just this overall feeling that the "great African art" we were working with was ugly. At some point, we mocked it. Eventually, the teacher appeared and we were all reprimanded for not being respectful. In this manner, we learned the “correct” opinions to have about cultures different from our own.