IDENTITY
Studio #1: Mini Compositions
Based on Picture This: How Pictures Work by Molly Bang, we were asked to create a picture through collage of events or things that shaped who we are as people now. Here are mine!
Mrs. Alberg's Classroom.
The first collage I made was of my time in Mrs. Alberg's classroom. I used a light colored background because her room had a sense of calm and collectedness, but as shown, was quite chaotic as well. It was in this classroom in middle school that I really learned about who I was as a person. She made us all feel like being smart was an amazing gift but it wasn't the only talent we had. She was the first teacher who challenged me and gave me the best example of the teacher I want to be today.
My diabetic life
The second collage was a little more complicated. I knew I wanted to talk about being diagnosed with diabetes but I still wasn't even sure how that had made me feel yet! I decided on this crazy background with no rhyme or reason to it because that's how much I feel like diabetes would affect me if I let it. The straight blue frame is how I try to box it in, try to keep it perfect like the rest of my world. But the insulin pump breaks through that frame and out the edge and down a long path. The giant needle was added because it feels as scary as being diagnosed first felt to me at age 10.
This studio really made me think about things that have shaped my identity, because I don't really reflect much on that. I made it to this point of who I am by many events and actions, but thinking of them was harder than I thought. It was important that we made more than one because there are so many pieces of our identity that it requires layers and layers of collage and multiple compositions.
I love the idea of using this with the students in my classroom because it involves so many elements that kids would enjoy while allowing you insight into their lives as well. It would be a great community-building/arts integration activity. I also thought about modifying this to having to include certain shapes or areas for math (like my frame in the picture above) or using it in social studies for students to depict a certain historical event or person.
I love the idea of using this with the students in my classroom because it involves so many elements that kids would enjoy while allowing you insight into their lives as well. It would be a great community-building/arts integration activity. I also thought about modifying this to having to include certain shapes or areas for math (like my frame in the picture above) or using it in social studies for students to depict a certain historical event or person.
Studio #2: Self-Portraiture
The Cheshire and the Hair
For this studio, we were told to choose 2 different Disney characters, one protagonist and one antagonist, that for some reason appealed to us. Then we had to connect these character's personality traits with our own and see how they represented pieces of our identity, whether we liked it or not.
I chose Repunzel and the Cheshire Cat after a long search. Repunzel is like me in that she is very determined to be independent and get things done, even if she is a little naive to the real world. The Cheshire Cat is witty and intelligent but can sometimes be mischievous. In my art, I depicted him as sitting on Repunzel's hair as if she is determined to get somewhere but has no idea she is going to be held up. I sometimes feel like this happens to me but I do it to myself!
This studio was great for the big idea of identity. We all need to know who we are, both good and bad, to have a grasp on our identity and to be better teachers. Trying to fit ourselves to characteristics that had already been set for a character also helped teach me that no two people can ever be exactly alike.
Students in my future classroom would love doing this project. It would be a great integration with literacy or even social studies to pick characters from our favorite books or history. It would also be great for students to learn protagonists and antagonists as well as contrasting character traits.
I chose Repunzel and the Cheshire Cat after a long search. Repunzel is like me in that she is very determined to be independent and get things done, even if she is a little naive to the real world. The Cheshire Cat is witty and intelligent but can sometimes be mischievous. In my art, I depicted him as sitting on Repunzel's hair as if she is determined to get somewhere but has no idea she is going to be held up. I sometimes feel like this happens to me but I do it to myself!
This studio was great for the big idea of identity. We all need to know who we are, both good and bad, to have a grasp on our identity and to be better teachers. Trying to fit ourselves to characteristics that had already been set for a character also helped teach me that no two people can ever be exactly alike.
Students in my future classroom would love doing this project. It would be a great integration with literacy or even social studies to pick characters from our favorite books or history. It would also be great for students to learn protagonists and antagonists as well as contrasting character traits.
Studio #3: Artful Personification
Not-So-Ugly Duckling
For this studio, instead of reflecting on our own identity, we had to communicate the identity of a familiar character from a fairy tale, fable, or other story using personification. I chose to depict the story of the Ugly Duckling. Since the duckling grows up to become a beautiful swan, I wanted to showcase that part of the story. The animals who mistreated and made fun of the once ugly duckling are now jealous and have nothing else to say. I made the Ugly Duckling have a beautiful flowing dress and body that just seems to pop right off the page. The words under the other ducks say, "Who is a little jealous tonight?"
This studio was an interesting take on identity because we weren't actually talking about our own. I think this was an important lesson to learn because you realize how much our perception of others' identities is clouded by our own beliefs and feelings. We all know these familiar stories but we would have all depicted them all in very different ways from one another. Since my favorite part is when the duckling is able to put those nasty comments behind her, I wanted that to be the central focus of my characterization of her identity.
This studio may be a little harder to integrate as is into a classroom because students haven't necessarily heard many of the fables and fairytales like we had since we are older. It would be a great final project if you are finishing a unit of genres of literature and read many fairytale books over time.
This studio was an interesting take on identity because we weren't actually talking about our own. I think this was an important lesson to learn because you realize how much our perception of others' identities is clouded by our own beliefs and feelings. We all know these familiar stories but we would have all depicted them all in very different ways from one another. Since my favorite part is when the duckling is able to put those nasty comments behind her, I wanted that to be the central focus of my characterization of her identity.
This studio may be a little harder to integrate as is into a classroom because students haven't necessarily heard many of the fables and fairytales like we had since we are older. It would be a great final project if you are finishing a unit of genres of literature and read many fairytale books over time.