Jonathan R. Aubin
The objectives of this unit are two–fold: first, I would like to tap into my students' creative and artistic potential. As a teacher at a health and business magnet school, there are no art classes available to my students. Therefore, I see it as my obligation to expose them to forms of self–expression they don't normally access in school. If a student's artistry is not fostered and encouraged, there is a very good chance it will wither on the vine. Artistic talent is like a muscle or a foreign language; you must either use or lose it. Second, I want to reach students who are reluctant readers. It is no secret the attention span of your average fourteen–year–old rivals that of a gnat. Their lives are fragmented into a series of digital avatars through texts, Twitter, Facebook, and videogames. Why not at least attempt to meet them halfway by furnishing them with content that is as fresh, young, and vital as they are? I see graphic novels as the perfect antidote to digital media. This is why you won't see any references to illustration software or other computer applications in this unit. Yes, illustration software is out there and it is certainly helpful to the right student; however, this unit is about peeling our students' eyes away from the screen and onto the page. In order to become an artist, one must first see as an artist, with fresh eyes. Students with eyes affixed to their phones, tablets, and televisions cannot see clearly. Only by re–contextualizing and reinvigorating the printed page can we, as educators, hope to create students with the ability to think critically, explore boldly, and create masterfully.