“What is Art?”
Recently, I attempted to use this very basic question as a conversation starter in an AP Psychology class. In this case the content unit is dealing with the biological process and benefits of creativity and artistic expression. As a mode of introduction, I thought we would discuss the variety of definitions of art and extend it to a conversation on the subjectivity of art and artistic expression. I first asked for their own definitions, anonymously posted on the Promethean Board through Google’s Jamboard extension. The definitions were good and expected - most arguing that art is an expressive act tied to some sort of emotion.
Some googled the definition, refusing even to think about the question before retreating to what is in their mind, the depository of all-things - Google.
As we looked at a variety of forms of art, one student offered, “Why is this taking so long? Why are we talking about this. What do we write down?
I was devastated. Well, maybe not devastated, but saddened. To some extent, my high school students, and even at times my college students, have always struggled with abstract ideas and extemporaneous conversation - but recently it has gotten much, much worse. They get so accustomed to being given the information without the need or even the opportunity for independent thought that when asked to do this, even for a few minutes, they get frustrated and even refuse to participate.
There are a few reasons for the recent decline in the participatory mindset.
They are often fearful of saying the wrong thing, even when the question is opinion based, and so they sit in silence. And when they do venture an idea or opinion, they mistake disagreement and discussion as a personal attack.
They are uncomfortable with the reality that things do not have simple answers and that life exists in varying shades of gray, preferring questions that are simple, can be googled, and are void of purpose or real thought.
Their entire life is based on the entertainment model. If the thing they are doing does not entertain them within seconds, they simply move on to something else. This swipe-reality that they inhabit on their phones does not exist in the real-world (whatever that is at this point) and when faced with a task that does not immediately stimulate joy they are ready to move on. Their entire world-view and ethical construct can be summarized by Willy Bank, Al Pacino’s character in Oceans Thirteen, “I don’t want the labor pains, I just want the baby.”
To a frightening degree, they have no lived experience and no cultural or pop-cultural awareness. It is difficult to connect or make connections when the audience has no frame of reference. This is more than just, “Kids these days…” A life spent on apps is a life devoid of experiences and a life devoid of experiences is one that has an inability to relate to another’s experiences. They exist in a more strict echo-chamber than any previous generation with the façade of perspective and connection.
It’s tough to have a conversation about something when you’ve never had a conversation about anything.