Art and the TOK Presentation

       I recently completed my theory of knowledge presentation, while I have not received my marks back at this point I believe that for any student completing an IB art course you have the wonderful opportunity to involve the things you have learned as part of your art curriculum. Art presents a wonderful pool of multidimensional real life situations and knowledge issues that make it a perfect subject to explore and connect with your TOK lessons.
       I instantly knew I wanted my presentation to involve art, as it can be easily connected to everything. (That's right, I said everything - math, biology, psychology, ethics, reason, emotion, geography, history, the list goes on.) The trouble I had was actually picking one real life situation and trying to stay on topic throughout without sounding like I was going on some wild art rant.
Because nothing is right or wrong in art you can manipulate it to say whatever you want, given you back up your points with evidence. Opposed to studies and theories, art generally has lots of reviews, critiques and commentaries you can draw opinions and concepts from.
       Before you can sit down and start preparing your presentation you need to find a point where you can jump off into. Think of it like this: before you jump off a diving board (your real life situation/KI) you need to make sure there is enough water to catch you so that you don't break a bone on the bottom, but not so much that the currents will drown you in a slow and predictable manner. So basically before you start making your presentation ensure you have enough evidence and information to cushion your fall but not too much too suffocate and overwhelm you.
I realize that knowledge issues can be hard to come by, but go back to my post on inspiration and try to find some area of art knowledge that really sets you off. Then write out some preliminary notes and let your creative juices flow before you get "organized". Some issues in art you could discuss are;
- what is art?
- what is controversial in art?
- what is beauty's place in art?
- art and ethics, is there a moral right and wrong?
- art as an interpersonal and intrapersonal concept?
- art and culture/class/language
- reasonable ways to critique art (reason, ethics, values)
These obviously aren't fully developed KI's but they provide a base point, find something you love and learn about it until you have enough perspectives and evidence to make a presentation.
       Lastly, because your presentation is on art you can include different examples from movements throughout art history and have them support or refute your KI. In doing so make sure you show lots of images to engage the audience and help them further their understanding of your presentation.

I have decided to include a favorite piece of art at the end of each post I make from now on:
This week's is Carcass of Beef by Chaim Soutine
 
All the best on your TOK presentations,
         Clare