TED: Can art amend history? | Titus Kaphar

The speaker shares a personal story about visiting the Natural History Museum with his sons, which sparked a conversation about fairness and representation in public sculptures. He recounts his unexpected journey into art, motivated by a relationship, and his experiences in art history classes that lacked representation of black artists. The speaker emphasizes the importance of understanding art as a visual language and proposes amending historical narratives to reflect diversity and progress, rather than erasing them.

What question did the speaker's son ask about the Teddy Roosevelt sculpture?

• Why is the sculpture outside the museum?

• Why is Teddy Roosevelt on a horse while others walk?

• Why is the sculpture made of bronze?

• Why is the sculpture so large?

What motivated the speaker to enroll in art classes?

• A recommendation from a friend

• A scholarship opportunity

• A romantic interest in a woman

• A desire to become an artist

How did the speaker feel about his art history class performance?

• Satisfied with a B grade

• Confused by the material

• Disappointed with a low grade

• Uninterested in the subject

What was the speaker's reaction to the skipped chapter on black people in painting?

• He was indifferent

• He agreed with the professor

• He was upset and sought to learn independently

• He dropped the class

What did the speaker learn about painting from museums?

• Painting is only about colors

• Painting is not important in history

• Painting is a visual language with coded meanings

• Painting is a simple art form

What does the speaker suggest about historical art and monuments?

• They should be left unchanged

• They should be amended, not erased

• They should be ignored

• They should be erased

How does the speaker compare the amendment of art to the American Constitution?

• Both should be amended to reflect current values

• Both should remain unchanged

• Both should be ignored

• Both should be erased

What does the speaker want to achieve with his art?

• To focus only on modern art

• To honestly reflect past struggles and present diversity

• To ignore diversity

• To erase historical struggles

What does the speaker use as a metaphor for understanding art?

• A telescope

• A microscope

• An old-school camera

• A magnifying glass

What is the speaker's view on the impact of sculptures and paintings on society?

• They are irrelevant to modern society

• They have no impact

• They can influence perceptions of vulnerable groups

• They only affect artists