This downloadable one-lesson project centres on a specific contemporary artwork that sparked global debate: Maurizio Cattelan’s Comedian, the duct-taped banana sold at Art Basel Miami Beach for $120,000.

Designed using the Philosophy for Children (P4C) approach, the lesson introduces students to the artwork’s context, its deliberately simple materials, and the artist’s claim that it functions as humour and commentary on global trade and the art market. Students explore why an object that quickly rots could still be considered art, and why collectors were willing to pay such a high price for it.

Structured closed questions invite learners to take a clear position on whether Comedian should count as real art and whether an artwork’s value should depend on durability or materials. Open-ended debate questions then deepen the enquiry, encouraging students to examine whether art is defined by ideas, skill, materials, or market value, and whether the piece mocks the art world or actively participates in it.

The lesson requires minimal preparation and includes strong visual stimulus, focused debate prompts, and reflective questions. It develops critical thinking, philosophical reasoning, and confident discussion within a single, flexible session.

Ideal for upper primary or secondary classrooms, this ready-to-use resource helps students form and justify their own views on contemporary art, humour, and the meaning of artistic value.