"SICK OF ART" : ICONODIAGNOSIS AT SCHOOL
Introduce young people to art and iconodiagnosis.
Objective
Audience
Methods
Main goals
To stimulate the spirit of observation and reasoning criticism from the students and showing how group work is important in solving cases.
- The observation of an artwork helps to understand that things are often not as they seem at first glance, and that all events and facts must always be observed from multiple points of view
- The observation of an artwork allows you to know the personal history of the author and better understand his work
- The observation of an artwork may allow to notice representations of pathological elements. This allows us to reflect on how even the pathological element can be elevated to art and therefore underline the importance of art in the fight against the stigmatization of pathologies
On April 15, 2025, a lesson on Iconodiagnostics was held for the students of the “Graziadio Ascoli” middle school in Gorizia (Italy). The lesson was part of the project “Sick of Art: Iconodiagnosis at School,” organized by the International Society of Iconodiagnosis (ISI).
The aim was to introduce the students to iconodiagnosis and, more generally, to bring them closer to Art, and stimulating critical thinking. Observing an artwork requires time and attention and has to be done carefully in order to notice every detail and understand its true meaning.
After an initial introduction on iconodiagnosis and on the strict relationship between art and medicine, several paintings representing pathological elements were presented, and the students were asked to identify them.
Moreover, the importance of knowing the artists’ medical history to better understand their work was also emphasized.
The students actively participated in the observation and critical reasoning, showing great attention and curiosity, and they successfully identified the pathological elements. Well done, kids!
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