Through A Lens Darkly Response Assignment
This assignment involves analysis of and reflection on the film, a creative photographic self portrait, and written responses to the instructor’s questions. It is inspired by the 2014 film Through A Lens Darkly: Black Photographers and the Emergence of a People, directed by Thomas Allen Harris. The project is designed to help you think about the importance of individual freedom and the right to express yourself on your own terms. It asks you to think about how slavery denied African Americans the right to represent themselves as they chose, and how that has changed since the Emancipation Proclamation. The project also helps you think about who you are and how photographs might shape and represent your own self-image. Finally, the assignment addresses some of the most important topics in our course: personal and cultural issues, design, photography as an art medium, and history.
We don’t have to be Black photographers to understand the lessons in the film. The film is about an individual sense of identity in relation to family, cultural heritage, ethnicity, historical events, social constructs, and our own experiences. If you are thoughtful in your viewing of this film, you will find yourself reflecting on your own identity, the identity of your living family members, your ancestors.
Before you begin your project, complete all of the following steps:
View this film:
Notice: This film contains historical photographs portraying nudity and violence related to the history of slavery in America. They may be startling or upsetting to you. You can look away from them, but these realities are important for us to understand. What they document is part of Black identity, and so are the images documenting love, home, and beauty in Black families. Keep an open mind and heart. Let the film help you discover things about yourself.
As you watch the film, write notes (on a piece of paper) about what you think are the most important points and messages in the film. There are many important messages in the film. Write notes on things that come to mind about your own identity. You are required to insert a photo of your handwritten notes in your assignment.
Think about how you might represent your identity in a photograph.
Expect to spend about two hours watching the film and taking notes, up to one hour staging and taking the photographs, and an hour or two writing your responses to the instructor’s questions.
After completing all steps above, complete Part 1 of this assignment, which requires 1 photograph.
Part 1:
Stage a scene in which the things around you, the color and/or light and shadows, your clothes, your pose and facial expression communicate your identity as you define it. You can take a selfie or ask a family member to take the photo for you. NO NUDITY. Wear clothes.
After completing Part 1, complete Part 2.
Part 2:
Write detailed responses to these questions inside your Word document:
What decisions did you make in planning your self portrait photo?
What does your photograph communicate about how you see yourself and how does the photo do that?
In the film, the director says, “Freedom is inextricably tied to the power to create one’s self-image.” His comment is specific to the African Americans who were the subjects of the documentary. Explain what the film shows about photographs of African Americans before and after the Emancipation Proclamation. Write about specific examples in the film. Refer to your notes. Your answer must demonstrate that you watched the entire film and paid attention to the images and messages.
Why do you think representation through photography seems to hold so much power?
How do you think photography and images you’ve seen growing up shaped your ideas on race, gender, age, or other social or cultural factors?
Do you believe the history of photography has had an effect on how people relate to you or what they assume about you? Explain.
I have included the entire instruction page that my teacher assigned us. Instead of 1 actual PowerPoint I need one photo staged the way she instructed, and I will recreate whatever you choose on my own (I didn’t know what to choose because I need an actual photo, so I chose PowerPoints). You do not have to put your face in the photo just whatever you stage I will recreate with my own photo instead. There is a youtube link included in this. That is what you will be responding to for the notes. It says it has to be handwritten but you can type them and upload it and I will hand write it myself.
