A good textbook would have to have lots of faces. Kids need to see examples of civilized, effective, kind and intelligent adults.
It's a good idea to get these pictures from fine art sources. Fine art does a good job of isolating noble qualities.
Some of these fine art faces also get across the idea of man as a rational, fundamentally decent being. What an interesting idea to propose to kids who may see only the dark side of life at home!
21 comments:
what about those kids who are raised in sheltered overbearing homes? where they know nothing of the outside world? what would you put in your textbook for them?
fine art paintings of nekkid ladies!
Who's the top artist?
Would putting Sir Issac Newton on a math textbook be a good idea? Possibly.
However, I'm not sure how well this would encourage kids to learn more. I'll bet this pictures would only end up with graffiti like moustaches, arrows through the head, KISS tongue with blood dripping off it, speech balloon saying "I am gay", etc.
That certainly would have happened at my school.
David, Evan: I don't think these pictures are boring even though I admit that they beg for moustaches and arrows. I would say they're interesting pictures that are irresistable targets for jokes. Lots of good stuff lends itself to satire. That seems normal to me and it's certainly no reason to delete good things from our lives.
Fine art includes so many catagories: paintings, drawings, porcelein tea cups, fans, guilded clocks, fancy bureaus, carpets...nobody can honestly claim to like it all. Any fine art in a book is bound to leave some of the readers cold, even if they have good taste in other areas. For me that's not a reason to leave art out. The only graphic we could all agree on is naked women but that's a hard sell for the parents who have to pay for the textbooks.
Yasamin: I just took a look at your blog. You sure have a knack for words. My favorite opening sentense: "I just want one spoonfull of mint-chocolate chip ice cream! Is that too much to fucking ask!?"
Just to be the ever-present fly in your porridge:
I wouldn't pick these as particular examples of "noble" faces, and I agree that these would bore kids to death. I also take issue with this idea you have that the poor, unwashed, ignorant Dickensian kiddies in their dark and dreary homes are starved for real kultur. It's not that bad, Uncle Eddie, truly! As you yourself have pointed out, kids always find the gems amind the dross of daily life, the magic; they are irrepressible. : )
I think kids textbooks should be illlustrated like the "Tales from Many Lands" books my brother had as a kid: fantastic, not-too-realistic watercolors, fun illustrations, colorful and imaginative. Forget B/W photos of "great master" drawings--those damn things are a turn off unless seen in person. I fell asleep watching slides of them in art history and I LOVE those artists! Not trying to burst your bubble for mere sport, just trying to be realistic here about the best way to positively subvert the infants' educations.
Anonymous: LOL! I don't know if I've ever seen the "Tales from Many Lands" books but they sound interesting. Why not post a few scans from the book somewhere where we can see them?
Eddie, i have a question! Would you mind contacting me per email? Please? dploechinger@gmx.de
many thanks and utmost sincerely,
d.
http://www.fiona.co.jp/images/PICTURE_BOOK/KINDERGARTEN/FAVORITE_TALES_MANY_LANDS.jpg
is this an example of the "Tales of Many Lands" books you're talking about?
can't we all just agree on Rockwell, NC Wyeth or Howard Pyle? i'm sorry, but the "Tales" cover does not interest me at all.
Off the topic question. In the scene of Stimpy's Pregnant where Ren starts yelling out, "CRAP, CRAP, CRAP!" are those your drawings of Stimpy? I love that face he makes before he bites his nail.
And I forgot to mention, I heard you laughing in the scenes that had laughter inserted.
Katzenjammer: My server won't allow me to go to that site. AArrrggghhh!!! Maybe if I change my browser...
Anonymous: Holy Cow! This sounds mysterious! Can't you write about it here?
The other Anonymous (sometimes I think this blog resembles a class re-union of the CIA): I don't remember working on that scene. I wish I had!
>> Anonymous: Holy Cow! This sounds mysterious! Can't you write about it here?
Not really, some things just embarrass me too much! Ok, it's some portfolio/industry related questions i have. Wouldn't want to waste your time though.
have a wonderful evening,
d.
Katzenjammer: Jesus H, NO!! A 1,000 times NO! That book you found is UUUUUUGLY.
I just used the title(it was a real book, but a much earlier one, from the 50s), really; I guess I meant a book that had "historical" illustrations by the Provensons, or whatsisname, Jim Flora, or some other wild, insane but attractive artist--or hell, Wyeth would do in a pinch. ; )
QUOTE: "Kids need to see examples of civilized, effective, kind and intelligent adults."
Amen to that! The cheap, comedic short-cut of showing all adults as cluless bunglers has resulted in a generation or two that accepts this as the "golden standard" for all big 'uns. Such positive reinforcement would be refreshing.
Eddie~ yeah im just a regular shakespeare... there are days when im eloquent and wonderful and days when i feel i need to be a complete jackass to get my point across. isnt life grand?
>>In an unrelated topic, I've been looking for great images of like what people in the 1950s thought the future would look like. Kinda like the old Disney Tomorrowland stuff. Do you have any?<<
Evan,
If you haven't already gone this route, magazines like Popular Science are a great source. I've been digging for a particular 1950's "invention of tomorrow" illustration, which depicts an entire nuclear family enjoying the ride of their lives in their new tundra-friendly ice car.
Vintage copies, to clarify.
Spizz: Popular Science used to be a great magazine, especially in the 1930s. The picture you had in mind sounds great!
I'm impressed with your site, very nice graphics!
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