Junior Docent School Program - Milwaukee Art Museum

Tour: World Communities
Background
All people of the world share common activities like eating, sleeping, working and
celebrating significant events in their lives. Where people live however, may affect what
they eat and how they work and celebrate. This tour will look at western cultures
(European and American) and non-western cultures (Asian, African, and Haitian) using
works of art from the Museum‟s collection.
Objectives
Students will investigate western (European and American) and non-western
(Haitian, Asian, and African) art depicting and/or representing everyday life.
Students will understand that the people of the world are more alike than
different.
Students will discuss:
o How people around the world share the activities of work, leisure/play,
celebrations, and the making of useful objects.
o How people are affected by varying environments (climate, resources,
etc.).
o How people live in many communities – family, school, village, city, state,
country, continent, the world.
PRIMARY POINT: Cultures of different people throughout the world can be discovered
through observation of objects, paintings, and sculpture. Through this tour, students will
look at objects and paintings that depict people in communities around the world – how
they live, work, play, celebrate together, and make use of useful objects.
Tour Implementation Ideas
The following works of art are examples that can be used with this tour. Please know
this tour is not limited to the pieces listed below!
The following teaching aides may be useful with this tour and are located in the
Education Resource Room cabinets:
Inflatable world globe or maps of the following, including continent on one side and
geography/climate on the other side: Asia, Africa, Haiti, Europe, U.S.
image of a specific useful object (bowl, spoon) from each world community for
comparison
objects from Africa, including a traditional Kente cloth and wrap
People Playing/Leisure Time
Obin, Philome, Outdoor Dance & Enguerand-Gorgue, Jacques, Dance
“What is going on in each of these paintings?” The setting is Haiti and it is
outdoors. Discuss dance celebrations, music, and dress. Relate to family
reunions. Compare and contrast rural to urban; country to city; type of music
and instruments.
Knaus, Ludwig, Dance Under the Linden Tree
© 2011 Milwaukee Art Museum 700 N. Art Museum Dr. Milwaukee, WI 53202
JDSP – Docent Packet
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