Response: Growing Up Online

I think it’s very important for teachers and parents to embrace the fact that kids are growing up online, while arming the students with knowledge about how to be safe and responsible. I believe that the generation gap and lack of understanding of the importance of the student’s online identity is what leads to the most danger. With open communication between adults and children, the internet can offer creative outlets for young people that were not available when I was an adolescent. The girl, Jess, who created Autumn Edows represents an entire population of young people. I would be curious to know whether she considered herself an artist or took art classes at the school. Myspace gave her the opportunity to be a photographer, actress, makeup artist and model. The online age is combating the idea that only certain artists can define the period and end up in museums and books. Now, anyone can display personal artwork, receive feedback by the public and even become famous because of it. The artistic self-expression happening on social networking sites provides a great opportunity for art teachers to incorporate this interest into the classroom. To me, profile photos are similar to CD covers and I would love to create an art lesson about it. Online profiles can spark ideas for lessons about the different types of self-portraits, personal symbols, photography collections, graphic design and creative writing. I see this as an age that is opening a lot of doors for art education.