Combat Art: An Avant-Garde Approach to Developing Critical Thinkers

Abstract

Combat art—in this case, paintings and sketches created by Marines and drawn from lived combat experience—is a unique form of fine art. A body of research suggests that studying fine art can develop critical thinking skills that transfer across numerous disciplines. For U.S. Marines, engaging combat art improves the critical thinking skills and creative problem-solving abilities needed to succeed in future wars. Moreover, as fine art created by Marines in war, combat art also prepares a Marine’s mind for the physical and emotional realities of combat.