Constructism

Constructivism

This blog is for academic purposes in the partial fulfilment of ACHG 200 Assignment 1 at the Design Department, Pearson Institute of Higher Education.

Constructivism is a philosophical viewpoint about the nature of wisdom and knowledge. Specifically, it represents a political and belief stance between the Russian White Army and the Red Army (Jean Piaget, 1967). It evolved just as the Bolsheviks came to power in the October Revolution of 1917, and was a lightning rod for the hopes and ideas of many of the most advanced Russian artists who supported the revolution's goals (The Artstory, 2017).

HISTORY

Earlier educational philosophies did not place much value on what would become constructivist ideas; children's play and exploration was seen as aimless and of little importance. (Jean Piaget, 1967)

The views of Constructivism were more focused on human development in the context of the social world are favoured and include the sociocultural or socio-historical perspective of Lev Vygotsky and the perspectives of Jean Lave and Etienne Wenger (Lave, 1991).

The concept of constructivism has influenced a number of disciplines, including psychology, sociology, education and the history of science (Eddy, 2004).

"The artist constructs a new symbol with his brush. This symbol is not a recognisably form of anything which is already finished, already made, already existing in the world - it is a symbol of a new world, which is being built upon and which exists by way of people." El Lissitzky

Writers who influenced constructivism include:

John Dewey (1859–1952)

Maria Montessori (1870–1952)

Władysław Strzemiński (1893–1952)

Jean Piaget (1896–1980)

Lev Vygotsky (1896–1934)

Heinz von Foerster (1911–2002)

George Kelly (1905–1967)

Jerome Bruner (1915–2016)

Herbert Simon (1916–2001)

Paul Watzlawick (1921–2007)

Ernst von Glasersfeld (1917–2010)

Edgar Morin (1921–)

Humberto Maturana (1928–)

Historical Artwork

Beat the Whites with the Red Wedge by El Lissitzky (The Artstory, 2016)

This is a very historical poster by El Lissitzky which was a propaganda poster which he used o evoke emotion to the people of Russia about the political state of Russia concerning the social and belief system, it implies that we beat the Whites with the Red wedge which was the Red Army against the political White army.

Modern Artwork

 (bloodline242, 2010)

This modern artwork by a group called Bloodline242 was a show poster advertising the event that took place. This poster embodies styles of the constructivism movement in terms of not creating art for the sake of creating art but creating art with a purpose and a functionality. In this case the posters functionality was to advertise the event.

Conclusion

Constructivism movement helped me as a designer not to create artwork with no functionality and all are work i create must have a purpose and a goal of evoking emotion of people and viewers to have opinions about the artwork as well as their own views about the artwork.

Sources

Jean Piaget, 1967

Lave, J. & Wenger, E. (1991). Situated Learning: Legitimate Peripheral Participation. Cambridge University Press.

Eddy, Matthew Daniel (2004). "Fallible or Inerrant? A Belated review of the "Constructivist Bible"". British Journal for the History of Science. 37: 93–8. doi:10.1017/s0007087403005338.

http://www.theartstory.org/artist-lissitzky-el-artworks.htm#pnt_2

http://www.arthistoryarchive.com/arthistory/constructivism/

http://bloodline242.jugem.jp/?eid=1569