Why I Use Reality Competition Shows in the Art Room

During my first go round at the high school level, students learned about color theory before winter break and we would use frosting and food coloring to create cakes in a color scheme. I would reference two popular competitive baking shows at the time (Ace of Cakes and Cake Boss) but we didn't watch them. I don't think I had the ability to save/record or project the shows or it just didn't occur to me.

With our last week of school coming up I was trying to think of something similar, but there are now restrictions on students eating food in my classroom, so we went another way. I decided to show my students the Netflix show Blown Away* and it was such a great decision.

For background, our admin cancelled final exams and are collecting the ipads from our seniors which doesn't leave me with a lot of options. This is my Art 4 class and 80% of the kids are at home this year.  I can't really assign new work since grades are due before the last day. So most days I'm sitting in the room with a small handful of kids. This week it ended up being one girl. One. Also known as super awkward art class. So I thought I'd introduce the show a day early to test it out, and avoid the awkward situation of us in the room for 80 minutes.

As we watched the show together it became abundantly clear that I NEED to show something like this to ALL of my students before the first critique of the year. There is so much modeling of the studio habits and art criticism that was so much more meaningful than me explaining it to them on a worksheet. Let's break it down:

1. Prompts: Each of these shows regardless of end product give a prompt of some sort (design a birdhouse, create a vessel) that is open for interpretation

2. Limitations: The judges on the show always introduce a restrictions of time, media, size or color palette 

3. Rubric: Prior to saying "Go!" the judges reveal the categories upon which they will be judged.

4. Planning: The shows often include brief interview with the artist where they outline their plan and or materials and explain their rationale for the direction they have chosen. This time may also include a biography in which students can hear about a wide range of career pathways and programs of study. 

5. Formative Assessment: The judges circulate throughout the competition asking the artists clarifying questions or reminding the contestants of the limitation or criteria.

6. Trial and Error: We see the artists push the boundaries and fail. They regroup and try again.

7. Reflection: Prior to the judging portion of the show, there is often a second interview with the artist where they self-reflect on the process and how they did, what they would do different, what they are proud of and what they learned.

8. Critique: Some shows have judges meet privately while viewing the work, some review the work in front of the artist, some ask the artist to present and defend the work (Hello, artist statement).

9. Feedback: At the end of the episode, the judges reveal the winner (or loser) and explain why the person who is going home was eliminated.

I'm pretty sure the lesson plan just wrote itself. And now, when I watch season 3 of Making It this summer, I can tell myself I'm "lesson planning"

* This is not a sponsored post. I used my personal Netflix account to share in class. There is mild profanity in this specific show that is not censored out when the contestants glass pieces are broken. Make sure that is allowed in your setting.