TOWARDS A BETTER CONCEPTUALIZATION OF PLASTIC AND PLASTICITY TERMS IN HIGHER EDUCATION IN ART

The present article reports on the need of improving the conceptualization of some abstract terminology commonly used in arts, as they are plastic and plasticity. These terms, plastic and plasticity can be introduced to the students in Arts in a more systematic and scientific basis without prevention of the acquirement of intrinsic artistic knowledge and background, moreover praxis and theory can be complementary.

Main objectives have been to identify through a survey the degree of knowledge about: i) the concept of plastic and plasticity in arts degrees; ii) the method preferred to better understand these important concepts and iii) the availability of tutorials, documents or references that explicitly contain the explanation of these terms.

Methodology carried out for the survey has been elaborated accordingly to the sample size and docent characteristic of the responders. It has been proposed for undergraduate students of four courses belonging to the grade of fine arts at the University of Granada (Spain) (n=327), and also the same survey has been performed by lectures (n= 15).

Results obtained in the survey, although varied depending on the course level and the specialization area, they are showing a similar trend of lack of general conceptual knowledge, and lack of tutorials or bibliographic references and therefore, the need of new methodology for implement the teaching of these concepts during the classes with theoretical support.

The work will also present an example of a basic inter-disciplinary tutorial practical-theoretical for better explaining these concepts that are used concretely in sculpture with clay and their correspondent measurable physic parameters through a rheometer.

Conclusion: The students in Arts claimed a theoretical support for a better learning of some concepts in Arts. It can be transferred the knowledge in a more comprehensive way through the elaboration of tutorials with complementary disciplines.