Perspectives on Religion
Upper School Portfolio Project
History, English, Art, World Religions
Introduction: We are all confronted with labels, tags, and misconceptions regardless of our age, gender, race, religion or wealth. Why do we label people who are different from us? And once someone is labeled, how hard is it to actually see the person behind the label? How many times do we just stop at the label? Through this project will examine how labels can shape and limit our understanding and perceptions about each other.
Artist, Susan Harbage Page, uses her work to examine the labels, tags and misconceptions surrounding women. She uses the stories and photographs of female textile mill workers, and reclaimed and altered embroidery pieces to explore the changing identities of women in today’s culture. She uses her art to give these women a voice; to make their message heard.
Modeling your process after the work of Page, you will examine the labels, tags and misconceptions surrounding religions. You will learn about world religions from members of the different faiths and then will write their stories and create photo-emulsion images of them. You will work alongside the artists to plan, create and execute your own traveling exhibition and presentations that create awareness in the community and among peer groups about the power of labels. You will use your artwork to influence and possibly change the perceptions of society and learn what gives value to a work of art.
Objectives: Students will learn more about the modern day practices of world religions. Students will develop interviewing skills. Students will communicate abstract ideas through visual and written mediums.
Procedure:
1) Students will be assigned to a group. Each group will be responsible for portraying one of the following world religions: Hinduism, Buddhism, Islam, Judaism, Animism, Christianity, or Sikhism. Students will view parts of a documentary on world religion and conduct initial research on the internet.
2) Each group will interview at least one member of the assigned faith. Students will develop a list of questions together focusing on practices of the faith and misconceptions that outsiders have about the faith. As a group, students will compose a subject introduction to their interview and then include excerpts from the interview in a document.
3) Students will take digital photographs (minimum 3-5) of symbols or images that show the misconceptions about the faith. Some photographs can also be more reflective of the religion.
4) Each student will create an artist statement that discusses the photographs.
5) The images will be used as part of the larger grant art display. Students can choose one image for their display or a collection of images.
6) 10th grade students will focus more specifically on the role of women in one of these religions and will concentrate their efforts to gender issues within different religions.