Scenes Of American Life: Treasures from the Smithsonian American Art Museum. . - Reviews: A-V/Visual/CD-ROM - video recording review

Arts & Activities, Feb, 2002 by Barbara Herberholz

SCENES OF AMERICAN LIFE: Treasures from the Smithsonian American Art Museum. Video/10 min./Study Guide/10 slides/Ten 8 1/2" x 11" posters/$75. Level: Secondary. Crystal Productions, P.O. Box 2159, Glenview, IL 60025, (800) 255-8629.

Classroom teachers who have this thorough and well-done packaged program will be able to enrich their curriculum in a variety of ways since it is based on the National History Standards and conforms to art, social studies and American history curricula. The short video provides an excellent allover view of American art, and the posters and slides will find many uses.

The Study Guide for teachers is divided into six units: Rural Life, The Great Depression, Industry, Leisure, Post-War Alienation and Urban Life. Works show images of jazz and street life, farms and factories, and workers and families. Included are works by Alexander Hogue, Edward Hopper, Jacob Lawrence, Ross Dickinson, Moses Soyer, Joseph Rugolo and Gertrude Goodrich. Background is given for each artist. The lesson is neatly divided into What Do You See? What Does the Painting Tell You? Why Was It Painted This Way? and Who Is the Artist? Also included are research sections for grade levels 7-8 and 9-12, along with resources listing books and Web sites. This art package is designed to develop an increased awareness of the role of the arts in reflecting social, cultural and political history; to stimulate an interest in American social studies and history; and to develop critical and analytical thinking.-B.H. For information about this program, circle No. 397 on the Reader Service Card.