Composing Your Life: Exploration of Self through Visual Arts and Writing
Course facts
- Payment: Free, no certificate
- Credits: Non Credit
- Learning style: Self-paced, start anytime
- Resources: Activity Assignments with Examples; Projects with Examples
- Before you start: (none)
MIT OpenCourseWare details
- As taught in: Spring 2006
- Department: Experimental Study Group
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Explore and express who you are through photography, art and writing, with sample class exercises, student projects and a guide for instructors.
Who are you, and how would you show it to someone else? This interdisciplinary seminar uses visual and written tools for self-exploration and self-expression, with special focus on photography. Through discussion, directed exercises and written assignments, students work in a variety of media, then build a mixed-media portrayal of self for a public exhibition. No earlier photography experience is needed.
What You Will Achieve
- Use writing and photography to explore personal history
- Combine images, memorabilia and text into a cohesive narrative
- Present a personal project clearly to an audience
- Run an interactive group exercise
Program Overview
Personal and Family History
Where each student begins.
- Turning points
- Family traditions and influential people
- Gender and self
- Race and ethnicity
Roles, Values and Perception
How we appear, and what matters.
- Self image and roles
- Values and meaning
- Self in historical context
- Alternative views of self
Future and Exhibition
Looking ahead and showing the work.
- Self in the future
- Presentation of self-portrayals
- Public exhibition
Course Completion
Job Outlook
This seminar builds reflective practice, visual communication and presentation skills useful in many fields.
Good for: Anyone curious about reflective writing and photography, and instructors planning an interactive seminar with similar exercises.
Keep in mind: The published detail covers two sample classes, not all of them, and its value depends on discussing personal material with a group. The exhibition is part of the experience.
Bottom line: A warm, practical source of exercises for exploring identity through images and words.
Frequently Asked Questions
What sample classes are shown?
Two: Turning Points and Self in Historical Context. Each includes descriptions of the class exercises, examples of student work and student commentary on the exercises.
Is there help for running a similar class?
Yes. Based on their experience, the instructors compiled guidelines for running interactive seminars of this type, published alongside the sample classes.
What weekly work is expected?
Writing a few paragraphs in a journal, collecting one or more pieces of memorabilia and taking one or more pictures, along with weekly reading and photo assignments.
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