United States · Common Core State Standards
11th Grade Visual & Performing Arts
This course challenges eleventh grade students to synthesize technical skills in visual and performing arts with complex conceptual analysis. Students explore the intersection of personal identity, social commentary, and historical movements to develop a sophisticated portfolio of work.
The Artist's Voice: Identity and Narrative
Explores how personal experiences and cultural backgrounds inform the creation of original art and performances.
Students analyze symbolist and abstract self-portraits to create works that represent internal states rather than just physical features.
Focuses on the development of theatrical characters based on personal or historical anecdotes.
Investigates how heritage and shared history are encoded into visual motifs and musical patterns.
The Architecture of Sound: Music Theory and Composition
An investigation into the technical structures of music and the emotional impact of harmonic choices.
Students examine the mathematical and psychological effects of dissonance and consonance in musical scores.
Explores complex polyrhythms and their use across global musical traditions.
Introduction to electronic music production and the manipulation of digital sound waves.
The Body in Motion: Dance and Choreography
Studies the physics and expressive potential of dance as a medium for communication.
Analyzing how dancers use the space around them to convey power, isolation, or connection.
Examining how protest movements have utilized dance and public performance to advocate for justice.
The study of Laban Movement Analysis and the physical mechanics of different movement qualities.
Visual Rhetoric: Art as Social Commentary
Analyzes how visual media is used to influence public opinion and critique power structures.
Critically examining the artistic techniques used in posters and digital media to manipulate perception.
Exploring the tension between vandalism, fine art, and the reclamation of urban environments.
Analyzing how artists use humor and irony to challenge societal norms.
The Evolution of Scenography: Technical Theater
Focuses on the behind the scenes elements that create immersive theatrical worlds.
Students learn how to use color, intensity, and angle to manipulate the audience's emotional state.
Investigating how the physical layout of a stage can symbolize the themes of a play.
Designing costumes that communicate status, history, and personality traits through fabric and silhouette.
Curation and Critique: The Professional Gallery
Prepares students for the professional art world through exhibition design and critical writing.
Students learn the principles of flow, lighting, and labeling required to curate a cohesive show.
Developing a professional vocabulary to evaluate art through both formalist and historical lenses.
Synthesizing a year of work into a professional portfolio with a written reflection on artistic intent.