Drawing: Outdated Theory

 

Article: Drawing on an Outdated Theory? by Jess Dorn

It is sometimes said that our brain consists of a left hemisphere that excels in intellectual, rational, verbal, and analytical thinking and a right hemisphere that excels in sensory discrimination and in emotional, nonverbal, and intuitive thinking. However, in the normal brain, with extensive commissural interconnections, the interaction of the two hemispheres is such that we cannot dissociate clearly their specialized functions.

Questions

1. Why do so many children have problems with drawing?

2. What is Edward's theory? Explain

3. Why is the theory more of a useful analogy at this point? Explain

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Drawing

ACTIVITY

Draw a self portrait.

Write a lesson plan.

LINK: MDCPS Standards and Curriculum

 

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STUDENTS' WORK 

 

Corinne Issa

 When reading this article, the one thing that I kept thinking about was how everyone interprets and sees things differently. I think that it is a useful analogy to explain why a lot of children have difficulty drawing is because using one brain hemisphere more than the other can communicate the underlying theory that all children are different. All children learn differently and see things from different perspectives. This is important to acknowledge because recognizing that we all have different views even though we may be looking at the same object celebrates uniqueness. 

 

I think that so many children have problems withdrawing is that if they don't see things how the majority see things, then they think it is bad. If they compare their work to others. Also, this relates to how children are taught to never make mistakes. 

Eliana Litos

 

Edward's Theory

Children have so much trouble drawing because of their perception. Children can have trouble with motor skills, but they can also process visual information differently. Children can think that how they are perceiving things are wrong, even though they are just different. We can see an object but have trouble translating and applying what we see into art. 

Edwards' theory is that “The human brain uses two fundamentally different modes of thinking, one verbal, analytic, and sequential and one visual, perceptual, and simultaneous. . .” Basically, humans have a right brain and a left brain, and when she teaches them to draw, she is teaching them how to use their right brain. The left brain is their "non-creative brain" and the right brain is the creative brain. 

The theory is more of an analogy because more current research doesn't support it, but her theory shows results and can work for some people. You can't scientifically prove everything so it is more of an analogy.

 

Leala Solomon

Edward's Theory

1. Why do so many children have problems with drawing?  

I think that children have problems with drawing as it is hard to visualize images in your head to put down with freehand. I, myself, have problems with drawing as it does not come easily to me. 

2. What is Edward's theory? Explain

Edward's theory is made up of two parts. The first part being that she teaches that students how to see the drawing and not how to "draw" it. If the students learn how to see the certain drawing then they can visualize the information they are to put down. The second part of her theory is brain hemisphere laterality and the strengths and weaknesses of the left and right hemispheres.  

3. Whys is the theory more a useful analogy at this point? Explain

As you practice drawing exercises, you become a better artists, since it is all about seeing objects in a different light.

 

Ryan McCaffery
 

 Edward's Theory

1. Why do so many children have problems with drawing?

I think that so many children have problems with drawing because they try to draw rather than to see and recreate what they see. The way children think about drawing is too analytical, well thought out, etc. which results in students trying to replicate the drawing and not enough of seeing, which would result in students recreating by using their senses. 

2. What is Edward's theory? Explain

Edwards' theory is that students have a tough time accessing their right brain when they need to use their right brain in order to be good at recreating and drawing.

3. Why is the theory more a useful analogy at this point? Explain

Most of the current research does not support her theory, and there has been a lack of research in this topic. It is more so applicable in that students need to see in a more creative and artistic way.

 Ryan Brennifleck

Edward's Theory

     Many children have problems drawing because of laterality, a difference in functions of the right and left sides of the brain.  Children can have a hard time entering the R-mode (using the right side of their brain) and freeing themselves from symbolic preconceptions of objects.

     Edward’s theory states that the right hemisphere of the brain can provide those that can utilize its unique visuospatial abilities as well as holistic, non-temporal, and non-rational processing.

     Because more current research doesn’t support it, however, her methods have shown results in the real world.

 

Gabrielle Horowitz 

 

Drawing an Outdated Theory?

I think children have trouble with drawing because drawing is something that cannot necessarily be taught like subjects in school. I think drawing is something a lot more creative and free for students to use their own experiences to build on. Edwards' theory revolves around the split of both sides (left and right) of the brain, which effects students in school. Edwards' believes that both sides of the brain are superior to the other in different circumstances. The left side acts as more of the speech side of the brain whereas the right side of the brain deals with visualspatial situations. This split in the brain can affect ways in which students learn and ways in which students seek out creative outlooks, like drawing. I think the theory is useful because it is something to be aware of in school when educating students and providing them more opportunities to be creative in the classroom. 

 

Haley Grey

Response: Edward's theory

From the article, it seems that many children have problems withdrawing due to issues with processing objects in front of them. They can see an object but do not know how to take the 3d object and realistically draw the object in 2d. Edward's theory tackles the right and left brains discussing that the relationship between each hemisphere and hand motion is the cause of this. I was a little lost on the exact science but it seemed the article was kind of picking apart her neuroscience explanation for this phenomenon. Her description might be better to be viewed as an analogy rather than a science due to the lack of support behind the neuroscience and the brain hemispheres, but also just as an analogy to describe that students are viewing objects differently. This explanation still supports her theory and her techniques she's developed based on her theory. 

Brielle Lumia

 Edwards noticed that a major problem with children's drawing abilities is that they are unable to process the visual information needed to achieve proper depth perception. According to her, the two areas of the brain (left and right hemispheres) are responsible for different functions, and the key to achieving better drawing skills is to switch from "L-mode to R-mode." However, current scientific research does not support the fact that certain skills are attributed to only one hemisphere or another. It is better to look at it as an analogy because the idea that student should learn to view objects in a different way is still valid.

 

 

Chloe Ruppert

Students have difficulties with drawing when it comes to realistically conceptualizing what they see, as well as they do not have the fine motor skills to really create that sort of image. They may not have yet developed the fine attention to detail that becomes necessary while drawing. Edwards theory says that when we draw we use different parts of our brain in different ways. We use the right side of our brain or the creative side through drawing. Shifting from analysis  to creativity allows the brain to fire in a way it is not used to. The theory is more a useful analogy because there isn’t a lot of current research to support her theory, but it is applicable to her students. 

 

 Jenna Yesenosky

 Children have problems with drawing because they cannot quite conceptualize what they are seeing and draw it realistically. Drawing requires fine motor skills as well as the ability to look at an object and observe the details carefully. Even as a high school student in my art theory class, I had a hard time doing this so I can imagine how hard it is for the small brains of grade school children. 

The amazing thing about kids is that they look at a circle and four lines and see a horse and are proud of that work. Edward's theory states that when we draw we use different parts of our brain/use our brain in a different way. This means that when we draw we are exercising the "right brain" by being creative. Making the deliberate shift from analysis to creativity allows for the brain to fire in a way it normally does not.

This theory is more of a useful analogy because modern science has found that both sides of the brain are used in all activities. That being said, the figurative left and right brain could just stand for analysis (left) and creativity (right). While this theory may not be scientifically accurate anymore, it is still important to exercise both "sides" in order to be a well-rounded individual.