2018 The Arts GP Infopack

1 RAFFLES INSTITUTION YEAR 6 GENERAL PAPER (2018) STUDENTS’ INFORMATION PACKAGE Unit: The Arts Enduring Understandings And Essential Questions 2 Past Year Examination Questions 3-4 For Further Reading 5 FOUNDATIONAL KNOWLEDGE Primer: What is Art? 1a. What is art? 6 1b. Ways of defining art 10 1c . 22 Responses to the Question ‘What is Art?’ 12 The Value of the Arts 2a. The Purpose of Art: A Brief History 15 2b. Infosheet on Different Functions of the Arts 17 LOCAL ARTS ISSUES Investing in the Arts 3a. The Role of the Arts in Making a Nation a Home 20 4a. Is Singapore an Arts Hub Yet? 25 4b. Why is State Funding Needed for our Arts Scene to Thrive 29 • Arts funding in Singapore (statistics) 33 5. The Full Measure of an Arts Education 35 • Enrolment in Arts studies in Singapore (statistics) 37 Artistic Licence vs Local Authority 6a. Strict Singapore divided by the Arrest of its own Banksy 38 6b. Gold Stairs Earn Praise But are Out of Step with Rules 40 OTHERS Music 7. Why It’s Time to Turn the Music Off 41 8. Songs of Black Lives Matter 43 Art and Ethics 10. Guggenheim Museum is Criticised for Pulling Artworks 45

2 Enduring Understanding(s): What will students understand as a result of this unit? 5 • EU1: Fundamentally, art is an expression of human creativity , and one of its greatest values lie in the intangible socio- psychological benefits it provides to the individual—both artist and audience. • EU2: Our artistic tendencies are expressed through various branches of creative activity – termed “the arts” – including visual (e.g. painting, sculpture, 10 architecture), performing (theatre, dance and music) and literary arts (poetry, drama and prose). • EU3: As well, the arts have the ability to capture the thoughts and emotions of a people, society and nation, be it in recollection of the past, showcasing the current societal mood and psyche, or expressing future hopes, thereby playing important 15 roles in history, national identity and culture. • EU4: There are often parameters placed upon the arts by entities (e.g. the State, religious authorities) due to perceptions that they pose a threat to establishment values and ideologies. Conversely they may be used by these same entities to entrench establish values and ideologies. (Poss articles e.g. ground-up ‘deviant’ 20 expressions of art in HDB void decks etc) • EU5: What is considered art can be highly subjective since it is informed by cultural conditioning, biases and contextual circumstances . Nevertheless, arts practitioners sometimes seek to provoke thought by push ing these boundaries and may, in the process, gain prominence and/or suffer the consequences of this. 25 • EU6: The sustenance and development of the arts requires funding, and investment in them can reap economic and other benefits. This funding however may be limited or inconsistent due to perceptions that the arts are a frivolity and an extravagance. Essential Questions: 30 What are the essential questions of this unit? • What is art? What purposes does it serve? • Are some forms of art superior to others? • What is the value of the arts to the ordinary man on the street, in our daily lives, and to society at large? 35

3 • How and why do entities with power and influence seek to curtail - or use - the arts? • How, if at all, should governments support the arts? Why so? PAST-YEAR EXAMINATION QUESTIONS ON THE ARTS • ‘Any adaptation of a novel for a film, television or the theatre is never as effective as the 40 original.’ Discuss. (Cambridge 2016) • In your society, to what extent is it acceptable for public money to be used for the acquisition of works of art? (Cambridge 2017) • Examine the role of music in establishing a national identity in your society. (Cambridge 2017) 45 • To what extent should the arts in your society focus on local rather than foreign talent? (Cambridge, 2015) • ‘The progress of a society is sustained by the sciences rather than the arts.’ How far do you agree with this statement? (RI Y6 Prelim 2016) • ‘The arts, such as music and literature, are of no real value to society.’ Is this a valid comment? 50 (RI Y6 T2 CT 2016) • Should the Arts always challenge the status quo? (RI Y5 Promo 2016) • Is an arts education becoming irrelevant in your society? (RI Y5 T3 CT 2016) • Does music offer anything more than momentary pleasure? (RI Y5 Promo 2015) • ‘Different for the sake of being different.’ Is this a fair assessment of the arts? (RI Y5 Promo 55 2015) • ‘The Arts are nothing but mere entertainment.’ Is this a fair assessment of the Arts in your society? (RI Y6 T2 CT 2015) • ‘Young people today have no appreciation of art and no taste in music.’ Do you agree? (RI Y6 T3 CT 2015) 60 • To what extent can Mathematics be considered a form of art? (RI Y6 Prelim 2015) • ‘For the majority of people, the Arts are irrelevant to their daily lives.’ How true is this of your society? (Cambridge, 2014) • Do films offer anything more than an escape from reality? (Cambridge, 2014) • ‘Unlike the Arts, such as writing or music, Mathematics lacks the capacity for creativity.’ How 65 far do you agree with this statement? (Cambridge, 2013) • ‘People in the Arts, living or dead, receive far more recognition than those in the Sciences, even though it is less deserved.’ Consider this claim. (Cambridge, 2012) • ‘Only modern architecture and modern art have a place in today’s world.’ How true is this of your society? (Cambridge, 2011) 70

4 • The book has no place in modern society. Discuss. (Cambridge, 2010) • Would it matter if all the performing arts venues in your society, such as concert halls and theatres, were closed down? (Camb 2010) • Are certain types of writing superior to others? (Cambridge, 2009) • Fashion is as much a good thing as a bad thing. To what extent do you agree? (Cambridge, 75 2009) • ‘Contemporary music has no artistic value.' Is this a fair comment? (Cambridge, 2008) • To what extent is design important in your society? (Cambridge 2008) • Do the arts, such as music and literature, really play a significant part in Singaporean society? (Cambridge, 2005) 80 • Public money should not be wasted on supporting the Arts; they should support themselves.’ Discuss. (Cambridge, 2000) • ‘Enjoyable, but ultimately of little practical use.’ Consider the value of music or art or literature in the light of this comment. (Cambridge 1998) • Consider the significance of theatre in modern society. (RI 2013 Prelims) 85 • ‘The teaching of literary classics should be made compulsory in schools.’ Discuss. (RI 2013 Y6 CT1) • ‘The arts cannot change the world, but they make it more beautiful.’ Discuss. • To what extent are the arts important in your society? (RI 2011 J1CT) • Is investing in the arts ever worthwhile? Discuss the question with reference to your country. 90 (RJ 2009 J2CT) • Are the Arts a luxury we should dispense with, especially in difficult economic conditions? (RJ 2009 Promos) • Should the government promote the arts when only the privileged benefit from it? (RJ 2008 J2 CT) 95

5 For Further Reading (and Watching): 100 Recommended Websites: 1. Arts Journal (daily digest): http://www.artsjournal.com/ 2. The Art Newspaper (international art news): http://theartnewspaper.com/ 3. Artitude (local and regional art news): https://www.artitute.com/ 4. The Straits Times Theatre Reviews: http://www.s