TRACEY Research Ideas...

TRACEY Drawing Research
Does drawing link to pre-linguistic thought?
Could drawing be used more widely for its role in cognitive development?

In terms of art history and more broadly, history of humanity, it is quite apparent that there is a significant link between drawing and cognitive development in the human mind. Our earliest records of humanity are indeed drawings that later evolved into both written word and artistic expression. Before there was a written language of any kind, drawing was utilized to (theoretically) communicate survival techniques, depict rituals, and render other forms of day-to-day life. This model of pre-linguistic thought is visible today in early human childhood, where, because of a language not yet learned, children use methods and materials available to them the not only depict the world around them, but also to attempt to decipher and learn about the space in which they exist. For children, drawing can also serve as a means to emote things that they are otherwise incapable of verbalizing. If we realize drawing as a vital role in early childhood development, then we can begin to understand the ways in which drawing can be used more widely for cognitive development. Drawing creates a visual language for children so that they can understand and interpret their daily endeavors. Without the aid of visual representation, it would be much more difficult for children to progress their learning into understanding more complex and challenging ideas. I think that there needs to be additional emphasis on art, more specifically drawing, and the ways in which these methods of learning can help children succeed in other areas of knowledge. In order for the brain learn more efficiently, a well-rounded education is vital; this includes the arts alongside the sciences, social sciences, and mathematics. If we ignore the reality of drawing’s purpose in education and specifically cognitive development, we are essentially defining the human brain as something quantifiable, rather than something vast, immense, and always changing. We should look to the past and to our human history to examine the ways that drawing has aided cultures and peoples since the early beginnings of our species.