Inappropriate Art lesson

[Copingmama]

My 9 year old was shown a painting by Frida Kahlo in his Art lesson, which he also stuck into his book. It’s called ‘What the Water Gave me’ and includes naked women, including one being strangled. Does this seem inappropriate?

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.

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.

Ya, I don’t love that.

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

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...

Exactly.

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.

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

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.

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.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

It's not necessary when there are so many other works available, so I wouldn't be pleased, no. (And I have the feeling that some posters are using this as an opportunity to show off their knowledge of this particular artist—and perhaps also how 'cool' and modern they are—rather than actually thinking about whether or not children of 9 should be exposed to this painting, even if it's not as disturbing as some of her other works.)

Inappropriate.
I have showed this to my teacher friends and they would no way use this piece of art in a primary school setting. There is an abundant amount of artwork out there to choose from- this should not be one of them. I’m sure you won’t be the only parent to find this inappropriate. I know my parent friends would not be happy with this.

So you never went into a church anywhere in Europe that showed a dead, half naked man nailed to a cross?

That’s a totally fair comment - I hadn’t ever thought about that, not being religious, so I kind of ignore iconography. But yes, depicted not just in churches but all over the place - I saw plenty a as kid. And children that age are taught the story of crucifixion which is torture resulting in murder…

Because most children visit museums and galleries on weekends in their spare time to appreciate art work like the one above 🧐 🤪🤣🤣🤣

If they have read the Horrible Histories books, which many do at that age, they will have come across far worse than strangling. I think we often gloss much gruesome stuff there is around. One of our local hills still has a set of gallows at the top but no-one been hung there for ages.

Not every week but surely most 9 year olds have been to an art gallery at least once?

Very, very true!

https://share.google/nWqxnwy085ldKjNqh
Highlights from The National Gallery. Nudity, death and violence a-plenty. As a Londoner, I was taken here several times as a child and have taken my own kids.

I'm a big fan of Kahlo's work, both of mine did Kahlo at school at that age, and I think the main thing would be that a 9yo would get almost nothing out of this piece, as it's pretty complicated both visually and thematically.

Something like The Two Fridas would be better I think and a lot more to discuss with younger children. Nudity wouldn't bother me - we're very open about that and the kids go to a lot of galleries. It's just a bit of a shit teaching choice, very surrealistic and I'm not sure the rope tether/strangulation is right for younger kids.