Small Wonders

by Erika Hitchcock

4th-6th Grade

It is important for students to understand and become aware of present day societal issues and the meanings of our culture’s iconic representations. To develop this awareness, students study the work of photographer, David Levinthal, and his use of social iconology, and toy/playsets as representations within his artworks, which depict our culture's stereotypes, values, beliefs, and 20th century history. Students contemplate and argue whether these icons actually create society’s attitudes or indicate and characterize periods of time and culture within our society. Through discussions, activities, and projects, students reflect on historical and present day events, our country’s values, and the various roles of different genders/races within our society. Students acquire an understanding of iconology and attain a meaningful, multifaceted look at present day icons and their current representations of society.

Lesson 1: Iconology and its Power and Presence in our Culture

Lesson 2: Iconology Reinforces Popular Culture, Beliefs, and Stereotypes of America

After graduating from Yale
University School of Art in 1973, he collaborated with his classmate Garry Trudeau on the book Hitler Moves East, which was originally published in 1977. This book, which recreated the Eastern Front in World War II using toy figures and models has been credited with being one of the earliest examples of post-modern photography books.

For this exhibition, Levinthal creates a variety of vignettes where toy soldiers, Indian Chiefs, charioteers and circus performers engage an a variety of activities in a carefully constructed set, which Levinthal then documents through photography. Consisting of 50 cibachrome prints and 5 playset dioramas, this exhibition illustrates how through the artist's eyes toys become more than playthings. Seemingly benign playsets of soft plastic figures, props, and tin environments manufactured in the 1950s offer new perspectives on history and popular culture and are transformed into a world where fact and fiction, reality and fantasy blur.

Cultural Icons

by Debbie Fulkerson

Grade 4-5

What is freedom?

Who is free? Who is not?

What advantages are there to being free?

What symbols are associated with freedom?

Lesson 1: Literature as Art: Uncle Tom’s Cabin

Lesson 2: History in the Making

by Melissa Macdonald & Cary Shurtz

8th Grade

It is important that students understand social issues and how icons are used throughout society to express these issues. David Levinthal's work is important because it visually connects society and iconology.

Lesson 1

Lesson 2: Returning to the Past: Portraying War Through Writing