Anneli Porri

From Art in the Dark to Art in Action: Paradigm Shift in Art History Pedagogy

Anneli Porri – Estonian Academy of Arts, Tallinn, Estonia

Abstract:

Traditionally, art history has been taught using a teacher-centred, lecture-based method illustrated with slides, where the learner primarily assumes a passive role as a listener and memorizer. This teaching method does not provide sufficient opportunities for learners to actively practice and acquire the skills needed to analyse and interpret a work of art as a complex and meaning-rich object. By linking the learning outcomes of art history education with the competencies of visual literacy, we can establish a more authentic and diverse range of activities, enabling the learner to become an active user of these competencies. The discourse on the pictorial turn also supports an active approach in the art history learning process. It shifts the focus not only to the content and historical context of the works but also to their impact on the viewer, critical thinking, the recognition of ideologies, and visual literacy. Therefore, I focus on the process of analysing works of art as the intersection of art history competence and visual literacy, positioning the teacher as a facilitator and scaffolder in the learning process. This approach takes into account both the individual characteristics of learners and the principles of effective learning. I highlight challenges raised during interviews and surveys with Estonian art history educators and students, such as what prevents educators from making their courses more activity-based, as well as students’ expressed need for greater interaction. Finally, I discuss possibilities for transforming teaching from a tradition-based model into one informed by contemporary learning theory.