Group 6

Visual arts  

The visual arts are an integral part of everyday life, permeating all levels of human creativity, expression,  communication and understanding. They range from traditional forms embedded in local and wider  communities, societies and cultures, to the varied and divergent practices associated with new, emerging  and contemporary forms of visual language. They may have sociopolitical impact as well as ritual, spiritual,  decorative and functional value; they can be persuasive and subversive in some instances, enlightening and  uplifting in others. We celebrate the visual arts not only in the way we create images and objects, but also  in the way we appreciate, enjoy, respect and respond to the practices of art-making by others from around  the world. Theories and practices in visual arts are dynamic and ever-changing, and connect many areas of  knowledge and human experience through individual and collaborative exploration, creative production  and critical interpretation. 

The IB Diploma Programme visual arts course encourages students to challenge their own creative  and cultural expectations and boundaries. It is a thought-provoking course in which students develop  analytical skills in problem-solving and divergent thinking, while working towards technical proficiency and  confidence as art-makers. In addition to exploring and comparing visual arts from different perspectives  and in different contexts, students are expected to engage in, experiment with and critically reflect upon a  wide range of contemporary practices and media. The course is designed for students who want to go on to  study visual arts in higher education as well as for those who are seeking lifelong enrichment through visual  arts.  

Supporting the International Baccalaureate mission statement and learner profile, the course encourages  students to actively explore the visual arts within and across a variety of local, regional, national,  international and intercultural contexts. Through inquiry, investigation, reflection and creative application,  visual arts students develop an appreciation for the expressive and aesthetic diversity in the world around  them, becoming critically informed makers and consumers of visual culture.  

The arts aims 

The aims of the arts subjects are to enable students to: 

1. enjoy lifelong engagement with the arts 

2. become informed, reflective and critical practitioners in the arts 3. understand the dynamic and changing nature of the arts 

4. explore and value the diversity of the arts across time, place and cultures 5. express ideas with confidence and competence 

6. develop perceptual and analytical skills. 

Visual arts aims 

In addition, the aims of the visual arts course at SL and HL are to enable students to: 7. make artwork that is influenced by personal and cultural contexts 8. become informed and critical observers and makers of visual culture and media 9. develop skills, techniques and processes in order to communicate concepts and ideas.

Introduction

Assessment objectives 

Having followed the visual arts course at SL or HL, students will be expected to: 

Assessment objective 1: demonstrate knowledge and understanding of specified content a. Identify various contexts in which the visual arts can be created and presented 

b. Describe artwork from differing contexts, and identify the ideas, conventions and techniques  employed by the art-makers 

c. Recognize the skills, techniques, media, forms and processes associated with the visual arts  d. Present work, using appropriate visual arts language, as appropriate to intentions Assessment objective 2: demonstrate application and analysis of knowledge and understanding a. Express concepts, ideas and meaning through visual communication  

b. Analyse artworks from a variety of different contexts 

c. Apply knowledge and understanding of skills, techniques, media, forms and processes related to art making 

Assessment objective 3: demonstrate synthesis and evaluation 

a. Critically analyse and discuss artworks created by themselves and others and articulate an informed  personal response  

b. Formulate personal intentions for the planning, development and making of artworks that consider  how meaning can be conveyed to an audience 

c. Demonstrate the use of critical reflection to highlight success and failure in order to progress work d. Evaluate how and why art-making evolves and justify the choices made in their own visual practice Assessment objective 4: select, use and apply a variety of appropriate skills and techniques a. Experiment with different media, materials and techniques in art-making  

b. Make appropriate choices in the selection of images, media, materials and techniques in art-making 

c. Demonstrate technical proficiency in the use and application of skills, techniques, media, images,  forms and processes  

d. Produce a body of resolved and unresolved artworks as appropriate to intentions