Inappropriate Art lesson

A nine year old accessing stuff like this on the internet?? Maybe in your house but I don’t think that’s normal.

That's not what I'm saying at all.

I wouldn't have thought Kahlo's work to be suitable.

I’m ok with it apart from the strangling- but I can’t see the strangling!

I think its a odd choice for that age but they have "jolly" capital punishment on cbeebies these days so what do I know.

You must have seen similar with him in museums or galleries.

To paraphrase Alan Partridge, calm down, it’s not hardcore super sex.

I think it mgiht be part of a push to teach children "resilience". I think they're going about it all the wrong way though.

I think a lot of what is happening in school art is a bit OTT at the moment. I used to see the kids' GCSE art in the school newsletters of various school. There was a lot of depiction of assault and people with their faces slashed and stuff, and what looked like dead babies. I have no idea why it's like that.

I travelled a lot in Europe as a child and saw many wonderful art galleries and none of them were showing stuff like this. I think it's really disturbing.

So something is appropriate and acceptable because it’s not as bad as something else?

I love Kahlos work, but if all the women artists to choose to study for nine year olds I do think she is an odd choice! Her work reflected her life which was very difficult, horrendous medical history, constant physical pain, surgery,miscarriage, a difficult relationship. She portrayed it all very graphically, and while I admire her for her honesty and bravery I think the themes of her paintings are too adult for nine year olds.

Exactly.

Count yourself very lucky that the Art Teacher didn't show your 9 year old Frida Kahlo's 'A Few Small Nips' 1935 (I'm probably not allowed to upload or link it here, you'll just have to Google it).

Kahlo loved gore and used to keep a foetus in a jar. For Mexicans death is a fun thing. I can't remember the name of the famous Mexican street photographer who used to specialise in photographing gruesome car accidents...

Ya, I don’t love that.

I was exposed to porn as a child so I’m more definitely strict about this.

I taught secondary school art for 28 years. I wouldn’t have used this for y7 never mind age 9.

This would be year 9 stuff for me. They’ve got some level of maturity and understanding by then.

Theres millions of artworks, and lots by women. The ethics of art are important, so no, not appropriate.

There’s something about ‘Intended audience in the NC. l’d question whether 9 year olds were the intended audience. The subject matter of strangulation isn’t really suitable. I’d show selected nude drawings, but not that.

If you feel like that, OP, best not take him into a church. There's likely to be a depiction of Christ on the cross.

No issues at all with nudity but I'm not sure a naked woman being strangled is appropriate for 9 year olds. Or the naked lovers tbh.

As @TiredofLDN says, you can't bring these kinds of images to children without discussing the themes they raise. And I'm not sure all 9 year olds would be ready or mature enough for these themes. Some of them by quite a long way.

I wouldn't be bothered enough to complain, but I'd think it was a poor choice by the teacher.

I think they just look like objects, and we get enough of that.
so many pieces of art to choose from

I wouldn’t be upset by my 9 year being exposed to the piece as an image, but it opens up lots of sensitive topics / themes that I would be surprised if the teacher had time to spend unpacking, should any of the kids pick up on them (and they do have to be unpacked, if the kids raise them really, if you bring the image to them)….

I’ve taken DS to most of the major museums and galleries in London, so he’s seen everything from animal fetuses in formaldehyde to quite confronting art- we’ve never yet had any upset arise from any of it. Lots of conversations that have had my scratching my head for a sec though!

What's your issue with it?

Naked women, not naked people

I didn't " discover" Frida kahlo until I was in my 60s.
I wish my education had been as enlightened as at your son's school OP.

I can’t even make out the strangling. It’s weird yes but not disturbing to me. My ds who is now12 would not have been inspired by it at 9 but also not disturbed.

Is it the strangulation that is the issue? As opposed to nudity (I am thinking of that Simpsons episode where Marge stands up for Michaelangelo’s David going on tour). It’s not an explicit piece of art - the one in question - it’s not Francis Bacon or Hieronymous Bosch.

In fact the way it is painted is very dreamlike. How did your child respond? My goddaughters’ mum is an artist so they have been very used to seeing all manner of artistic outputs from a young age and both are very well-rounded and able to acquit themselves well when discussing issues of humanity (for want of a better way of describing it). I don’t think it’s necessarily a bad thing - but all children are different.

I remember reading King of the Castle at that age - again, no bad thing - exposure to the darker seams of life has to be managed but it’s definitely not to be avoided.

Just be grateful it’s not “My birth” 😂

Your 12 year old son would cry if they saw this? Really?

OP, I’d be happy they chose one of the more interesting Kahlo paintings rather than the ones that have been reproduced on cushions, etc. Sounds like a good art teacher to me