Canada · Ontario Curriculum Expectations
Grade 12 The Arts
A comprehensive senior arts course designed to refine technical mastery while exploring the intersection of social advocacy and personal expression. Students engage in sophisticated critical analysis and develop a professional portfolio that reflects their unique artistic voice and cultural awareness.
Conceptual Frameworks and Studio Practice
Students investigate the relationship between artistic intent and technical execution through advanced studio work. This unit focuses on the development of a cohesive personal style and the exploration of complex themes.
Analyzing the development of a signature aesthetic through iterative practice and study of influential masters.
Exploring how the choice of medium impacts the interpretation and emotional weight of a piece.
Developing strategies for embedding deep symbolic meaning within visual and performing arts compositions.
Performance, Movement, and Social Space
An exploration of how the human body and live performance can be used as tools for storytelling and social commentary.
Examining how performance artists use movement and presence to address social and political issues.
Understanding how the physical environment of a performance influences the narrative and audience experience.
Breaking down the ways in which dance can convey complex character arcs and thematic shifts.
Auditory Landscapes and Sound Theory
A deep dive into music theory, composition, and the psychological impact of sound in various artistic contexts.
Analyzing how tension is built and released through harmonic and melodic choices in contemporary music.
Exploring the use of found sounds and environmental recordings in creating immersive auditory experiences.
Investigating how music reinforces or subverts the visual narrative in cinematic arts.
Art as Activism and Global Citizenship
Students examine the historical and contemporary role of artists as catalysts for social change and community building.
Distinguishing between art used for institutional control and art used for grassroots liberation.
Exploring how Indigenous artists reclaim narratives and preserve culture through modern artistic practices.
Analyzing the impact of murals, monuments, and installations on the identity of urban spaces.
Digital Frontiers and New Media
An investigation into the impact of digital technology, artificial intelligence, and virtual reality on artistic production.
Discussing the implications of machine learning on authorship, copyright, and the value of human labor.
Exploring how 360-degree environments redefine the relationship between the viewer and the artwork.
Designing artistic projects that span multiple platforms, including social media, web, and physical space.
Professional Practice and Portfolio Synthesis
Preparing students for post-secondary transitions through the curation of a professional portfolio and the study of the arts economy.
Learning the art of selecting and organizing works to communicate a specific theme to an audience.
Developing the ability to articulate artistic intent and process through formal writing.
Understanding the business side of the arts, including grants, commissions, and intellectual property.