Abstract

This study aims to identify high school students' perception of war and peace. Therefore, the students were asked to draw pictures depicting war and peace. The study was conducted at a Fine Arts High School. This study is a qualitative research. According to the assessments made on the results of the study, the students drew pictures containing national and universal motifs. The pictures based on national motifs were identified with the War of Independence and Turkish Soldiers. On the other hand, symbols like pigeon and olive branch standing out in the pictures based on universal motifs. This proves how effective the preconceived perceptions of the students on war and peace are. An additional study on drawings based on the motifs of war and peace involving larger groups of students may be carried out.

Key words:  War, peace, war and peace, picture, history education, high school students.