The Arts and the Creation of Mind [Paperback]

Elliot W. Eisner (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: September 10, 2004

Learning in and through the arts can develop complex and subtle aspects of the mind, argues Elliot Eisner in this engrossing book. Offering a rich array of examples, he describes different approaches to the teaching of the arts and shows how these refine forms of thinking that are valuable in dealing with our daily life
“Not since John Dewey has an American author written about art, education, and the creation of mind with such power and sensitivity.”—Michael Day, International Journal of Arts Education
“A primer for the future. . . . This book will serve as an inspiration for those needing the language to convince policy makers and curriculum developers of the value of the arts in education, while also serving as a vehicle for illustrating the educational aspirations the very best education can offer.”—Rita L. Irwin, Journal of Critical Inquiry Into Curriculum and Instruction
“[Eisner] has composed a text that is as insightful and inspirational as the educational research he envisions.”—James G. Henderson, International Journal of Education & the Arts

Editorial Reviews

From Library Journal

In this eloquent book, Eisner (education & art, Stanford) presents strong arguments for the inclusion of aesthetics as a core element of the school curriculum for all children. Eisner's work in this area is not as well known as Howard Gardner's (e.g., Frames of Mind; Intelligence Reframed), but since the 1960s he has been steadily promoting the ideal of diverse curricular emphases, including arts education. By analyzing student artwork as well as vignettes of good teaching, Eisner delves into both the theoretical (often citing John Dewey, Bruner, and Lev Vigotsky) and the practical applications of his insights. He firmly addresses assessment and evaluation in the arts, proposing a shift from the evaluation of outcomes to the evaluation of process. He also recommends an ongoing practice of criticism, engaged in by students and teachers together in the classroom, with the intention of improving both student work and programs of instruction. This persuasive work is recommended for academic and large public libraries.
Jean Caspers, Linfield Coll. Lib., McMinnville, OR
Copyright 2002 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Review

“By illuminating the various ways that making and appreciating art are cognitive endeavors, Eisner invites us to celebrate the uniqueness of art education and entices us to explore the rich connections between thinking and learning in the arts and in other areas.”—Shari Tishman, Harvard University

“Elliot Eisner is long regarded as one of the most eloquent and best informed of those critical of the technicism dominating so many schools. At once, he is known as a trailbreaker in contemporary efforts to make the artistic-aesthetic dimension of experience central in public education’s classrooms. This book reimagines the kinds of reforms needed in education, as it brings together Eisner’s generative notions about learning and teaching, arts-based research, and (climactically) a conception of mind as process, a way of being in and acting upon the world. Encounters with the arts, Eisner tells us, can nurture and enrich mind in its becoming. The very idea of “creation” in this context opens perspectives on ways of making “mind” the beating heart of live and humane schools.”—Maxine Greene, Teachers College, Columbia University

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 280 pages
• Publisher: Yale University Press (September 10, 2004)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0300105118
• ISBN-13: 978-0300105117
• Product Dimensions: 6.4 x 0.8 x 9.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #17,082 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #8 in Books > Arts & Photography > Study & Teaching
  • #57 in Books > Arts & Photography > History & Criticism > History

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Most Helpful Customer Reviews

10 of 13 people found the following review helpful

3.0 out of 5 stars Mixed feelings April 22, 2011

By J. Voigt

Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase

I know that this is one of the classic texts defending the need for a well-rounded arts education, but it's a bore. I am an art teacher and genuinely support the message of this text, but found it a challenging, dull, long read. The book is redundant and a bit difficult to follow. The author seems more interested in using academic jargon than defending the role of the arts in the development of the mind. This is a text that I will hang onto as a reference guide, but it is definitely not a text I found enjoyable to read.

7 of 9 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Very good resource for anyone working with students and art education March 18, 2009

By R. Manuel

Format:Paperback

Elliot Eisner has written a wonderful book about why arts are important for education- not as a supplement but as a way to learn. Recommended for anyone teaching children!