Bias in the Fine Arts Range of the Library of Congress Classification System
Item
- Title
- Bias in the Fine Arts Range of the Library of Congress Classification System
- Abstract
- This lesson is intended to introduce students to bias in the fine arts range. It argues that by privileging fine art over craft, LCC reinforces ideas that white male European art is superior to art made by women and BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, and People of Color) artists. The Fine Arts range is arranged by medium. While the fine arts (architecture, painting, sculpture, and drawing) are treated as primary categories (NA for architecture, NB for sculpture, and so on), the craft mediums (glass, woodwork, textiles, and ceramic) are a subdivision of a subdivision, located under “Other Arts and Art Industries” in Decorative Arts (NK).
- Creator
- Stefanie Hilles
- Topics Covered
- DEI
- Bias
- Critical Information Literacy
- Library of Congress Classification System
- Books
- Discipline
- Art and Architecture
- Learning Outcomes
-
1. Understand how LCC functions to locate books on the library shelves
2. Analyze how the Fine Arts Range privileges fine art over craft
3. Link the privileging of fine art over craft to the West’s privileging of white, male, European art over art made by women and BIPOC artists
4. Understand that libraries are not neutral and are reflective of systemic bias within society - Audience Type
- Students
- Learning Object Type
- Lesson Plan
- Rights
- CC BY-NC
- Date Submitted
- 2022-09-14
Position: 21 (87 views)