Emily’s Art by Peter Catalanotto
is an important children’s book because it raises questions
that include: What is art? Who is an artist? What criteria should
be used
to judge good art? How is art created? How is art viewed and interpreted?
In the prologue of the book, there is a conversation between the teacher, Ms.
Fair, and her students. The first philosophical question set comes from this
part of the book and addresses contests and subjectivity versus objectivity.
The questions should allow the students to discuss the differences
between
subjective
things and objective things while comparing an art contest and a science contest.
With a science contest, participants have to include a hypothesis, an experimental
methods section, along with results and conclusion sections. By comparison, there
is
usually
not
criteria for an art contest. Because there are criteria in a science contest
it is easier
to judge and not much opinion or emotion is involved. An art contest is difficult
to judge because it deals with perception, interpretation, personal biases against
subject matter, colors, and/or straight lines, etc.
The next set of questions explores the aesthetics of philosophy by discussing
the
definition
of art, how to determine if Emily is making art, and if she’s an artist.
The philosophical question of “what is art” has been around for
years and is still a debate for modern-day philosophers. With these questions,
a conversation can be generated to discuss whether things like music, dancing,
and singing are considered art. Is a blue square on a piece of paper artwork?
Does art have to be man-made? Who gets to decide whether or not something is
art? Further, what makes an artist? Must one be famous to be considered a “real” artist?
If I say that I am an artist, does that mean that I am? If not, then what would
I have to do to really be considered an artist?
The third and fourth question sets discuss the issue of judging in “Emily’s
Art.” Moral philosophy is brought into question when the children debate
whether or not the judging was fair in this book. The judge of the art contest
makes the declaration that she is the judge because her cousin is married to
an artist. This is not a necessary or sufficient reason for being the judge of
an art contest. It doesn‘t matter who her cousin is married to
or
illustrate what kind of knowledge she has about art. This declaration brings
up the issues of how a judge should be chosen, and also what kind of artwork
should
win a contest. The judge shouldn’t use her own prejudices against the subject
matter to determine the ‘best’ painting as she does. How should one
judge artwork - is there ever a fair way to judge, or will bias always
be involved?
The fifth question set discusses the meaning of the phrase “to hurt someone’s
heart.” When Emily says this to the nurse, was she being literal or metaphoric?
At this point the students can go around in a circle and talk briefly about times
that they can remember their heart hurting. What does it mean to have your heart
be hurt? What was really going on with Emily, and why did her heart hurt? Is
it worst to have your heart hurt, or to hurt another part of your body like
your leg? What are the differences between these two pains, and how does the ‘healing’ process
differ?
The final philosophic topic allows the students to explore the issue of the artist’s
intention versus the viewer’s interpretation. When the thinks Emily’s
painting is of a rabbit, she thinks Emily’s painting is the best. Once
she is told Emily’s painting is really of a dog, of which the judge is
afraid, she chooses another painting as the best. One of the wonderful aspects
about art is that it is hard to define and another is that it will never be viewed
or interpreted the same way twice. Art does not have to be interpreted exactly
as the artist intended it. Also, maybe an artist shouldn’t even have an
intention. One thought about art is that it is the product of an emotional exploration.
If this is true, then the artist cannot work on a piece with a final product
in mind. Otherwise, it would not be true art, according to some philosophers.
This
story
raises many important philosophical issues about art and these issues should
be discussed.
Continue
to question set for this story
