Blog TOPIC #13: After Lesson 6

Photograph by: Leah Millis
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/45149992#.Tubm8HN5G14

• Critically evaluate the work of art you selected. 

The photograph that I chose to use for Lesson 6 was taken by photojournalist, Leah Millis. The photograph depicts a man who is obviously in pain. He has just been pepper-sprayed in the face by police after an altercation during Occupy protests in Civic Center Park in Denver, Colorado. There are several men who have come to his aid and are trying to help. 

• Reflecting on Yenawine's article on image selection, was it an appropriate choice for your students, considering their age, stage, interests, and abilities? Explain why or why not. 

Although Yenawine doesn't suggest using photojournalism pieces because they tend to allow for too narrow a range of interpretations I feel that this photograph is an exception to that rule. This image was appropriate for my upper level high school, Stage II students. My students created several interpretations and narratives for this image and were intrigued by the emotion in the image.  

• In what ways did it challenge them? Was the challenge too great, too little, just right?

My students were challenged with an initial narrative and interpretation. They seemed to spend longer just looking at the image before wanting to begin the discussion which leads me to believe that the narrative was a challenge for them. Once we began the discussion I recieved a mix of many different interpretations which tells me that the narrative wasn't obvious and that photograph did indeed allow for a wide range of interpretations. I think that the challenge was just right because one the discussion got started it was great. 

• What feature/aspects of the work of art and  its narrative did the students notice? What intrigued them?

The students were certainly drawn to the central figure and his emotional/painful expression. The students were also drawn to the figures gathered around the central figure. There were several interpretations suggested about what was happening in the photograph. One student suggested it seemed like a movie set and this was an actor or stuntman and that they were in between takes. Another student suggested that the central figure was a part of a street fighting or underground boxing league. One student thought that because of the figures tattoos that maybe the situation was gang related. Another student thought that maybe this could be some type of hazing. One student did suggest that this could be a protestor who has been peppered sprayed. I think that the students were intrigued by the intensity of the central figure's emotion. 

• Were there any surprises?

I was surprised at the number of different interpretations that the students came up with and at how varied the interpretations were. I was also surprised at how long the students continued to discuss and answer "What else can you find?".

• Would you use this image again with a similar class of students? Explain.

Absolutely, Yes. This image was great for discussion. It was wide open to interpretation and the intense emotion of the central figure was engaging and intriguing.