Who is the Ultimate Artist, but God? When our incredibly talented Elyse Gosselin was writing our Integrated Arts course, she wanted to convey that it is through the Lord that we get our creativity. Who better a teacher of arts than the one who created them?
In this course, students will discuss what it means to be creative and explore where our creative nature comes from. They will explore art in their communities, focus on both visual art appreciation and creation, examine and practice techniques of dance and drama, and develop a theoretical and practical understanding of how music works.
Course Highlights
Course Breakdown
This course is divided into six units, all with different themes connected to a Christian perspective.
Unit 1 is a short, introductory unit in which students will discuss what it means to be creative and will explore where our creative nature comes from. As Christians, we believe that we are made in the image of God, and as such, our creativity comes from Him.
Unit 2 gives students the opportunity to explore art in our communities, careers in art, and general considerations that people must make while viewing and creating artwork. Students will also learn about the creative process and explore how to better plan their own artwork.
Unit 3 will focus on both visual art appreciation and creation. Students will have the opportunity to view and appreciate art by a variety of Canadian artists such as the Group of Seven, Alan Sapp, and Jim Logan, as well as explore pieces by Christian visual artists such as Mindi Oaten and Ron DiCianni. Students will also learn to use the creative and critical analysis processes to interpret art and eventually create their own “work of art with a message”. In this unit, students will be encouraged to use their faith as a point of inspiration when creating their artwork. Finally, this unit will outline the importance of using ongoing reflection and feedback to make improvements in their artwork.
Unit 4 will allow students to examine and practice the artistic elements and techniques of drama and dance, exploring the connection of dance and drama to their own culture as well as the wider world. More importantly, students will consider how dance and drama can be used for worship and to glorify God.
In Unit 5, students will develop a theoretical and practical understanding of how music works. They will be introduced to the technical details of music such as its elements and techniques, and will have the opportunity to reflect on music. Students will explore how music is used for worship and analyze the lyrics of a worship song. Students will also have the chance to explore different career options in music.
The final unit, Unit 6, allows students to explore theatre, film, and media arts, demonstrating how the arts can be unified to create a single piece of integrated art. Students will have the opportunity to view and analyze a short film and consider the extensive arts required to produce a commercial. Finally, students will take time to plan and explore techniques and strategies for the final assessment while being encouraged to use their faith and God-given abilities as a starting point.
At the end of the course, students will have the opportunity to reflect on their growth as artists. Hopefully they will also consider how they have grown as Christians as well! To learn more about this course, you can view the course outline on our website.
