Self and Society: Tracing Identity

Personal Symbols, Personal Mythology Teachers Guide

The ideas underlying a persons identity are numerous and complex. In these visual arts activities,
students will investigate three ideas within the larger scope of identity. Personal Symbols, Personal
Mythology explores how artists create their own visual myths and symbols to tell stories about
themselves and their cultures. Imagining Alter Egos: Life-Size Paper Dolls explores why artists
might assume alternate identities. And Unearthing Silenced Histories: Hidden-History Box looks at
artists who have delved into the past to tell stories that have never been told before about

Everyone searches for and finds his or her own identity through a wide variety of
experiences and expressions. Often a system of personal symbols can express
that identity. Artists may construct a private symbolic language in order to talk
about themselves or to grapple with the worlds injustices and challenges. In this
activity students will create a piece of art that reflects their own personal
symbolism.
The Big Idea
After completing all activities for the theme Self and Society: Tracing Identity,
students will understand the following big ideas. The italicized idea is
emphasized in the Personal Symbols, Personal Mythology activity.

What role do symbols play in defining a persons identity? Can symbols

have multiple meanings?
How do artists reveal their cultures (and their own) hidden or unheard
voices? How does an awareness of these voices change our views
about ourselves?
How do gender roles influence how we perceive identity?

To introduce the activity

01.
02.

03.

Review: With your students, go over the activitys overview and big idea.
Journal option: If you plan on doing more than one activity from this
theme, ask students to create a journal for it. The journal will allow them to
organize their research notes, brainstorms, projects, and reflections.
Preactivity class discussion: What is identity? Conduct a short
discussion about identity to prepare students for what they will see within
the activity screens. Some suggestions for discussion:
a. What are the different ways that people identify themselves? What are
some of the elements of your personal identity?
b. What personal characteristics matter most to you, in yourself and in
others? Why?
c. Who determines a persons identity: the individual or others around the
individual? Both? How does this work?

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Self and Society: Tracing Identity: Personal Symbols, Personal Mythology

04.

05.

d. Does identity stay constant throughout a persons life? If not, what makes
it change?
Activity prep: Depending on how much time is available, before viewing
the screens and delving into the artists work, you may want students to
write about their own views on gender and identity.
Explore online: Now your students are ready to explore the artists in
Making Sense of Modern Art and complete the activity steps (duplicated
below for your review).

Related Standards
Visual Arts Grades 9-12 Proficient
1.0 Artistic Perception
Analyze Art Elements and Principles of Design
1.3 Research and analyze the work of an artist and write about the artists
distinctive style and its contribution to the meaning of the work.
2.0 Creative Expression
Skills, Processes, Materials, and Tools
2.1 Solve a visual arts problem that involves the effective use of the elements of
art and the principles of design.
4.0 Aesthetic Valuing
Derive Meaning
4.1 Articulate how personal beliefs, cultural traditions, and current social,
economic, and political contexts influence the interpretation of the meaning or
message in a work of art.
Grades 9-12 Advanced
1.0 Artistic Perception
Impact of Media Choice
1.8 Analyze the works of a well-known artist as to the art media selected and the
effect of that selection on the artists style.
2.0 Creative Expression
Communicate and Express Through Original Works of Art
2.4 Demonstrate in their own works of art a personal style and an advanced
proficiency in communicating an idea, theme, or emotion.
2.5 Use innovative visual metaphors in creating works of art.
3.0 Historical and Cultural Context
Role and Development of the Visual Arts
3.1 Identify contemporary styles and discuss the diverse social, economic, and
political developments reflected in the works of art examined.
3.2 Identify contemporary artists worldwide who have achieved regional, national,
or international recognition and discuss ways in which their work reflects, plays a
role in, and influences present-day culture.

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Self and Society: Tracing Identity: Personal Symbols, Personal Mythology

4.0 Aesthetic Valuing

Derive Meaning
4.1 Describe the relationship involving the art maker (artist), the making
(process), the artwork (product), and the viewer.
4.2 Identify the intentions of artists creating contemporary works of art and
explore the implications of those intentions.
4.3 Analyze and articulate how society influences the interpretation and message
of a work of art.
Assessment
Students will be graded on:
01. Notes on symbols and artists in Making Sense of Modern Art
02. Quality, craft, and attention to design in self-portrait
03. Originality and completeness of self-portrait
04. Participation in class critique
05. Written reflection

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Self and Society: Tracing Identity: Personal Symbols, Personal Mythology

Personal Symbols, Personal Mythology Activity

Everyone searches for and finds his or her own identity through a wide variety of
experiences and expressions. Often a system of personal symbols can express
that identity. Artists may construct a private symbolic language in order to talk
about themselves or to grapple with the worlds injustices and challenges. In this
activity you will create a piece of art that reflects your own personal symbolism.
The Big Idea
What role do symbols play in defining a persons identity? Can symbols have
multiple meanings?
In this activity you will:
01. Look at several artists and their use of personal symbolism
02. List your own personal traits and create symbols to represent them
03. Create a self-portrait and present it to the class
04. Reflect on your classmates portraits and how their symbolism represents
their personalities
You will be graded on:
01. Notes on symbols and artists in Making Sense of Modern Art
02. Quality, craft, and attention to design in self-portrait
03. Originality and completeness of self-portrait
04. Participation in class critique
05. Written reflection
New terms: symbolism
Activity Steps
Create a piece of art that reflects your own personal symbolism.
01. Analyze: What is a symbol? Brainstorm a list of symbols as a class. Break
into small groups to write what you think each symbol means, and then rejoin
the class to create a master list of the various meanings attributed to the
symbols. Think about the following questions:
a. Does everyone assume a particular symbol means the same thing?
b. How are the various proposed meanings similar and different?
c. What are some possible reasons for the differences?
d. Can symbols simultaneously represent more than one idea?
e. How do we know which meaning is most important?
02. Look: Examine the artworks featured in this section, paying particular
attention to the ways in which the artists have used symbols to explore their
identities.
03. Brainstorm: Make a list of your personality traits (thoughtful, smart, kind,
competitive, etc.). Then think about everyday objects, tools, fashions, role
models, or favorite possessions that symbolize these traits.

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Self and Society: Tracing Identity: Personal Symbols, Personal Mythology

04. Create: Create a portrait of yourself using one or more of the symbols. The
portrait can be two-dimensional (a drawing, painting, or collage) or threedimensional (a sculpture). Give your finished artwork an appropriate title.
05. Present: Share your self-portrait with the class. As you look at your
classmates portraits, consider how their symbols represent something about
their identities.
06. Reflect: In your journal, reflect on how well your symbol functioned as part
of your artwork to say something about you. How did you have to present, or
perhaps alter, the symbol to convey what you wanted it to say?

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Self and Society: Tracing Identity: Personal Symbols, Personal Mythology