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Calcia, Lilliar. Z. Acton, 1907-
j.9-2 C.nildren's preferences in modern and
.025 contemporary art... New York, 1942.
xxii,261 typewritten leaves. 31
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university, School of education, 1942.
Bibliography: p.259-261.
AG9473
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THIS DISSERTATION HAS BEEN MICROFILMED EXACTLY AS RECEIVED.
Final Document
. „ , „ , AUG 7 1942
Accepted, Date------_____
CHILDREN’S PREFERENCES IN
MODERN AND CONTEMPORARY ART
LILLIAN E. ACTON CALCIA
Submitted in partial fulfillment of the
requirements for the degree of Doctor of Education
in the School of Education of
New York University
1942
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PREFACE
Children’s attitudes towards the products of the modern movement
in painting was selected as a problem for research study primarily to
give emphasis to this period of the world's art and perhaps thereby to
encourage its inclusion in the public school curriculum.
This period of art, although it had reached high peaks of develop
ment as early as 1890 was an art wholly unknown to me until 1927, when
as an adult student it first came within my experience. My own deep
enjoyment of this art dates from that time.
I have time and time again observed the same situation of students
arriving at the college level of education, with no previous experience
in an art which many come to appreciate.
It seems unfortunate and unnecessary that the art of their own
times is withheld from young people and instead a narrow selection
of traditional, western art is presented as the "best1’. Too often,
the belief that this limited offering is the only "real art", iB the
one which they retain as they leave the teachers college to go to
elementary teaching jobs, there to present to a new group of children
the same stereotyped collection of "old masters".
It was with the wish to help break this circle that this study
was undertaken.
When time came to list the persons who had given me help in
making this study, I realized not only the great number of people to
whom I am indebted but also the different kinds and varying degrees
ii
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of indebtedness. To make the list and then nicely choose the phrasing
which would properly indicate the importance and quality of the help given
would lengthen this document by many pages. Those who have given me so
freely of their valuable time and help - the sponsors of the study,
colleagues and students of the State Teachers College at Newark, school
administrators, teachers and students of the cooperating communities of
New Jersey, and my relatives and friends, know that I am sincerely and
deeply grateful.
iii
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Chapter Topic Page
I The Purpose of the Investigation................ 1
II Previous Investigations ...................... 6
III General Procedure ............................. 17
IV Selection and Arrangement of the Paintings for
the Preliminary Presentation ................... 19
V The Selection of the Children.................. 32
VI The Presentation of the Paintings............... 44-
VII Organization and Interpretation of the Data
Obtained in the Preliminary Presentation of the
Paintings.................................... 47
Interpretation of the Data Obtained from
the Preliminary Presentation of Category I,
(Abstractions), Grade Two, Grade Five, and
Grade Eight.......... ..................... 53
Interpretation of the Data Obtained from the
Preliminary Presentation of Category II,
(Animals), Grade Two, Grade Five, and Grade
Eight...................................... 58
Interpretation of the Data Obtained from
the Preliminary Presentation of Category III,
(Landscape), Grade Two, Grade Five, and Grade
Eight...................................... 64
Interpretation of the Data Obtained from
the Preliminary Presentation of Category IV,
(People), Grade Two, Grade Five, and Grade
Eight...................................... 70
Interpretation of the Data Obtained from
the Preliminary Presentation of Category V,
(Portraits), Grade Two, Grade Five, and Grade
Eight...................................... 77
Interpretation of the Data Obtained from
the Preliminary Presentation of Category VI,
(Still Life), Grade Two, Grade Five, and Grade
Eight...................................... 84
iv
Chapter Topic Page
VII (Continued)
Interpretation of the Data Obtained from
the Preliminary Presentation of Category VII,
(Street Scenes and Buildings), Grade Two,
Grade Five, and Grade Eight................. 91
Interpretation of the Data Obtained from
the Preliminary Presentation of Category VIII,
(Water Scenes), Grade Two, Grade Five, and
Grade Eight ......................... 97
VIII The Selection and Arrangement of the Paintings
for the Final Presentation................... Ill
IX Organization and Interpretation of the Data
Obtained in the Final Presentation of the
Paintings.................................... 115
Interpretation of the Data Obtained for
Group l,from Girls and Boys of Grade Two,
Grade Five, and Grade Eight................. 120
Interpretation of the Data Obtained for
Group 2, Girls and Boys of Grade Two, Grade
Five, and Grade Eight....................... 126
Interpretation of the Data Obtained for
Group 3, from Girls and Boys of Grade Two,
Grade Five, and Grade Eight............... 132
Interpretation of the Data Obtained for
Group 4,from Girls and Boys of Grade Two,
Grade Five, and Grade Eight............... 138
Interpretation of the Data Obtained for
Group 5,from Girls and Boys of Grade Two,
Grade Five, and Grade Eight............... 144
Interpretation of the Data Obtained for
Group 65from Girls and Boys of Grade Two,
Grade Five, and Grade Eight............... 150
X General Summary and Conclusions............. 164
Five Highest Ranked Paintings of Each
Category, Grade Two....................... 165
Five Highest Ranked Paintings of Each
Category, Grade F i v e ..................... 165
v
Chapter Topic Page
X (Continued)
Five Highest Ranked Paintings of Each
Category, Grade Eight ...................... 166
Summary of the Interpretation of the Data
Obtained in the Preliminary Presentation
of the Paintings........................... 167
Ten Highest Ranked Paintings, Girls and Boys,
Grade Two.................................. 171
Ten Highest Ranked Paintings, Girls and Boys,
Grade F i v e ...................... ......... 171
Ten Highest Ranked Paintings, Girls and Boys,
Grade Eight...................... ......... 171
Summary of the Interpretation of the Data
Obtained in the Final Presentation.......... 172
Conclusions Drawn from the Interpretation of
the Data Obtained in the Final Presentation . . 174
XI Discussion ........................... 179
Appendix ................................ 181
Bibliography................................ 259
vi
LIST OF TABLES
Tables Title Page
I References to Modern and Contemporary Painters
in Books on Art............................... 182
II Distribution of Children by Sex, Preliminary
Presentation; Grade Two, Grade Five, and
Grade Eight.................................. 33
III Distribution of Children by Sex, Final
Presentation; Grade Two, Grade Five, and
Grade Eight.................................. 33
IV Distribution of Children by Nationality Background;
Preliminary Presentation to Grade Two, Grade
Five, and Grade Eight......................... 39
V Distribution of Children by Nationality Background;
Final Presentation to Grade Two, Grade
Five, and Grade Eight ............... 39
VI Distribution of Children by Socio-Economic
Status; Preliminary Presentation to Grade Two,
Grade Five, and Grade Eight................... 42
VII Distribution of Children by Socio-Economic
Status; Final Presentation to Grade Two, Grade
Five, and Grade Eight......................... 42
VIII Weighted Totals, Preliminary Presentation of
the Paintings, Grade T w o ..................... 224.
IX Weighted Totals, Preliminary Presentation of
the Paintings, Grade Five..................... 226
X Weighted Totals, Preliminary Presentation of
the Paintings, Grade Eight ................... 228
TT Rank Order of Weighted Totals for Category I,
(Abstractions), Grade Two ..................... 50
XII Rank Order of Weighted Totals for Category I,
(Abstractions), Grade Five ................... 51
XIII Rank Order of Weighted Totals for Category I,
(Abstractions), Grade Eight ................... 52
vii
