The Benefits of Fan Art in the Classroom

Includes a Live Web Event on 04/09/2025 at 7:00 PM (EDT)


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The Benefits of Fan Art in the Classroom
Wednesday, April 9, 2025 | 7–8pm ET
FREE for NAEA members; $49 for nonmembers

Fan art—unofficial drawings and other renderings of famous characters—is often the bane of the middle and high school art educators’ existence. Join us as we explore the potential benefits of fan art to adolescent development, self-identity, social sharing, and artistic skill development. Presenter Marjorie Cohee Manifold shares, “A study reveals how young people from nineteen countries have begun to manipulate media conveyed narratives of popular culture in ways that may be construed as culture creation. Through intense engagements as fans of commercially produced images and stories, adolescents and young adults may craft fanart illustrations as images of self. As they learn art making within the global fandom, or Internet-connected community of like-interested fans and fanartists, these young people enact relationships to the subject and process of fanart making, fellow fanartists and the fan community that are not unlike those of the medieval European craftsman to his craft, guild workshop, and community."

Marjorie Cohee Manifold

Professor, Arts Education & Curriculum Studies, Indiana University, Bloomington

Marjorie Cohee Manifold looks at the artistic practices of adolescents in interest-based (fandom) communities and how socioaesthetic interactions of fandom encourage and support development of self-identity, self-acceptance, appreciation of global expressions, and emotional well-being, while honing art learning and making skills. Her authored works include Art Themes: Choices in Art Learning and Making.

Upon completion of this NAEA webinar, you may earn 1 hour of professional development credit as designated by NAEA. Once the webinar is completed, you may view/print a Certification of Participation under the "Contents" tab. You may also print a transcript of all webinars attended under the "Dashboard" link in the right sidebar section of the page.  

Clock hours provided upon completion of any NAEA professional learning program are granted for participation in an organized professional learning experience under responsible sponsorship, capable direction and qualified instruction, and can be used toward continuing education credit in most states. It is the responsibility of the participant to verify acceptance by professional governing authorities in their area.

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