"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)
Jamal F.
Approaching the cemetery was calming as the rain fell from the chilly darkening sky. The smell of wet grass, aging flowers, and the Merced fields’ odor filled my nostrils as I walked along the beaten cracked paths feeling water splash beneath my shoes from the mahogany colored puddles. Looking off into the distance I see a pallet of monotonous aged earth tones. Dark and looming clouds hover above dry dying grass which holds the body or ashes of loved ones. Each deceased one’s plot is declared by a solid cement tombstone laid upon the grass or erected above each plot.
Approaching the cemetery was calming as the rain fell from the chilly darkening sky. The smell of wet grass, aging flowers, and the Merced fields’ odor filled my nostrils as I walked along the beaten cracked paths feeling water splash beneath my shoes from the mahogany colored puddles. Looking off into the distance I see a pallet of monotonous aged earth tones. Dark and looming clouds hover above dry dying grass which holds the body or ashes of loved ones. Each deceased one’s plot is declared by a solid cement tombstone laid upon the grass or erected above each plot.
Jamal F.
Death forces change upon us as we try to stay strong in times of mourning, grieving, and remembrance. It is definite that this great loss alters the way we will carry out the rest of our life. The spirits of those who have gone before us stay with us and open our hearts and minds to the reality of loss and teach us to cherish those we care most about.
The cycle of change occurs often enough in life that at times we are not even fazed by it, but the major losses or differences we live through we are most aware of. As our lives continue, we look at those beneath us and remember the past, the fun, laughs, and tears we cried. In such a cold and lonely field of tombstones we bring with us those once shared warm and colorful memories to awaken those who rest forever.
Death forces change upon us as we try to stay strong in times of mourning, grieving, and remembrance. It is definite that this great loss alters the way we will carry out the rest of our life. The spirits of those who have gone before us stay with us and open our hearts and minds to the reality of loss and teach us to cherish those we care most about.
The cycle of change occurs often enough in life that at times we are not even fazed by it, but the major losses or differences we live through we are most aware of. As our lives continue, we look at those beneath us and remember the past, the fun, laughs, and tears we cried. In such a cold and lonely field of tombstones we bring with us those once shared warm and colorful memories to awaken those who rest forever.
Stephanie F.
We live with illusions set up in our minds
True love, we have commence to find
Colors, birds, clouds are a beauty
The search makes the lover weary
A soul mate finally walks into life
But he is as complicated as a hive
Does he love me? Or does he love me not?
Why would you leave this doubt in my mind?
His passion, his voice, make a day incredible
My heart is becoming more sensible
More noticeable are the pedals of the flower
It suddenly gives me more power
Time passes and emotions grow stronger
Without them life could go on no longer
But, one day everything begins to change
Life, colors, memories will never be the same
We live with illusions set up in our minds
True love, we have commence to find
Colors, birds, clouds are a beauty
The search makes the lover weary
A soul mate finally walks into life
But he is as complicated as a hive
Does he love me? Or does he love me not?
Why would you leave this doubt in my mind?
His passion, his voice, make a day incredible
My heart is becoming more sensible
More noticeable are the pedals of the flower
It suddenly gives me more power
Time passes and emotions grow stronger
Without them life could go on no longer
But, one day everything begins to change
Life, colors, memories will never be the same
Stephanie F.
Love begins to drift apart
We are afraid of a broken heart
Now we are filled with lies, called deceit
Love has become our new enemy we try to defeat
As soon as you left everything became clear
Maybe the true meaning is near
This pain inside me is taking over
I do not know if I can hold it in any longer
It is unbelievable there is no more a ‘you and me’
I thought that Forever it would be
Nothing brings me happiness anymore
You, I will always adore
Now all that remains is the colorless flower, very blurry
But I will be fine; don’t you worry
Love begins to drift apart
We are afraid of a broken heart
Now we are filled with lies, called deceit
Love has become our new enemy we try to defeat
As soon as you left everything became clear
Maybe the true meaning is near
This pain inside me is taking over
I do not know if I can hold it in any longer
It is unbelievable there is no more a ‘you and me’
I thought that Forever it would be
Nothing brings me happiness anymore
You, I will always adore
Now all that remains is the colorless flower, very blurry
But I will be fine; don’t you worry
Michelle G.
There is something about growth that goes hand in hand with change. These two pictures encapsulate change to me because they show how one began and the other shows the outcome of the change that could take place. I also really liked the contrast of the really harsh angles in the black and white photo compared with the curves and life of the other one. The dark and neutral tones of the first one compared with the lively green and primary colors in the second one. There is also a bigger picture here which involves the first photo is just of one yard, involving the work of one person, one family, one home something very individualized.
There is something about growth that goes hand in hand with change. These two pictures encapsulate change to me because they show how one began and the other shows the outcome of the change that could take place. I also really liked the contrast of the really harsh angles in the black and white photo compared with the curves and life of the other one. The dark and neutral tones of the first one compared with the lively green and primary colors in the second one. There is also a bigger picture here which involves the first photo is just of one yard, involving the work of one person, one family, one home something very individualized.
Michelle G.
There is something about growth that goes hand in hand with change. These two pictures encapsulate change to me because they show how one began and the other shows the outcome of the change that could take place. I also really liked the contrast of the really harsh angles in the black and white photo compared with the curves and life of the other one. The dark and neutral tones of the first one compared with the lively green and primary colors in the second one. There is also a bigger picture here which involves the first photo is just of one yard, involving the work of one person, one family, one home something very individualized. The second photo is bigger than that, it’s a community park, it’s only truly alive when everyone is partaking of it. This particular day no one was at the park which leads me to wonder. If the one yard is barren and dead and has no life but the other has all the makings of life, including grass and trees and a play structure but no one using it – has anything really changed at all? And even though the one yard is barren it has the potential for the most change – it’s a blank slate a world of opportunities not just another neighborhood park that are just like all the others.
There is something about growth that goes hand in hand with change. These two pictures encapsulate change to me because they show how one began and the other shows the outcome of the change that could take place. I also really liked the contrast of the really harsh angles in the black and white photo compared with the curves and life of the other one. The dark and neutral tones of the first one compared with the lively green and primary colors in the second one. There is also a bigger picture here which involves the first photo is just of one yard, involving the work of one person, one family, one home something very individualized. The second photo is bigger than that, it’s a community park, it’s only truly alive when everyone is partaking of it. This particular day no one was at the park which leads me to wonder. If the one yard is barren and dead and has no life but the other has all the makings of life, including grass and trees and a play structure but no one using it – has anything really changed at all? And even though the one yard is barren it has the potential for the most change – it’s a blank slate a world of opportunities not just another neighborhood park that are just like all the others.
Marc G.
The Greeks saw you as a mesmerizing, dangerous seductress. You summoned the seamen towards you with enchanting music only to lead them to a dramatic death. Oh what it might have been like to be seen as beautiful, yet deadly. The Nordics immortalized you, carving your full body and face onto wood. Oh what it might have been like to be seen as worthy of being engraved for others to see. For centuries you were seen as a mythical sea creature, capable of being serene yet causing havoc. What a complex definition of beauty you were. Perhaps, people looked at you with amazement, unable to look away, but fearing for their life.
The Greeks saw you as a mesmerizing, dangerous seductress. You summoned the seamen towards you with enchanting music only to lead them to a dramatic death. Oh what it might have been like to be seen as beautiful, yet deadly. The Nordics immortalized you, carving your full body and face onto wood. Oh what it might have been like to be seen as worthy of being engraved for others to see. For centuries you were seen as a mythical sea creature, capable of being serene yet causing havoc. What a complex definition of beauty you were. Perhaps, people looked at you with amazement, unable to look away, but fearing for their life.
Marc G.
What then has brought you across oceans? Has the tide turned and now you are being summoned by an undeniable calling? What do you represent now? What do people think when they see you now? Do they still notice the beauty although you’ve gone through modern day modifications? Do they care where you came from? Do they care about what you once represented? Do they now fear you for a different reason? You look out at your new environment and see that people will never look at you the same way ever again.
What then has brought you across oceans? Has the tide turned and now you are being summoned by an undeniable calling? What do you represent now? What do people think when they see you now? Do they still notice the beauty although you’ve gone through modern day modifications? Do they care where you came from? Do they care about what you once represented? Do they now fear you for a different reason? You look out at your new environment and see that people will never look at you the same way ever again.
Mary H.
Old restricted sidewalks
Red and gray that never talks
It hangs around for decades
A law that is still obeyed
A place that one would never stop
For fear of dealing with a cop
Unlike its relatives the stop light and the stop
Sign which indicates one to halt
For if one were to stop
Here one would be at fault
Tickets, unlimited given
Pay it or lose it, no excuses taken
These places have been seen
Although they are placed differently
Brand new signs, old signs, torn up signs
Bright red, dark red or even just faded red
Old restricted sidewalks
Red and gray that never talks
It hangs around for decades
A law that is still obeyed
A place that one would never stop
For fear of dealing with a cop
Unlike its relatives the stop light and the stop
Sign which indicates one to halt
For if one were to stop
Here one would be at fault
Tickets, unlimited given
Pay it or lose it, no excuses taken
These places have been seen
Although they are placed differently
Brand new signs, old signs, torn up signs
Bright red, dark red or even just faded red
Mary H.
Whether day or night
Everything remains the same
It does not move
It does not talk
Nor it does not see
But the world itself does
Watch one ways in which one go
Follow the world mannerly and just let it flow
A country that is free
But still limited
A country of peace
So leave it be
Whether marks, dirt or graffiti
The policy will never change
One limit, one restriction
One rule, one country
So I repeat, whether marks, dirt or graffiti
The policy will never change
One limit, one restriction
One rule, one country
Whether day or night
Everything remains the same
It does not move
It does not talk
Nor it does not see
But the world itself does
Watch one ways in which one go
Follow the world mannerly and just let it flow
A country that is free
But still limited
A country of peace
So leave it be
Whether marks, dirt or graffiti
The policy will never change
One limit, one restriction
One rule, one country
So I repeat, whether marks, dirt or graffiti
The policy will never change
One limit, one restriction
One rule, one country
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