DOI
https://doi.org/10.25772/6FFP-0602
Defense Date
2017
Document Type
Thesis
Degree Name
Master of Art Education
Department
Art Education
First Advisor
Ryan M Patton
Second Advisor
Pamela G Taylor
Third Advisor
Courtnie N. Wolfgang
Abstract
This study focuses on the highly expressive comic drawings of Amy, a child with autism. This study connects larger fields of research: the study of how people with autism spectrum disorder [ASD] process faces and emotions; and, research about artists with ASD. Amy's understanding of emotion was analyzed by asking her to view and identify humans and cartoon characters expressing different emotions. Her ability to illustrate emotion is tested by asking her to respond to various drawing prompts. The study concluded that Amy has difficulty identifying the emotions of humans and cartoons, but she does have the ability to illustrate characters that express a range of emotions. This individual case study shows that students with autism were able to process visual expressions of emotion with a high degree of accuracy. The results provide art educators a model with which to investigate how their students with autism process emotional expression.
Rights
© M. Sean Collins
Is Part Of
VCU University Archives
Is Part Of
VCU Theses and Dissertations
Date of Submission
5-9-2017
Included in
Art Education Commons, Art Practice Commons, Disability and Equity in Education Commons, Early Childhood Education Commons, Elementary Education Commons, Illustration Commons, Special Education and Teaching Commons