John Dewey and the Lessons of Art (Paperback)

by Mr. Philip W. Jackson (Author), Philip W. Jackson (Author) "John Dewey's Art as Experience (1934) begins by sidestepping the arts completely, even though art stands as the first word in the title..." (more)
Key Phrases: normally complete experience, qualitative immediacy, pervasive quality, Laboratory School, New York, Double Negative (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Review
"Philip Jackson's searching meditations on Dewey and art are of abiding interest for all of us who care about our lives and how we nurture and nourish our children." Howard Gardner, Harvard Graduate School of Education "Jackson presents a useful and...insightful review of John Dewey's systematic consideration of the arts...Jackson examines Dewey's theories on how the arts might help people live their lives differently. He also asks teachers of all kinds to consider how they might use the 'lessons' of art in their role as educators...This book makes a sound addition to commentary on the writings of John Dewey and to the fields of curriculum studies, educational philosophy, and arts education." Choice

Product Description
This study examines John Dewey's thinking about the arts and explores the practical implications of that thinking for educators. The author introduces the basics of Dewey's aesthetic theory and then looks at the ways in which a work of art can affect its creator and audience.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 224 pages
• Publisher: Yale University Press (February 1, 2000)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0300082894
• ISBN-13: 978-0300082890
• Product Dimensions: 9.1 x 6.1 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 10.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #190,745 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars make and do, June 18, 2003

By	W. Jamison "William S. Jamison" (Eagle River, Ak United States) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

John Dewey and the Lessons of Art by Philip W. Jackson:
Jackson argues that Dewey may never really have enjoyed art for arts sake but dealt with art as something to explore how his philosophical principles should be applied to it. Among the interesting themes in this book concern the laboratory school's growth out of Dewey's goal to increase the attraction of education to more students. Most young people wanted to get to making and doing and work and did not have the interest in more abstract learning. The laboratory school was an attempt to get students to "make and do" but focus on abstract learning doing it. Jackson examines the dilemma this causes in that teachers tend to do less abstract learning and overall learning declines as a result, and that Dewey tried to work with this dilemma but didn't quite get the message out. It sounds a lot like the issues educators face today. If you keep the students interested will they be learning what they need to? Art is one way to make and do in the class room but does it achieve what classical education about art does?

2 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent and thought-provoking, July 9, 2004

By A Customer

This book has had a huge influence on my thinking. In clear prose Jackson lays out the phenomelogical approach of Dewey to art. It took me awhile to grasp where this was going, but when I did, it was trememdously rewarding. Highly recommended.