Overview

This handbook provides educators with resources and strategies to create multicultural communities through art and music. The authors propose theoretical and practical classroom methods to develop strands of a multicultural curriculum using visual and performing arts. Dr. Hwa Young Caruso examines the role of arts in forming cultural identity and self identity as the United States experiences a demographic revolution. Dr. O.C. Bobby Daniels exposes the sub-textual denial of major contributions by African-Americans in visual and performing arts especially music by exposing the mythology that American culture is solely Anglo-centric. Dr. Lisa Hochtritt warns teachers about the limitations of a classroom that superficially embraces diversity as an activity more than an attitude by using pre-packaged multicultural art materials. Dr. Christine Staikidis describes an inclusive studio art and art education curriculum which incorporates a holistic approach to art making that is alien to the Anglo-centric protocol. Dr. Pamela Harris Lawton describes the unique capacity of art to communicate ideas and advocate social change across the spectrum of diversity.