Art and Communication

Some of my students, kids and adults both, have commented on my drawing abilities. Not that I draw particularly well, but I draw well and quickly enough to use it as a language tool. I've used it to draw what I want for market vendors and to explain the meaning of a word to students.

I was watching The Children of Men (excellent film, by the way) and there's a scene where the main character draws a boat (screenshot above) so that he can communicate with a Russian lady. It really struck me how little importance our Western education places on this valuable skill.

I also watched The Thirteenth Warrior (for about the fiftieth time a favourite film) and realised that one of the main reasons I like this film is the theme of being adapting a strange culture and language. Pictured here is a screenshot of "Ibn" teaching Bulvi how to write (in Arabic.) This film is a retelling of Beowulf, if you are interested in mythology.



Every culture has small symbols that are used traditionally that we forget about. When I got here I recognised this little 'wind-blown cloud" pattern that appears on a lot of things. The interior of the YMCA elevators has a repeating motif of this but the Korean teachers haven't noticed it and when I ask about it they don't seem to notice how commonplace it is. It's also on the tiles in the Jagalchi subway station. (pictured at left)