When I came upon the 2019 artwork called The Comedian by Maurizio Cattelan, I knew I had to share it with my students. Essentially, The Comedian is a banana duct-taped to a gallery wall. On the surface, it seems ridiculous, but upon further investigation and discussion, the controversy becomes evident. All students had strong opinions about the piece, including those who don’t see themselves as artistically inclined.
This is a successful lesson that I assigned my high-school students to do remotely. It would also be great for any grade in a face-to-face setting as it will pique the interest of all students and lively discussion will surely ensue. This lesson explores the idea of what art is supposed to be and what art is supposed to do.
Exploring The Comedian
Art is for everyone. I try to provide learning experiences about all types of art and for all types of learners. My students study works that span from prehistoric eras all the way through to what the future of art may look like. When I came upon the 2019 artwork called The Comedian by Maurizio Cattelan, I knew I had to share it with my students.
Essentially, The Comedian is a banana duct-taped to a gallery wall. On the surface, it seems ridiculous, but upon further investigation and discussion, the controversy becomes evident. All students had strong opinions about the piece, including those who don’t see themselves as artistically inclined.
Part One
Students began by watching a video from our local PBS website, “The Art Assignment: The $150,000 Banana” (see Resource). I then asked students to research the piece online and answer the following questions in a short essay:
Part Two
Students moved on to the second part of the lesson. I challenged them to create their own piece of art based on simple everyday items. They were to represent their chosen items in a way that made them appear humorous or monumental. They sent me photos of their “artwork” with a description.
The results were hilarious and thought-provoking! Students really had a good time with this, and I feel that it was a memorable project. Coincidentally, this was the last project of the year and for some, it was likely their last art lesson in an educational setting. I feel good about ending on a positive note with this fun and thought-provoking topic.
Amy Goodchild is an art teacher at East Palestine High School in Palestine, Ohio. MrsGoodchild@gmail.com
NATIONAL STANDARD
Responding: Perceive and analyze artistic work.
RESOURCE
“The Art Assignment: The $150,000 Banana” (season six, episode nineteen)
Art teachers engage their students with contemporary art from living and global artists. Young students create wacky abstract face collages inspired by Tony Oursler, elementary students investigate the work of Aaron Draplin and layer personalized logos with selfie monoprints, middle-school students paint eye-catching designs on expandable phone grips, high-school students photograph everyday objects that conceal and separate them from other people, and more.
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