Ignoring ‘Other Men’s Flowers’

“I have gathered a garland of other men’s flowers, and nothing is mine but the cord that binds them.”

This quote comes originally from Michel de Montaigne (1533 – 1592), but is one of many quotes included in the current ToK Guide.

The pictures on this page are examples of some of my students ‘gathering other men’s flowers’. In DP visual arts students are expected to learn about the art of different cultures

and times. It would also seem natural that students may be influenced and/or inspired by the work of other artists.

In fact when studying art – with more than 2,000 years of art to look at  – it would seem rather perverse to ignore all that art.

But based on the last 25 Candidate Record Booklets I’ve been looking at, that is the case for some schools, art teachers and students. This is a very insular approach and often results in a ‘school style’ – sometimes repetitive and predictable.

With little evidence of looking outwards, all the artworks tend to become similar.

Its a complicated business, not least because its sometimes a thin line between ‘appropriation’ and ‘plagiarism’ – but in the DP Visual Arts programme, the creative use of the work or ideas of another person is perfectly acceptable, providing the original source is always be acknowledged.

So – if you don’t already –  encourage your students to look at and learn from art!

[…] j’ay seulement faict icy un amas de fleurs estrangieres, n’y ayant fourny du mien que le filet a les lier.

“I have gathered a garland of other men’s flowers, and nothing is mine but the cord that binds them.”