Using the art in picture books to develop character in dramatic role-play

Abstract

This study considers how the illustrator's use of the artistic elements of design in picture book illustrations helps adolescents to portray a character's thoughts, emotions, and attitudes in dramatic role-play. The picture book, with its new diversity of subjects and genres, has now widened its audience to include adolescents. The study of the illustrators use of the artistic elements of design in embellishing the narrative of the story allows students to gain a greater understanding of the aesthetic value of picture books. This understanding and interpretation of the illustrator's choices of artistic elements of design may help students to increase their visual literacy. The researcher chose a qualitative research design for descriptive evidence of whether artistic elements of design could help in portrayal of character. From a high school population of 75 ranging in age from 15 to 18 years, the participants were 18 students, 10 females and 8 males. Data were collected on students' participation in group discussions, monologues, dramatic role- plays, and reflective journal writing. The researcher concludes that participants used the illustrator's artistic elements of design to portray a character in dramatic role-play. The researcher recommends the use of the historical picture book in the secondary classroom in the present and further research in the future.