Do You See Me Like I See Me?: Cultural Perspectives in Western American Art
Looking at art through different lenses
Students grades 6 and up will explore how culture, individuality, technique, and place in history influence an artist’s production. In this 30–45 minute lesson, presenters will engage students using artwork from the Whitney Western Art Museum at the Buffalo Bill Center of the West as a tool to introduce students to historical and contemporary reflections of Plains Indian life. We will show European views of Native life, as well as American Indian perspectives of their own experiences.
Suggested pre-lesson activity
Prior to the lesson students should draw a self-portrait in a setting that reflects who he/she is and work with a partner to draw a portrait of his/her classmate in a setting they think reflects who his/her classmate is.
Additional resources
- Do You See Me Like I See Me? Sneak Peak Sway Presentation
- Land of Many Gifts Content Curriculum
- Buffalo and the People Content Curriculum
- Honor and Celebration Content Curriculum
- Adversity and Renewal Content Curriculum
- Post-Field Trip Survey
- Teacher Guide
- K-12 Plains Indian Resources at the Buffalo Bill Center of the West
- Kids Ask Why Podcast (see mountain man/beaver episode)
- Clues for the Classroom – Social Studies
- Other Student and Teacher Resources
YouTube videos
Do You See Me Like I See Me? Cultural Perspectives in Western American Art
Grade Level: 6–12
Length: 45 minutes (35 of instruction & 5–10 for questions)
Learning Objectives:
- To explore the idea of perspectives in art through self and peer evaluation
- To introduce and compare historic and contemporary perspectives of Plains Indian art by native and non-native artists
- To explore their own perspectives
