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| Photograph taken by W. Eugene Smith "Untitled", 1948 |
- I actually used this image with a different class last semester and I love this photograph. It worked well last semester and it fit well with my Big Idea of Identity this semester so I chose to use it as my first image this semester. This image is perfectly appropriate according to Yenawine. I am working with 11th and 12th grade photography students this semester and this image provides a greater level of detail to help contribute to and even complicate the story. The image is well within the realm of the familiar and the character and personality of the subject in the image appears to be very rich. The complexity of the setting was very age appropriate and did end up in a discussion about the time of day even.
Did this image motivate rigorous & engaging discussion for students? If so, what do you think made it successful? What did you observe that makes you say that?
- Yes, this photograph is great for discussion with high school students especially. The students recognize the gown, mask, and cap as that of a doctor or surgeon, a dentist, or even a patient. There seems to be just enough of a balance of the familiar and ambiguity in this image to make it work great for VTS discussion. Also the level of detail in the photograph both in the setting and in the expression of the subject lend to an engaging discussion. The contrast of the setting and the way that the figure was dressed was a big part of the discussion in class so that fact that the image doesn't immediately "make sense" to the students was a plus.
Did this image satisfactorily introduce the Big Idea, Concepts, and or Essential Questions of your unit? Specifically, what worked?
-I think that this image worked well introducing the big idea of Identity because of the rich nature of the details in the image, specifically the clothing and the expression and posture of the subject.
Was the image rich enough to encourage continued discussion &/or independent student investigation? If so, how might you provide continued exploration to satisfy student curiosity and/or motivation to discover more?
- Yes, I do think that this image was rich enough for continued exploration. A journal assignment to further explore the image or small group discussion would be appropriate.
Did this image invite opportunities to explore the Big idea through art making? How will you relate this image to subsequent art making for students?
-Yes, this image provided an opportunity to look at the power of posture and body language and how it relates to Identity and students in turn took photographs.
Reflect on Image #1 and the VTS discussion:
Would you use this image again to introduce the Big Idea of Identity?
-Yes, I would use this image again to introduce the big idea of identity because this image was a good fit for my students, provided for a good discussion and was a good starting point to begin work on identity.
Did this image satisfactorily introduce the Big Idea, Concepts, and or Essential Questions of your unit? Specifically, what worked?
-I think that this image worked well introducing the big idea of Identity because of the rich nature of the details in the image, specifically the clothing and the expression and posture of the subject.
Was the image rich enough to encourage continued discussion &/or independent student investigation? If so, how might you provide continued exploration to satisfy student curiosity and/or motivation to discover more?
- Yes, I do think that this image was rich enough for continued exploration. A journal assignment to further explore the image or small group discussion would be appropriate.
Did this image invite opportunities to explore the Big idea through art making? How will you relate this image to subsequent art making for students?
-Yes, this image provided an opportunity to look at the power of posture and body language and how it relates to Identity and students in turn took photographs.
Reflect on Image #1 and the VTS discussion:
Would you use this image again to introduce the Big Idea of Identity?
-Yes, I would use this image again to introduce the big idea of identity because this image was a good fit for my students, provided for a good discussion and was a good starting point to begin work on identity.
I was very excited to know that this image worked so well with a second group of high schoolers. I will definitely recommend it to future VTS students who work with that age group! I also agree that the ambiguity of the work is what keeps students pondering what could possibly be happening in the work. I PARTICULARLY like that it is called "Untitled!" That forces viewers to depend on their own analysis of the work. Great choice and very interesting post!
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