Kuba+Bwoom+mask+art+lesson

Art Lesson #1

The Multi-functional Mask across Cultures

Middle School

4 class periods

This lesson meets the following [|National Standards for Arts Education] Grade 5-8, Visual Art Standards 1,2,4,5

Central Concept: Masks may serve multiple purposes within the culture which creates them. For example the Bwoom mask of the Kuba culture of Africa serves as ceremonial marker of rites of passage, theater prop, artefact of individual expression, and delineator of its owner/wearer's wealth and social status.

Lesson Activities

Activity 1: Exploration of the Boom mask's cultural significance. 1/2 class period. Information drop: background on Kuba culture a. teacher leads discussion analyzing Bwoom mask based on these questions; "What do you see?" refer to compositional choices, colors, construction materials, degree of stylization "What is the effect of the artist's choices?" emotional/aesthetic response? "What seems to be the intent?" bring in understanding from the information drop

Acivity 2: Exploration of masks from other cultures. 1 1/2 class periods. a. Students divided into groups. b. Each group assigned a mask from a different culture. example; Japanese Noh mask, Greek theater mask, Native American mask, others with images to follow. c.Each group researches mask's native culture and the mask's significance within that culture using print, online and other appropriate sources such as interviewing scholars, artists, other available, relevant and willing experts. d.Groups report findings to the whole class.

Activity 3: Mask making. 2 class periods. a. Demonstration of papier mache mask making and decorating. b. Divide into groups again, to invent a culture and make 1 or 2 masks serving 3-4 purposes within the newly minted culture. Alternative:members of the group can be various experts,sociologists, anthropologists, on an archeological dig who find the mask(s) and reconstruct the culture which made it/them. c. Report/demonstrate findings for the rest of the class.