The Body as Canvas: Performance Art
Examining performance art and body modification as valid forms of contemporary artistic expression.
Key Questions
- Where is the line between personal identity and artistic performance?
- How does the presence of the artist's physical body change the viewer's engagement?
- What ethical considerations arise when the human body is the medium?
Common Core State Standards
About This Topic
This topic examines the multifaceted roles of the President, from Commander-in-Chief to Chief Legislator. Students trace the expansion of executive power from the limited vision of the Founders to the modern 'Imperial Presidency.' They analyze formal powers found in Article II and informal powers like executive orders, executive agreements, and the 'bully pulpit' used to shape public opinion.
For 12th graders, understanding the Presidency is about understanding the tension between leadership and accountability. It connects to current debates over executive overreach and the use of social media in governance. This topic comes alive when students can physically model the patterns of presidential decision-making through crisis simulations and role-play.
Active Learning Ideas
Simulation Game: The Situation Room
Present students with a foreign policy crisis. They must act as the President and advisors, deciding whether to use formal powers (treaties) or informal powers (executive agreements) while considering the potential 'check' from Congress.
Inquiry Circle: The Bully Pulpit
Students analyze a famous presidential speech (e.g., FDR's Fireside Chats) and a modern presidential social media thread. They compare how each President used their 'pulpit' to bypass Congress and speak directly to the people.
Formal Debate: The Executive Order
Students debate whether the increased use of executive orders is a necessary tool for efficiency in a polarized government or a dangerous bypass of the legislative process.
Watch Out for These Misconceptions
Common MisconceptionThe President can make laws.
What to Teach Instead
Only Congress makes laws. The President can issue executive orders, but these are limited to how the executive branch operates or implements existing law. Peer-led 'fact-checking' of recent orders helps students see these legal boundaries.
Common MisconceptionThe President's power is greatest in domestic policy.
What to Teach Instead
The President actually has far more 'unilateral' power in foreign policy and as Commander-in-Chief. A comparison of Article II powers vs. historical actions helps students see the 'two presidencies' (foreign vs. domestic) thesis.
Suggested Methodologies
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is 'Executive Privilege'?
How does the 'Veto' work as a legislative tool?
What are the best hands-on strategies for teaching the Presidency?
What are the requirements to be President?
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