Showing papers by "Jerome S. Bruner published in 2007"

Postcards from “A World Made Possible”: Excerpts from Virtual Conversations

Abstract: Reflecting on my “dream team” for the Handbook, I was hoping for Jerome Bruner’s voice. His ideas have provided a solid and inspiring foundation to all disciplines of arts education. I knew that the chances for his agreeing to participate were slim but did write to invite him. Bruner’s prompt response was gracious: “I hate to say no to your project – and to you. But I must. I am so up to the ears not only in teaching and writing, but also in civil rights litigation precipitated by this administration ... .” I wrote back to acknowledge that a Handbook on arts education feels, indeed, frivolous in these times. Bruner’s response was heartwarming and uplifting: “One of the things that make it worthwhile fighting is the existence of the arts as we know them and the promise that they’ll flourish freely in the future – which is what art education is about.” Then followed some extensive email communication (about 80 notes from each as Bruner noted), with Bruner’s reflections on specific experiences of arts education. Months later he suggested I use some of these virtual conversations for the Handbook. The three snippets below exemplify the power of the arts and the lessons they teach us about perception and meaning.