The U-curve going Dutch: Cultural differences in artistic graphic development.

F.H. Haanstra, M-L Damen, M. van Hoorn

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceedingChapterAcademic

Abstract

The U-curve model of graphic development posits a decline in aesthetic production in middle childhood. This theoretical model has been criticized for having an underlying Western and modernist bias and a number of empirical studies have tried to confirm or disprove its assumptions. This study is a partial replication of previous research that was done to challenge U-curve findings in order to show that the model reflects cultural-specific aesthetic judgements, rather than universal trends. To demonstrate this, artists and art educators from different cultural backgrounds judged a cross-cultural collection of drawings by children from different age groups (5-, 8-, 11- and 14-year-olds), adult non-artists and artists. The results indicate that differences in the cultural background of the judges generated different developmental patterns in aesthetic production.
Original languageUndefined/Unknown
Title of host publicationFrom child art to visual language of youth. New models and tools for assessment of learning and creation in art education.
EditorsA Karpati, E Gaul
Place of PublicationBristol
PublisherIntellect
Pages211-231
Number of pages21
ISBN (Print)978-1-84150-624-1
Publication statusPublished - 2013

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