Behind the Faces

Explore and respond to the work of Marcel Duchamp, creating a collage of a reworked face.

• 1.

  Study the work of Marcel DuChamp, in particular, the L.H.O.O.Q. (revisited Mona Lisa). Discuss the techniques and effects of reworking an image. What is your response to the reworked Mona Lisa compared to the original? Why might DuChamp have decided to rework this painting?

• 2.

  What common needs, characteristics, and ideas do people around the world share? Identify differences among people, too. For example, food is important to all people, and people around the world eat different foods. Make a chart or web to illustrate your findings.

• 3.

  Find a full-faced ad or photograph in a magazine that you can rework in DuChamp's style. Use an eraser or Crayola® Scissors to rework the face by removing parts of key characteristics, such as eyebrows, lips, and hairstyles.

• 4.

  When you have erased everything that you want to change, photocopy your picture. Use Crayola Markers and/or Crayola Erasable Colored Pencils to draw features back into your picture, creating a whole new look for your portrait.

• 5.

  Finish the skin tones of your portrait with Crayola Multicultural Markers.

• 6.

  Cover your work area with newspaper. Use a Crayola Paint Brush and water to blend the washable marker colors for a watercolor effect. Dry.

• 7.

  Cut out your drawing and glue it to construction paper with Crayola Glue Sticks.

• 8.

  In newspapers or magazines, find words and phrases that any person might think about. Cut them out and glue to the construction paper.

• 9.

  Compare the phrases you and your classmates chose. Discuss your observations.

Benefits

• Students explore and respond to the work of Marcel DuChamp (dada), who reworked familiar images.
• Students identify and appreciate human similarities and differences in appearance, feelings, needs, and other characteristics.
• Students create a collage with a face and phrases that represent respect for human diversity and an understanding of common traits.

Adaptations

• Make a group collage by gluing finished drawings on a mural. Add universal phrases common to the group you created.
• Take key words from the phrases and compose a poem using those phrases for main ideas.
• Work in small groups, each in a different language. Cut words and phrases from publications in that language, or write the phrases. Compare and contrast the selections.