Joseph Beuys

High school (ages 12+)
Art & Creativity

Name:

Date:

Step 1 · Read the article

Open the article and read it at the level above. Then answer the questions below in your own words.

https://smallwhale.org/articles/joseph-beuys

Write what each word means, using the article.

Do not copy the article. Write two things you learned, the way you would explain them to a friend.

Answers below are taken from the article’s stored facts, so they match what the student read.

1. When was Joseph Beuys born?May 12, 1921
2. When did Joseph Beuys die?January 23, 1986 (age 64)
3. Where was Joseph Beuys born?Krefeld, Germany
4. What is the career?Artist, sculptor, performance artist, educator, theorist, political activist
5. Who was Joseph Beuys?Joseph Beuys was a German artist born in 1921 who used unusual materials to make people think about the world differently.
6. What special materials did Joseph Beuys use in his art?He used felt, a warm and protective fabric, and fat, a substance that could be melted and reshaped, to symbolize renewal and energy.

Social Sculpture: Beuys's theoretical framework positing that society itself is a malleable entity that can be shaped and improved through creative action and collective consciousness.
Expanded Art Concept: Beuys's assertion that creativity is a fundamental human capacity, extending the definition of art beyond traditional forms to encompass all actions that contribute to shaping life and society.
Performance Art: An art form where the artist's actions, often live and in front of an audience, constitute the artwork, emphasizing process, concept, and ephemeral experience.
Free International University (FIU): A non-hierarchical, decentralized educational and activist organization founded by Beuys to promote interdisciplinary dialogue, critical thinking, and social change.