I teach high school art twice a week and was surprised to hear the kids talking all about Ukraine and Russia. They were repeating what the news and their teachers were saying (which were one in the same) and my hackles went up. This morning the principal prayed Putin would have a change of heart and withdraw. It’s a conservative school, but the majority of parents, students, and staff don’t have a clue. I have them again on Tuesday, and I want to be prepared. I’m going to do a lesson on propaganda in art, using what’s going on now to show them how what we’re told and even what we’re shown isn’t always the reality. Here’s where I need help. When things like this come up where there’s so much information and a limited amount of time and some know-it-all teenagers, I get tongue-tied and I can’t get the information in my brain to come out in a calm, sensical manner. Any suggestions are welcome! I’m planning on showing the map of the US bio labs and where Russia bombed those areas, the picture from last week, I think, of the kindergarten or daycare that was bombed yet the toys were still neatly put away and the video of the people running in front of the ancient tank on the green grass in winter and the dummy flying through the air. Sorry for the long post, but I want to do the best job I can to get through to these kids who will hopefully get through to their parents and other teachers.
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Since you're an art teacher, you've got a lot to work with.
Here's what I'd do.
Give all your students a piece of paper and ask them to draw a super hero of their own design.
Give them a decent amount of time to do this.
Then, surprise them all by telling them to hand their drawing to the person to their right.
Tell them to now draw one item in the other person's drawing that will turn the hero into a villain. If you want to keep it clean, tell them it has to be something non-violent -- which means no guns, gore, or anything else inappropriate.
...
What is the message of this exercise? To show how very easily you can vilify a hero by introducing one element that goes against their character.
Ultimately, you're showing them how easy the Media can spin real heroes and cast them as villains.
Please, don't mention Putin, Ukraine, Russia, or anything political. Just show them how easy it is to manipulate someone's character by context alone.
I like that! And you’re right—there are lots of examples of propaganda in art I can use. I don’t think I’d get in trouble for mentioning Ukraine and Russia, but my end goal is to teach them to not take everything at face value, and there’s lots of other times in history I can use.
That's the point. You want to foster those emotions, so they can come to terms with them. More importantly, so they can not lose control when their favorite politician gets railed.
The exercise is supposed to show how things we get attached to personally can be vilified and cause us to support destructive things.
Just because you like X politician now doesn't mean when bad crap comes out about them you should take it personally and start defending them.
Hell, I used to look up to Bill Cosby. See how that turned out? I'm not gonna say for certain he is guilty, but I'm not gonna defend him either.
There's no better demonstration of how destructive these emotions can be than the liberal left right now. Look at Biden.
You got people defending his deals in Ukraine. They aren't even bothering to deny it anymore, they admit he did it but still try to blame Trump for trying to catch him in his deals as if Trump is at fault.
They grew attached to the Democrat party, like they would their superhero drawing, and get into a frenzy when someone tries to vilify their personal vision of their hero. It's not healthy to be that attached to something, even if its your own Creation. Doing so only turns you into a control freak, and can lead you down some dark and unhappy paths.
I know what you're saying though...
If I had some advice on how to handle those who couldn't take the swell of emotion this project would illicit, don't tell them it's a group project. Instead, tell them they won't be able to keep their drawing but you still expect them to try as hard as they can.
You could also have the students do it themselves, like the paintings in Disney's haunted mansion, the ones that look innocent until they stretch and you see other stuff.
Or even have the person to the right make up the story about that character. It will probably be completely different than what the original artist intended. Any news story with “someone familiar with the way they think” is propaganda. Check out the Smith Muntz act which legalized propaganda. There’s a picture out there too somewhere that shows a media camera showing someone getting stabbed when it’s really the person running away.
Such a good idea 👍🏻
Great strategy.
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Be prepared to lose your job if you aren’t careful. I would definitely go ahead with a propaganda in art lesson but I would not use any really current examples. I would certainly emphasize how important it is to recognize propaganda and to do your own research rather than just believe what they tell you.
I appreciate your efforts to redpill people but the school is the wrong place for that. We complain about the liberals proselytizing their political religion at school, I wouldn't feel right doing the same thing from a conservative point of view either. Stick to your subject. You're a teacher.
If I had students ask me about Russia and Ukraine I'd keep the answer high level and tell them to always seek additional information and not just believe what the news has to say. Let the kids have their own analytical thinking and come to their own conclusions. They are forbidden from analytical thinking in so many other subjects it would be a real gift for them to be able to use their own critical thinking instead of being forced to eat then puke "facts" without real thought.
https://t.me/FTFoYGL/630
Here you go.
Ask them questions. Why didn't Putin shut down internet? Like, did he want the world to see or something???? Hey, why are the sites he's hitting biolabs?! What's he doing hitting biolabs and leaving civilians alone???
Wow, what's up with US Embassy deleting documents? Of the biolabs? Why would they do that?!
Don't tell them. Do like Q does. Ask them questions. Make them wonder why shit doesn't make no sense.
Excellent idea! I’m still trying to get into the mindset of asking questions to get others to think and see for themselves. Ultimately, that’s what I want the students to be able to do. I get so caught up sometimes in trying to get others to see and I forget the best way is for them to logically think it out for themselves.
Hard practice to get in the habit of using, but it sure as hell is the most effective
I also like telling people what to do. Sometimes even when you show them logic, they turn away. And then my next step is to tell them exactly what's what and let them deal.
But in terms of content, our channel has a decent amount of up to date info.
Yes. Use Socratic Method.
It’s not worth it right now. Let it play out. The truth will come
You have to keep in mind that these are high school students. I think it’s fantastic that you want to do what you wanna do. But I would do it in a manner that you would have the most affect.
What you were talking about above is taking red pills and shoving them up all those kids asses. I don’t think that’s a good approach. You should pick some gentle red pills, and slowly introduce into your lessons propaganda artwork.
If you teach art then use art. recently there was somebody posting artwork around Washington DC I think it was, and it was exposing Biden for who he is. I think it was black red and white.
Do some research on former wars, and how they used Memes, or artwork, to change the narrative, or cause fear. There’s a meme that has an eyes nose, and some fingertips - but I can’t remember what the saying was Leroy was here, or somebody was here. Anyway you get the point… That was used a long time ago for the war.
By using past propaganda, and current propaganda side-by-side might be more effective. There’s plenty of Memes and art work that you can choose from. I wouldn’t be in too big of a hurry, take your time, and put something together. Even if it means waiting until the next time you see the kids in class.
This topic is not going to disappear in the near future so you have plenty of time. Pray, ask the Lord to guide you, and be prepared to lose your job if you go the route you originally were going to go.
I appreciate your enthusiasm and having a avenue to reach out to the kids, but take it easy - Think it through, and post what you decide to do once you have taught the kids. I’m interested in hearing what you come up with - And more importantly… Their reaction.
Thank you! This is how I’m going to approach it. Sometimes I have a hard time slowing down and taking my time. It’s hard when I want them to understand everything right now(!), but going the slow and steady route and getting them to think for themselves is what I really want them to learn.
Best of luck to you. I would love to hear or see a post of what happens in the future. He will be making a difference. Either way you’ll be making a difference and that’s what counts.
Just let it play out first. They will catch up later.
I was thinking that, too. Who knows what’s going to be happening by Tuesday.
Show your students the movie "Wag the Dog".
Have you considered teaching the children to ask questions. Ask them why they think Putin is bombing Ukraine. Ask what is Putin bombing. The kids won't know but you can use that as an invitation to explain how people have their own reasons for acting, even if we don't understand.
I always thought gun owners were irresponsible and dangerous people until the day I asked a man wearing an NRA hat to please explain it to me. He spoke about the need for free people to protect themselves against their government and protect their families and how the only thing stopping our government from eventually becoming totalitarian is our ability to defend ourselves. Then I understood.
My story isn't one you can teach little children without getting fired, but helping them question people's perspectives may help the kids learn to think critically.
Too bad that if you openly tell your students the truth about Putin taking out the labs and apprehending cabal members, you will probably be relieved of your employment. Only option is considerable cleverness in opening young minds. I'm certain you are well-capable of this.
Thank you! I’m working on the lesson right now. I’m not going to give an opinion one way or another, but I’m hoping through the images and videos I show them, and having them analyze what they’re really looking at, that they’ll start to question what’s really going on for themselves.
Thank you all for your comments! I’m starting to form some ideas in my head. First thing I realize I need to do is take a deep breath and step back. I’m going to go the asking questions to get them thinking route, because what I’m really trying to teach them is to think for themselves and to research to find out if what they’re being told is true. The school emphasizes critical thinking skills and it’s just frustrating to see the administration doesn’t realize they’re not thinking critically about what’s going on now. I can get riled up about things like this, so thank you for helping me see a better route to go!
Discredit the MSM with all the lies. What they label as “conspiracy theories” are true now. (Obama spying, Hillary colluding with Russia) 2 weeks to flatten the curve, 1💉 to get rid of covid and return to normal. People mock MSM now, should they now believe what they are reporting?
The most I'd do with colleagues in academia would be this: "well if the corporate media says Putin bad, it must be true."