Going Between the Lines and Beyond the Pages of Your School Books
RECLAIM Y/OUR STORIES
COMPOSE: The photographs above represent communities and histories often left out of your schoolbooks. Pick a photograph that speaks to you in some way. Why does it reach out to you? Does it remind you of a piece of your own personal narrative? Use it to inspire a creative work that reveals a part of your personal narrative.
EXPLORE: Research the historical context, of the photograph. Are the people and events depicted in the image found in your history books? Why do you think they'e been left out? What is the impact and implication of their inclusion?
In photography, STUDIUM is the range of meanings in a photograph available to everyone. It involves the historical context of an image that is immediately familiar with most people.
PUNCTUM is an element in a photograph that jumps out for the viewer. It grabs your attention. It can be a small detail or a sense of familiarity you may have for a subject featured in the work. Roland Barthes describes it as "that accident that pricks, bruises me."
"Love Letter to
Albuquerque Schools"
"Change"
"Cupid in a War Zone"
Use the activities on this page to inspire your own storytelling.
CREATE: The videos above showcase performances by high school students like yourselves performing spoken word at a national poetry slam competition called Brave New Voices. After watching the videos, create your own spoken word piece, or use the pieces to remix your own interpretation of the poems.
DISCUSS: Does the medium of spoken word appeal to you? How is it different from traditional poetry? How is it more effective? How do the spoken word performers use pathos, logos, and ethos in their compositions and performances?