McDonnell, JL (2016) Is it, ‘all about having an opinion’? Challenging the dominance of rationality and cognition in democratic education via research in a gallery setting. International Journal of Art and Design Education. ISSN 1476-8070

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Abstract

This paper reports on findings from a research study exploring the potential for democratic learning in a gallery education project which took place in the United Kingdom in 2006-7. In doing so, it also explores a pressing issue for education today, i.e. the question of young people’s democratic education in a time of political crisis in Europe. The focus of the paper lies in a critique of the primacy of rational thought, cognitive skills and verbal discussion within democratic education, and an exploration of the potential role of the arts and art education in challenging this. Specifically, the paper argues that there has been an affective and corporeal deficit in democratic education, and that some forms of gallery education are well placed to address this. Although the data discussed derive from a particular time and place (the UK in the latter days of a government that rigorously pursued an agenda of social and economic inclusion through both education and cultural policy) they also have relevance beyond their immediate context, illuminating the nature and dynamics of the process of democratic learning, and its aesthetic and artistic dimensions.

Item Type:	Article
Additional Information:	This is the peer reviewed version of the following article: McDonnell, J. (2016), Is it ‘all about having an opinion’? Challenging the Dominance of Rationality and Cognition in Democratic Education via Research in a Gallery Setting. Int J Art Des Educ. , which has been published in final form at http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/jade.12107. This article may be used for non-commercial purposes in accordance with Wiley Terms and Conditions for Self-Archiving
Uncontrolled Keywords:	1203 Design Practice And Management, 1302 Curriculum And Pedagogy, 1905 Visual Arts And Crafts
Subjects:	L Education > LB Theory and practice of education
Divisions:	Education
Publisher:	Wiley
Date Deposited:	07 Mar 2016 13:15
Last Modified:	04 Sep 2021 13:35
DOI or ID number:	10.1111/jade.12107
URI:	https://researchonline.ljmu.ac.uk/id/eprint/2719

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