ERIC Number: EJ1197762
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2016
Pages: 8
Abstractor: ERIC
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-0004-3125
EISSN: N/A
Available Date: N/A
Exploring Bullying through Artmaking
Tellie, Benjamin; Dracup, Josh
Art Education, v69 n1 p8-15 2016
School bullying is a complicated aspect of violence. It can be difficult for teachers to identify bullying and hard for students to report. This can include behaviors that are "offensive, abusive, malicious, insulting, and/or intimidating" (Quigg, 2011, p. 1). Some students struggle with bullying in the classroom and in the general school setting, but also through the Internet, blogs, e-mail, text messaging, and phone use (Campbell, 2005). Bullying can affect students in a variety of ways including school absences due to fear of victimization, physical, verbal, and/or social abuse during the school day (Belliveau, 2004). As a result of bullying incidents, victims struggle with feelings and mental health issues associated with depression, anxiety, and loneliness (Graham, 2006). The causes of bullying are indeed complex and can be attributed toward a host of issues including, but not limited to, insufficient psychosocial functioning, behavioral issues, and hostility toward the school environment (Nansel et al., 2001). Sometimes, it is difficult for teachers to intervene when bullying occurs as many incidents are isolated within their class and they are unable to witness what is happening (Mishna, Scarcello, Pepler, & Wiener, 2005). To help reduce violence in their school communities and foster compassion in their students, the authors challenged their middle and high school students to place themselves in metaphorical roles by creating an original "defender" superhero character drawing, a power "creature" made out of clay, and a recycled material sculpture. These studio projects magnified students' personal stories about bullying as they reflected on positive values, personality traits, and power dynamics related to bullying. Students explored characteristics of bullies and many complexities that occur in bullying situations including social struggles, anger issues, frustrations, fears, and denial.
Descriptors: Bullying, Studio Art, Art Activities, Middle School Students, High School Students, Cartoons, Sculpture, Role Playing, Personality, Power Structure
Routledge. Available from: Taylor & Francis, Ltd. 530 Walnut Street Suite 850, Philadelphia, PA 19106. Tel: 800-354-1420; Tel: 215-625-8900; Fax: 215-207-0050; Web site: http://www.tandf.co.uk/journals
Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Descriptive
Education Level: Middle Schools; Secondary Education; Junior High Schools; High Schools
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Identifiers - Location: Massachusetts (Boston); Maryland
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A
Author Affiliations: N/A