SAS Honors World History

Degenerate Art Presentation

Standards Addressed:

CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RH.9-10.1 Cite specific textual evidence to support analysis of primary and secondary sources, attending to such features as the date and origin of the information.

 CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RH.9-10.3 Analyze in detail a series of events described in a text; determine whether earlier events caused later ones or simply preceded them.

 CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RH.9-10.7 Integrate quantitative or technical analysis (e.g., charts, research data) with qualitative analysis in print or digital text.

Directions:Students, in cooperative learning groups, will research an assigned artist show in the Degenerate Art exhibition of 1937, learn about their works, discuss why these works were considered “degenerate,” and what happened to both artists and works during World War II.

WRITTEN PORTION: For your group’s assigned artist, do the following (which will be submitted in a typed 1-page reportwith source citations, one per group):

  1. Describe which elements of the artists’ works were seen by the Nazis as “degenerate” and explain why.
  2. Research the artists’ life, works, and what happened to them during and following World War II.
  3. How did your artist respond to the rise of the Third Reich, censorship of modern art, and to events of the war?

ORAL/VISUAL PRESENTATIONS: After conducting your research, each group will present their findings in either a2-3-minute video, a poster, or a 3-4 slide PowerPoint.

Presentations must include the following:

  1. A mini-biography of the artist
  2. The genre in which the artist predominantly worked
  3. 3-5 works that might have been labeled “degenerate,” and an explanation of which elements would’ve been seen in that manner and why.
  4. There should be VERY LIMITED TEXT during your presentation. Rely on your artists’ VISUAL ELEMENTS and STYLE.
  5. One highlighted image for which the group will lead a classroom discussion using VTS (Visual Teaching Strategy – “What is going on in this image?” “What more can we find?” “What do you see that makes you say that?”)

RUBRIC:

___/15Correct VTS strategy is used with the given questions and paraphrases

___/15 Works Cited page(MLA Format with complete URLs and in ABC order)

___/25 Accurate and relevant research/accurate description and explanation of “degenerate” elements

___/25 quality of presentation with limited text

___/20 presentation is engaging, clear, and informative

Total: _____/100 points