BII - Take a little time

Just look at where we are.
We've come very, very far, together.
And if I might say so,
and if I might say so too,
we wouldn't have got anywhere if it weren't for you...
Family - James and the Giant Peach (Randy Newman)

What preconceptions do you hold about the nature of childhood and children? How do these ideas affect your understanding of the role of the teacher and the nature of the content of art education? How did your experiences today confirm or change your pre-existing ideas?

I feel children have a natural resilience due to their imagination. I'd like to say my interpretation of the last line doesn't only refer to James (as it does in the movie) but the fact that James is a child, and thus it refers to his abilities as a child as well. I've always thought of children as extremely perceptive and the same time they have the ability to see things in a very simplistic and raw light.

Generally, people think of children in an innocent and almost helpless stage of human life. Children are seen as fragile as well. Yet on the other hand, they're so early in their lives that they have the chance to learn and grow beyond what they experience. I've never thought of them as helpless nor innocent - innocent perhaps in a different definition such as pure. I don't believe their truely innocent, but what they see is pure. They see good and bad and they let it known - there isn't the need to monitor and sensor what you see or say to others like adults do. Though the adults around the child may say 'that's rude' or 'don't stare' it's still something the child is experiencing.

I thought when we looked at what James and the Giant Peach could have really represented in reality, as opposed to James' imaginative interpretation of reality, it really confirmed what I had felt about a child's resilience with it's imagination. Without imagination there's no silver lining solution to a problem or 'tough spot'. James could have just been stuck in a world where it was all gloom and doom, yet he let his imagination lead him to a life where he could strive towards his dreams.

In relation to teaching children Art, I feel supporting children and their imaginations would be crucial. By allowing them to freely explore their creativity through their art and the possible artistic obstacles that are presented to them, the could further understand that a little creativity, imagination, and innovation is what is needed to solve all problems. I feel the lack of creativity, imagination, and innovation is what hinders some adults when they approach problems. Without it they're staring at one spot on a wall that's right in front of them without knowing that if they just looked around they may see the wall ends.

So back to the lyrics again, we wouldn't have got anywhere if it weren't for you (you being imagination), I feel is a suitable statement when talking about any life situation, which makes imagination in art that so much that important.