Review of Art as Social Action: An Introduction to the Principles and Practices of Teaching Social Practice Art

Abstract

In this contribution, the author reviews the book, Art as Social Action: An Introduction to the Principles and Practices of Teaching Social Practice Art. Acknowledging the timely nature of this anthology of essays, interviews, and lesson plans, the reviewer strongly recommends the book for teachers of contemporary art. In the review, the author opens with personal context for the review, a brief overview of contents and a description of the editors’ professional backgrounds. Interested in the usefulness of lesson plans for teachers, the reviewer analyzes the over 43 lesson plans and identifies three themes around which to provide a summary. Salient information is also extracted from essays and interviews. The author concludes by commenting more broadly on contributions and challenges associated with this anthology, troubling the use of the term “lesson plan” to describe social practice and calling for widening the conversation to include art educators and qualitative/post-qualitative researchers whose work focuses on social justice pedagogies.

Keywords

• socially engaged art
• pedagogy
• social justice
• contemporary art