American education Quote by Robert Hughes
““MOMA's values were blown through the American education system, from high school upwards-and downwards, too, greatly raising the status of "creativity" and "self-expression" in kindergarten. By the 1970s, the historical study of modern art had expanded to the point where students were scratching for unexploited thesis subjects. By the mid-eighties, twenty-one-year-old art-history majors would be writing papers on the twenty-six-year-old graffitists.””
About This Quote
Source Book: The Shock of the New, Robert Hughes, 1980
Describes how MOMA's influence reshaped education, elevating creativity and self‑expression, leading to a surge in modern‑art scholarship among students.
In simple terms: MOMA changed education, boosting creativity and art study.
Key Takeaway
Critically assess how institutional values shape curricula.
Themes
education
art
culture
influence
Mood
analytical
critical
Type
observational
historical
When to use this quote
- art history curricula
- student research topics
- creative pedagogy
Key Concepts
cultural capital
institutional power
Questions to Reflect On
- How does institutional bias affect learning?
- Is creativity always beneficial in education?
A Different Perspective
Overemphasis on novelty may neglect foundational skills.
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