The Reception of Works of Art: Which Foundations should their didactics have?

Abstract

Today’s art and music instruction is influenced by new ways of cultural learning, mostly coming from outside of the school. Museums, opera and theatre houses engage young people’s interest by means of educational programs adapted to their needs. At the same time, these institutions adopt a rather critical attitude toward schools’ art instruction, especially with regard to how cultural events are received – the «reception of cultural objects», and to its role in children’s development. A survey of literature should help to consider innovative research and practice in relation to
• the didactics of art and music reception, in connection with the major concepts of art teaching
• the way human sciences have incorporated art works and art practices as objects of research
• the fast development of new conceptions on how cultural artefacts and related practices are positioned in developmental and learning processes at school
• the development of new branch-specific didactics which are stimulated by the institutional renewal of teacher training
In conclusion, we approach a few issues with regard to ‘cultural expert knowledge’ as research and training object. At the end of this contribution, current discussions are summarized on how expert knowledge of culture should be considered from an educational point of view.