"Change"
The first visual essay asks students to use both images and texts to interpret or elaborate on different notions of change -- the most "abstract" of all assignments.
Requirements: 1) Incorporate aspects of Merced or the university into the pictures; 2) Each photograph needs to have contrasting elements (rough vs. soft, bright vs. dark, etc.); 3) The accompanying passage, creative in nature, should not explain the meanings of the pictures but should aim to enhance or complicate the viewer's reading of the images; and 4) People cannot be the main subjects in this visual essay.
As the very first assignment, students are only beginning to explore the possibilities and complex relationships between imagery and text. Some already did a good job, but all will improve and grow, as the online and in-class feedback, and course readings and lectures, will help students develop their eyes and skills.
Feel free to leave encouragement or criticism for these students. Please be constructive; we are all learning to do better.
(Note: the texts and comments have not been redacted, edited, or corrected for typos or errors)
The first visual essay asks students to use both images and texts to interpret or elaborate on different notions of change -- the most "abstract" of all assignments.
Requirements: 1) Incorporate aspects of Merced or the university into the pictures; 2) Each photograph needs to have contrasting elements (rough vs. soft, bright vs. dark, etc.); 3) The accompanying passage, creative in nature, should not explain the meanings of the pictures but should aim to enhance or complicate the viewer's reading of the images; and 4) People cannot be the main subjects in this visual essay.
As the very first assignment, students are only beginning to explore the possibilities and complex relationships between imagery and text. Some already did a good job, but all will improve and grow, as the online and in-class feedback, and course readings and lectures, will help students develop their eyes and skills.
Feel free to leave encouragement or criticism for these students. Please be constructive; we are all learning to do better.
(Note: the texts and comments have not been redacted, edited, or corrected for typos or errors)
Sandra B.
Time is change. Every living thing ages and passes away at one point. Man, however, created something spectacular. This never dies. This doesn’t spoil. Instead, with age it refines. The older it gets, the better it tastes. It starts as a seed in the soil. With water, the first sprout peeks to see the sun. Sun, light, water and air help it reach out to see the world. When nature’s marbles reach its peak of beauty, man comes and takes them away from its vines. The fruit is squeezed and becomes something more. It comes to contact with enzymes to perfect it. The active proteins move rapidly in all directions reacting with excitement. The excitement for finding its partner that will last until the end of time.
Time is change. Every living thing ages and passes away at one point. Man, however, created something spectacular. This never dies. This doesn’t spoil. Instead, with age it refines. The older it gets, the better it tastes. It starts as a seed in the soil. With water, the first sprout peeks to see the sun. Sun, light, water and air help it reach out to see the world. When nature’s marbles reach its peak of beauty, man comes and takes them away from its vines. The fruit is squeezed and becomes something more. It comes to contact with enzymes to perfect it. The active proteins move rapidly in all directions reacting with excitement. The excitement for finding its partner that will last until the end of time.
Sandra B.
What we now call wine patiently waits years until someone takes it. The consumer may be celebrating happily or drinking away sorrow until dawn or the consumer may be faithful taking the blood of Christ. Once the crystal safe is empty, it becomes forgotten in the streets, on the ground, and is considered garbage. It wasn’t valued but only its contents were valued. Whatever the reason a person has to empty a wine bottle, each grape encounters a different story to tell.
What we now call wine patiently waits years until someone takes it. The consumer may be celebrating happily or drinking away sorrow until dawn or the consumer may be faithful taking the blood of Christ. Once the crystal safe is empty, it becomes forgotten in the streets, on the ground, and is considered garbage. It wasn’t valued but only its contents were valued. Whatever the reason a person has to empty a wine bottle, each grape encounters a different story to tell.
Cristina B.
Tick tock tick tock,
The clock counts down the hours.
Dun dun dun dun—dun dun dun dunnn,
Goes the bells to the church tower.
She jumps to her feet with a look of shock on her face,
It seems as if she doesn’t belong here, she’s in the wrong place.
Walking slowly out of the bedroom down the long narrow hallway,
She heads out to the living room where she sits—all day.
Her face is blank, the TV is loud,
In run the children accompanied by a scream and a shout.
All day long she sits through noise and chaos,
“I wonder if my patience will ever pay off”.
“ENOUGH!” she screams and heads to the door,
The lone hearted girl can’t take anymore.
She gets in the car and drives away,
Hoping she will reach her destiny, far far away.
Tick tock tick tock,
The clock counts down the hours.
Dun dun dun dun—dun dun dun dunnn,
Goes the bells to the church tower.
She jumps to her feet with a look of shock on her face,
It seems as if she doesn’t belong here, she’s in the wrong place.
Walking slowly out of the bedroom down the long narrow hallway,
She heads out to the living room where she sits—all day.
Her face is blank, the TV is loud,
In run the children accompanied by a scream and a shout.
All day long she sits through noise and chaos,
“I wonder if my patience will ever pay off”.
“ENOUGH!” she screams and heads to the door,
The lone hearted girl can’t take anymore.
She gets in the car and drives away,
Hoping she will reach her destiny, far far away.
Cristina B.
First through the desert and then comes the valley,
“I think I’ll settle down in Northern Cali.”.
She follows the road and finds a small lake,
Then gets out of her car, it’s time for a break.
There sits a bench in the grass covered in green,
No more feeling dismal of even in between.
She can now find her identity,
For this lake brings her serenity.
First through the desert and then comes the valley,
“I think I’ll settle down in Northern Cali.”.
She follows the road and finds a small lake,
Then gets out of her car, it’s time for a break.
There sits a bench in the grass covered in green,
No more feeling dismal of even in between.
She can now find her identity,
For this lake brings her serenity.
Inger B.
The little town that could
Finally the railroad came to Bear Creek and on the 8th of February 1872 people rushed for the lots of the town to be. Expectations ran high. This would be the booming center of trade and travel in Central Valley and everyone wished to be part of it. A livery stable, a blacksmith, a depot, several saloons and eating houses as well as a hotel sprung up within weeks. The city of Merced was born.
The little town that could
Finally the railroad came to Bear Creek and on the 8th of February 1872 people rushed for the lots of the town to be. Expectations ran high. This would be the booming center of trade and travel in Central Valley and everyone wished to be part of it. A livery stable, a blacksmith, a depot, several saloons and eating houses as well as a hotel sprung up within weeks. The city of Merced was born.
Inger B.
At the turn of the millennium the railroad town embarked upon a new journey: A new university was opened and the former stamped fields look like the flourishing city envisioned by the first Mercedians. Two thousand students populate the campus and manifold more are to come. The great expectations of the 1870s have finally come true!
At the turn of the millennium the railroad town embarked upon a new journey: A new university was opened and the former stamped fields look like the flourishing city envisioned by the first Mercedians. Two thousand students populate the campus and manifold more are to come. The great expectations of the 1870s have finally come true!
Michelle C.
My life gone, my heart beats no more.
The weepers come to pay their respect.
They stare at the stoic monument that represents a life past on.
From death to its defeat, the thought of lying dead and cold in the ground mortifies my soul.
My life gone, my heart beats no more.
The weepers come to pay their respect.
They stare at the stoic monument that represents a life past on.
From death to its defeat, the thought of lying dead and cold in the ground mortifies my soul.
Michelle C.
My last days spent in the misery of an old heartless structure.
Build the new structure to save my sick being.
Fill your steel beams with warm hearts and hands that can save the multitudes.
Change from your dark skeleton to a hospitable home for the ill faired.
That I may lie in the ground warm, knowing that I spent my last days in your tender womb.
I yearn to see you grow and mature.
To see bare ground turn to art, turn to humanity.
I want to see your walls breath new life.
Build the new structure so that he who lies by me will be warm and loving.
So that she who rests her body next to mine, will know love and kindness.
So that whoever comes after me will not fear death as I did.
And when they come to my place, put a stoic monument at their head.
Let the mourners know that the mother structure did all she could.
Let them know that they were not afraid of change.
Let them know that the structure was built for them.
Let them know that from death comes life.
My last days spent in the misery of an old heartless structure.
Build the new structure to save my sick being.
Fill your steel beams with warm hearts and hands that can save the multitudes.
Change from your dark skeleton to a hospitable home for the ill faired.
That I may lie in the ground warm, knowing that I spent my last days in your tender womb.
I yearn to see you grow and mature.
To see bare ground turn to art, turn to humanity.
I want to see your walls breath new life.
Build the new structure so that he who lies by me will be warm and loving.
So that she who rests her body next to mine, will know love and kindness.
So that whoever comes after me will not fear death as I did.
And when they come to my place, put a stoic monument at their head.
Let the mourners know that the mother structure did all she could.
Let them know that they were not afraid of change.
Let them know that the structure was built for them.
Let them know that from death comes life.
Lia C.
What is a decent definition of change? To alter, to modify, to revolutionize? Humans have consistently altered our landscape to cope with modern living. We have modified our homes, our jobs, even the way we speak to one another; varying every decade or so with some new slang. We have revolutionized for the sake of industry; creating massive steel giants that dwarf the original model home. Highways, thruways, freeways -- all grid-locking us together and then breaking apart again.
What is a decent definition of change? To alter, to modify, to revolutionize? Humans have consistently altered our landscape to cope with modern living. We have modified our homes, our jobs, even the way we speak to one another; varying every decade or so with some new slang. We have revolutionized for the sake of industry; creating massive steel giants that dwarf the original model home. Highways, thruways, freeways -- all grid-locking us together and then breaking apart again.
Lia C.
Perhaps there are some things we cannot change; the feel of water on your skin, the smell of rain, or how small you can be when confronted with the vastness of the earth. I sometimes try to picture the landscape as the settlers saw it; without the power lines and generators, broadcasting stations and factories. There is a deeply contrasting dichotomy between the concrete jungle and the natural world. Both are vast and powerful. However, one was our creation and one created us.
Perhaps there are some things we cannot change; the feel of water on your skin, the smell of rain, or how small you can be when confronted with the vastness of the earth. I sometimes try to picture the landscape as the settlers saw it; without the power lines and generators, broadcasting stations and factories. There is a deeply contrasting dichotomy between the concrete jungle and the natural world. Both are vast and powerful. However, one was our creation and one created us.
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