The Arts in Schools - Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation

a helps pupils to understand cultural diversity by bringingthem into contact with the attitudes, values and institutionsof other cultures as well as exploring theirownb emphasises cultural relativity by helping them to recogniseand compare their own cultural assumptions andvalues with these otherse alerts them to the evolutionary nature of culture and thepotential for changed encourages a cultural perspective by relating contemporaryvalues to the historical forces which moulded them56 Partici- The arts are important here for two reasons. First, the propationcess of practising the arts is in itself partly one of observation,analysis and evaluation of one's own experiencesin relation to other people's. It has become common ineducation to talk of the importance of developing children's'individuality'. Although we endorse this, it must also berecognised as a value judgement in itself. Some culturesvalue individuality less. In those which accept it, the notionof 'self-expression', especially through the arts, is sometimeslinked directly with the development of individuality. Butexpressive activity in the arts involves more than expressingwhatever subjective state a person happens to be in at thetime. Mere expression without reflection and evaluationneed not lead to an understanding of the nature of personalfeelings nor of the social values and acquired attitudes whichinfluence them. It need carry people no nearer to understandingthemselves. Individuality requires self-knowledge.And knowing what we are — and what we may become —has much to do with understanding the social and culturalcontext of which we are a part; observing, analysing andevaluating it. Cultural education is inquisitive and so is thepractical process of the arts. Participation — practising thearts — is important for that reason.57 Appreci- Second, many of the products of the arts — plays, paintings,ation literature, music, dancing — are integral features of thesocial culture. For this reason they are among those thingswhich pupils need to experience and understand if they areto make sense of their culture. Works of art have a specialsignificance because they are so intimately concerned withproblems of perception and understanding. To come toknow a work of art is to grapple personally with the ideasand values which it represents and embodies. By givingform to their own perceptions, artists can help us to makesense of ours. Appreciation — understanding and becomingsensitive to the work of other people — is important incultural education for that reason.40