Explicates a multicultural approach to art education that enhances critical thinking. Grounds this approach in the philosophical principles of constructivism that emphasize the student's construction of meaning rather than the passive transmission of knowledge from a teacher. Discusses the possibility of multicultural reasoning and its…

Criticizes the traditional approach to art education that emphasizes formal properties such as line, color, and shape. Proposes that teachers develop student abilities to go beyond the visual level of artworks and gain access to the complexity of meanings that art possesses. Includes contemporary art examples and corresponding analyses. (MJP)

Maintains that the explosion of information technology combined with a cornucopia of new critical approaches places even heavier demands on art teachers and students. Examines some of the cognitive and curricular consequences of these changes. Offers recommendations for guiding future research on art learning and curricular development. (MJP)