Aesthetic Ugliness: Themes and Artistic Characteristics in the Drawings of Middle School Female Students: An Analytical Study
Keywords:
Aesthetics of Ugliness, Sensory and Moral Ugliness, Children’s Drawing Analysis, Artistic Expression, Artistic Characteristics of Student Drawings.Abstract
This study investigates the themes of "aesthetic ugliness" as expressed in the drawings of middle school female students, identifying the primary artistic characteristics associated with these themes. Employing a qualitative methodology to analyze visual artistic expressions and their latent meanings, the research focused on a population of female students in public middle schools in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. A purposive sample of 46 students, aged 12–15 years, was selected for the study.
The theoretical framework addresses several key pillars: the aesthetics of ugliness in artworks, themes reflecting aesthetic ugliness, the significance of analyzing student drawings, and the specific artistic characteristics of middle schoolers' work. Data collection relied on two researcher-developed instruments: a "List of Aesthetic Ugliness Themes" and a "List of Associated Artistic Characteristics."
The study identified several themes of sensory aesthetic ugliness, including pollution, disgust, and fear. Meanwhile, themes of moral (abstract) aesthetic ugliness emerged through representations of war, bullying, loneliness/loss, and hatred. Artistically, the students emphasized these themes through various symbols and visual elements, such as bold color palettes (dominance of black and red), jagged or distorted lines, and specific iconography including waste, insects, animals, flags, and medical instruments.
Based on these results, the study recommends training art education teachers in drawing analysis as a tool for the early detection of psychological and social issues. It further advocates for enhanced collaboration between art teachers and school counselors to provide comprehensive psychological and social support for students.
