Cross-curricular approach to visual arts and Slovene classes usually takes place at a literature level and not at a grammar level. My research therefore addressed the linking of both subjects, visual arts and Slovene, more precisely Slovene grammar. The theoretical part of this master’s thesis presents the structural link of both languages. It applies to both subjects that languages (Slovene as well as art language) are divided in language fields – regarding art language these are photology, morphology, syntax, and semantics. Regarding verbal (Slovene) these are phonology, morphology, syntax, and semantics. The master’s thesis defines the above listed concepts into detail and links them with the visual arts and Slovene curriculum for ninth grade of elementary school (age 14 years). Goals that are defined by both curriculums were brought into focus and a common denominator was looked for. The research approach was a theoretical study with the method of reviewing literature. The aim of the empirical part of the thesis was to find out how ninth grade students comprehend the similarities between increasingly complex structures in art language and increasingly complex structures in Slovene. This cross curriculum approach was carried out in class undertaking a specific task: units with no meaning are articulated into units with meaning – basic art elements articulate forms and art variables/letters are formed into words (only full words were considered); units with meaning are combined into “expressive” structures: forms and art variables are articulated into art space and composition/words are formed into sentences and clauses (S-structure). The structures obtained are given a semantic element: experiencing the work of art (=visual arts)/moving from grammar to word art. My interest was in how students comprehend the connection and if they can explain it. The research aims to highlight the linguistic aspect of the cross-curriculum approach to visual arts and Slovene classes. In my opinion, teachers and curriculum authors will benefit from this detailed analysis since, so far, I have not come across any systematic approach and set of guidelines for carrying out visual arts and Slovene grammar cross curriculum classes.
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