The different representations of the human figure amongst Maltese students

Abstract

This study focuses on the value of teaching young students about the human figure in art classes. The researcher studied how students between the ages of 5 and 13 view the human figure and what steps they need to follow to fully understand different aspects of this subject. The researcher found five distinct artistic stages based on the relevant literature that students in the age range of 5 to 13 go through in order to construct the figure. The researcher chose to use Visual Focus Groups and questionnaires with Maltese students under the age of 13, to provide additional evidence of the validity of these artistic stages. The researcher sought to address the questions, ‘What are the different representations and stages of the human figure in art?’, ‘Why do children draw figures the way they do?’ and ‘Do the socio-cultural status and the pressures faced by parents, friends and social media impact the student’s interpretations of the human figure?’. These questions aimed to validate the purpose of these stages, as well as to ascertain whether students successfully go through each phase to gain an understanding of the human figure. Furthermore, the study seeks to verify the source of the students' interpretations regarding the human figure. The Visual Focus Group was divided into two groups: one for students between the ages of 5 and 8, and another for those between the ages of 9 and 13. The data was gathered from the students’ drawings, carrying out an Art Based Research, and from the responses of the questionnaires. The validity of these 5 artistic stages were supported by both research approaches, and confirmed that the media and parents' influence did play a role in inspiring the students' figurative interpretations. The results demonstrated that children in the age range of 5 to 13 do, in fact, pass through these stages in order to comprehend the subject matter, and that each step must be completed before moving on to the next. Every student's artwork exhibited characteristics from one of the stages, and it was shown that different students advance at different rates. It is imperative that art educators understand the significance of figure drawing and the stages involved in helping students completely understand the body. This will enable the art educators to create lesson plans related to figure drawing that are appropriate for the students' proficiency levels.