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09/25/2003 Archived Entry: "I love this story."
I love this story.
As you may or may not know, I am a big fan of the band Radiohead. This little test of fifth graders made me smile on a day when I needed it. Check it out.
Replies: 4 people speak up
wow, fifth graders really cant draw! this is a perfect example of why art MUST be taught in public schools. by the time i was in fifth grade i was painting realistic landscapes, granted, i now have a degree in fine art, but still. one of the things that a professor of mine told me when i first started art school was "schools teach art at such a remedial level that we have to teach basic skills in college that any middle schooler should already have, its the equivilant of starting a math degree in college when they only taught you to count to ten in high school"
this article profoundly demonstrates the fact that we need more art in our public schools, and not because of the actual drawings, but because of the premise of the article "Mass media has bombarded us with Radiohead critique, rendering us unable to generate an unfiltered opinion of our own.
When you listen to Radiohead, you're no longer actually listening to Radiohead -- you're listening to everyone's opinion about Radiohead. It's impossible to separate what you hear from what you've read." that is complete bullshit. if you cant listen to music and form your own opinion, without just believing everything you are told by the media, then you are spiritually dead (and most likely believe everything that georgie bush says, yeah, those are the people we are talking about here) art teaches critical and analytical thinking, it teaches people to examine things before making a judgement. if children were taught art and music properly in school, we wouldnt have the problem with mindless sheep that has reached epidemic proportions in this country. has anyone stopped to think that removing art and music from schools may be INTENTIONAL? part of a bigger plan? whats next, science? it does contradict the bible a lot, and we cant have that can we? maybe math, as orwell says, freedom is the ability to say that 2 + 2 = 4, if that is granted, all else will follow. something to think about
Posted by justin @ 09/26/2003 11:15 AM NY
Well, Justin....anybody who listens to Radiohead already knows that 'two and two always make five.' ;)
And you're right - in that particular class, there doesn't seem to be an artist among them.
Posted by editor @ 09/26/2003 12:50 PM NY
The kid with the angel hair pasta and the calming words juxtaposed shows some imagination, but no talent. And all the suicide and death imagery, is that the effect that listening to Radiohead has, or just on 10 year olds, or are these kids displaying symptoms of deeper psychosis and need a hug, perhaps from the man who has to do the hugs?
Posted by Duckman GR @ 09/26/2003 02:24 PM NY
Justin: agreed, on all counts, except the paranoid "part of a bigger plan".
The idea that the truth is the sum of critical opinion is nothing new - that's what the fashion industry is all about, and fashion goes way beyond how to cut your hair, or what clothing you should wear. Even rebellion against these norms if usually commercialized - even if the 'early adopters' understand what they're rebelling against, the hordes that come after will not.
Personally, I don't read music reviews. I don't see them as any more useful than the recommendation of a friend, at best, and at worst, they merely propagate the consensus opinion. And the consensus can usually be bought, at least for a long enough for the buyers to make their money.
I'm not sure art and music should be taught, precisely, as I've seen the intellectual in-growth that can cause first-hand in university. But I'd love for children to be exposed first-hand to a wide range of music and art in schools, and encouraged to learn the technical aspects of both. Again, recalling my school years, I'm sure that time could be found in both primary and high-school years quite easily.
As far as the images go - do we really know that the kids weren't trying to express how much they didn't want to be listening to Radiohead? As in "I'd rather kill myself"?
I should add that I consider Radiohead to be one of the greatest bands on the planet.
Posted by Skarl @ 09/26/2003 11:19 PM NY
