honoring and promoting literacy
Creating Culture and Identity Through Reading
Before the masses were literate, art was language. Through the use of iconography and color, the artist could render a message that could be understood by their community. As the upper-class of Rome became literate in the 2nd and 3rd century BC, so began the use of the icons of literacy - the stylus, wax tablets, and papyrus all became popular in use. Specifically, subjects were often seen placing the stylus to their lips, which denoted literacy. In the Couple with Stylus and Woman with Stylus, we gather information from these visual cues and also the use of purple cloth, which denoted prestige. During this time period, to have portraits done with these items in hand was a status symbol, a sign of the subject's wealth and education. While it is unknown whether the subjects in the Couple with Stylus and Woman with Stylus portraits were actually literate, the matter is somewhat irrelevant. As educators, these images can be celebrated as some of the first promotional tools of literacy.
Elementary Educators will spend the majority of their classroom time working with pupils to further their skills in reading and writing. As a foundation to all other subjects, the student "buy in" to reading is paramount. All subjects are taught with the lens always filtering in as much writing and reading as possible, as strength in this skill will strengthen other skills. Enter the usual public elementary school and you will see walls covered in literacy propaganda. Why is this? The educator is seeking to find that one book, illustration, or writing style that connects with student and takes what might have been a surface level interest in literature to a full-blown love for reading. We love when young readers find personal identity in reading. This is why teachers and schools work to create a culture around reading and we see hallways adorned with the massages: "Reading is cool! Reading is fun!" We can identify this same spirit in these early portraits with the stylus as in those posters and give a cheer for the honoring of literacy!
Elementary Educators will spend the majority of their classroom time working with pupils to further their skills in reading and writing. As a foundation to all other subjects, the student "buy in" to reading is paramount. All subjects are taught with the lens always filtering in as much writing and reading as possible, as strength in this skill will strengthen other skills. Enter the usual public elementary school and you will see walls covered in literacy propaganda. Why is this? The educator is seeking to find that one book, illustration, or writing style that connects with student and takes what might have been a surface level interest in literature to a full-blown love for reading. We love when young readers find personal identity in reading. This is why teachers and schools work to create a culture around reading and we see hallways adorned with the massages: "Reading is cool! Reading is fun!" We can identify this same spirit in these early portraits with the stylus as in those posters and give a cheer for the honoring of literacy!