Abstract
Education in a child's early years is vital to establishing the basis of his personality. In an increasingly individualized world, where people are less concerned about the problems of others and the spaces of freedom are often not respected, it is important to reinforce the work of empathy from childhood. Freedom is a word that is losing its true essence, its meaning has been distorted by its semantic satiety. This word is taken by society as a right, but the obligation is forgotten, which implies respecting the rights of others. The project carried out from the subject of plastic and visual education in the third year of the degree in primary education aims to work from the essence of the human being, from the condition that makes us differentiate ourselves from the rest of the animals. Thinking globally without observing differences should be the main goal of humanity. This should start in schools, the first contact with diversity.
TopIntroduction
This project is based on the need to acquire global intercultural knowledge, skills, and attitudes. The target participants were the teaching staff and students of the Education Faculty of Albacete as protagonists for the transformation into a more inclusive society in line with the sustainable development objectives promoted by the United Nations.
The project Aprendemos ‘Enter’ Culturas 2.0. Youth and Education against racism was implemented during the 2022/2023 academic year, with the collaboration of 20 research teachers from different areas of knowledge of the Albacete Faculty of Education of the University of Castilla-La Mancha (Spain). It was funded by the La Caixa Foundation. The faculty's areas of knowledge include Didactics and School Organisation, Music, Physical, Plastic Arts, Corporal and Musical Education, French, English, Psychology, Language and Literature.
From the area of Plastic Arts, it has been an opportunity to integrate the development of artistic activities as a didactic resource with the aim of transforming for a better society. Art, as a universal language, is a vehicle for education, a means that favours the integral development of people through its communicative function.
Humanity finds itself in an increasingly globalised and interconnected world. Technological development has reached such a point that social relations are becoming more and more extensive. Information reaches more corners of the world and contact with the environment is at our fingertips, regardless of where we are in the world. However, despite all the advantages and the accessibility of communication with our peers, society is becoming more and more solitary. A clear and increasingly widespread example is that of the hikikimori in Japan. In a country of technological advances, bustling streets and overpopulation, society is becoming increasingly hermetic and solitary. Since the mid-1990s, a social phenomenon has begun to develop that affects more and more young people, people who live in isolation, locked up in their rooms. In 2019, psychologist Saitō Tamaki put a possible figure of around 10 million people who had decided to isolate themselves from society (Butet-Roch, 2022).
In this sense, it can be observed that, though living in the age of communication and interrelationships, society is becoming increasingly solitary, which may be causing a kind of selfishness that develops into a lack of empathy for others.
Unlike animals, human beings have the capacity to reason and, therefore, it is conceivable that they could solve and resolve the utopian balance that differentiates one culture from another. Originally, the human being, as a unique individual, is born in a certain place as a result of chance. The essence of that person, what we might call the ‘soul’, lies in a container or body marked by the genetics of the parents and, very possibly, with features marked by the physiognomy of their community.
Starting from these basic principles that define the individual, one could take up again Rousseau's reflections on the development and evolution of human society and its loss of freedom, equality and the natural goodness of man (Velázquez, 1982). In this sense, the increase of private property embodies the imbalance and exploitation of individuals (Cocutz, 1953). Returning to what was said earlier about what differentiates human beings from animals, reason does not seem to be enough to differentiate us; the stronger will subjugate the weaker. The great majority of religions preach love for one's neighbour based on the principle of goodness innate in man's nature; however, the property that each one of them represents hides aspirations of domination over the rest. Finally, to sketch this context where the human being develops, today's society is in the gear that dominates it, a globalised system controlled through the media. The concept of universal love promotes fairness, whereas the belief in a single true religion intensifies prejudice between different groups, underscoring the importance of embracing tolerant religious beliefs to prevent political tensions (Hoffmann et al., 2020).
Key Terms in this Chapter
Individualized Society: Increasingly rooted trend in social development. Prioritize personal benefits over collective or community interests. It is a problem gradually analyzed from sociology and even psychology. The society of excellence, in an increasingly globalized world, pushes people to prioritize their individual stability over community sustainability.
Artistic Installations: Spaces that can be a very valuable tool for stimulating critical thinking, encouraging reflection, and promoting the analysis of ideas and concepts. They are considered works of contemporary art arranged in a certain space to involve the viewer in an experience. These works may contain sculptural, audiovisual, and other media elements. The artistic installations address themes to provoke emotions. In this way, the artistic installations do not have a passive dialogue, but generate a participatory and active experience. They often present challenging concepts to question the viewer.
Interculturally in Education: From a pedagogical approach, the aim is to promote the recognition, appreciation, and integration of different cultures. Its main objective is to promote respect between different cultures through mutual understanding, establishing links between students of diverse ethnicities, languages, religions, or cultures. In the educational sphere, the aim is to create an inclusive environment based on respect for other traditions or experiences through educational activities or programs. Intercultural education aims to strengthen empathy and develop skills for peaceful coexistence. In Primary Education, it contributes to forming citizens who value and respect the richness of cultural diversity.
Visual and Plastic Education: Educational discipline that focuses on the development of students' artistic and visual ability. Its main objective is to promote creative thinking, aesthetic appreciation, and personal expression through various forms of art and design. Within the educational field, it covers different aspects, such as the study of visual arts, the understanding of composition, the use of artistic materials, the appreciation of works of art, the history of art and the application of design principles in the creation of visual works.
Photography in Research: Photography can be a powerful didactic tool in the field of research. Not only is it valuable in scientific research, but it can also be an effective didactic tool by facilitating the understanding of concepts, illustrating processes, and promoting critical observation in the educational field. In this sense, photography helps visualize abstract concepts that can be difficult to understand through written descriptions. It also favors study, allowing students to examine specific situations by documenting and exposing theoretical to real cases. Therefore, it is a fundamental tool to document the results of experiments or research, developing critical observation skills.
Thinking Routines in Art Education: Provide students with a critical and reflective thinking organization for the development of essential skills in artistic values, visual analysis, and communication through art. These routines can include activities such as observation, reflection, interpretation, and expression of different artistic disciplines. These thinking routines in the context of art education enhance the understanding and appreciation of art or the development of creative skills in students.
Critical Thinking: Cognitive and analytical capacity that evaluates information in a reflective way to make informed judgments and reasoned decisions. Its process involves an ability to analyze, question, identify, recognize, and synthesize information rigorously. It is fundamental in the academic sphere for the development of intellectual capacities and the enrichment of the analytical approach in research and learning.
Conceptual Art: It is characterized by prioritizing ideas and concepts over the artistic object, leaving aside technical ability or traditional visual aesthetics. The idea or concept takes precedence over material execution. It is often expressed through non-traditional means such as photography, installations, performances or even written texts. These conceptual works challenge conventional notions of aesthetics and materiality, focusing on the exploration of ideas, cultural criticism, or the conceptualization of art as a means of abstract communication.
Visual Education: Is essential to provide students with artistic skills, as well as to stimulate their ability to interpret and create visual images. It also contributes to the integral development of people by fostering creativity, imagination, and aesthetic sensitivity.
Intercultural Prejudices: Stereotypes and social prejudices are factors that exert a significant influence on human interaction. They have been created by society through preconceptions about others, which can have negative impacts. Fear of the unknown leads to judgments without a solid foundation on a person or a place. Stereotypes and prejudices can contribute to misunderstandings, discrimination, and mistrust in interpersonal relationships. Overcoming them requires active awareness, willingness to learn and openness to experiences that challenge pre-established perceptions. Addressing these aspects in education is essential for mutual understanding and building a more inclusive and respectful environment.
Fear of the Different: In terms of interculturally, rejection of the different is an attitude of aversion towards those people with values or customs perceived as different from their own, within a multicultural environment. It manifests itself from stereotypes and prejudices to direct discrimination. This fear of difference is due to a lack of information, understanding, lack of contact with cultural diversity or stereotypical narratives.