|
Overview:
Our perceptions of the world are formed not only by what we see, but also by our previous experiences. When someone observes an unfamiliar place in the world, they bring with them their understanding and interpretation of their own culture, which helps to shade their perception of what they are observing or the place they are visiting.
Photographers are regarded as recorders of places, culture and events, but how much of what they are recording is inspired, driven or affected by their own experiences? In this lesson, students will begin to explore how culture and experience influence people's perceptions of places and regions.
Connections to the Curriculum:
Geography, social studies, art
Connections to the National Geography Standards:
Standard 6: "How culture and experience influence people's perceptions of places and regions"
Time:
One to two hours
Materials Required:
- Computer with Internet connection
Objectives:
Students will
- read about the life and work of Jimmy Chin;
- describe how Jimmy Chin brings his experiences into his work;
- explain how Jimmy Chin's experiences affect the way he perceives the world; and
- describe how their own experiences affect their understanding of the world.
Geographic Skills:
Acquiring Geographic Information
Answering Geographic Questions
Analyzing Geographic Information
S u g g e s t e d P r o c e d u r e
Opening:
Jimmy Chin has been named a National Geographic Emerging Explorer. He is an accomplished climber, skier and photographer who has found a way to merge each of his passions into his life's work. His photographs of landscapes and people have been highlighted in magazines and advertisements throughout the world. In the next several activities, students will explore ways in which Jimmy Chin's photography reflects not only the world's landscapes, people and cultures, but also his own experiences and background.
Development:
Divide students into groups of three. Tell students that they will be learning about how our experiences affect our perceptions of the world and of other cultures by studying a National Geographic Emerging Explorer, Jimmy Chin. Explain that Jimmy Chin is a professional climber, skier and photographer, and that he uses each of those talents to learn more about the world and share it through his photographs.
Have students watch the brief profile of Jimmy Chin. Then, have students read each of the following interviews and biographies describing his experiences:
Tell students to pay particular attention to what Chin says about his life prior to becoming an adventurer and photographer, and have them list any ways in which they feel he brings that to his work. Ask students to complete a "Profile Investigation" as they read by answering the following questions:
- Where is Jimmy Chin from?
- What is his cultural heritage?
- What did he study in college?
- What were his hobbies and talents growing up?
- How does he like to spend his time?
After students have finished the Profile Investigation, explain to them that Jimmy Chin's photography is very powerful, and that Chin uses a variety of techniques to create emotional impact. One of those techniques is to create a contrast by including something familiar to him in the same photograph as something new and unfamiliar. By showing this contrast between familiar and unfamiliar, Chin is able to make the photographs more interesting than showing just the unfamiliar.
Have students go to the Jimmy Chin Photography Web site. Look at a sample slide of your choice together. Discuss with students how Chin utilizes the strategy of developing contrast by combining both the familiar and unfamiliar. Guiding questions may include:
- What did Chin include in the photograph that is familiar to him?
- What is unfamiliar?
- How did he combine the two parts of the photograph to create contrast?
- How does this photograph show that his experiences help to shape his perception of the world?
Tell students to continue looking through the Gallery, and to answer the above guiding questions for selected photographs. Have them pay particular attention to how Jimmy Chin's experiences seem to affect the way he perceives the world. As students review the photographs, have them note the title of the photograph and how they feel that Chin's experiences shape his understanding of the world and other cultures. Reconvene as a whole group and have students compare and contrast their ideas through a class discussion.
Closing:
Have your students find photographs online or in a magazine or take photographs that contain a "contrast"—something familiar with something unfamiliar that creates a strong emotional impact.
Alternatively, divide students into groups of three. Give each group a disposable camera to take photographs over the course of a week. After the photographs are developed, have students examine their own photographs for examples of how their own experiences affected their view of the world.
Suggested Student Assessment:
Have students explore other photographers' websites to see if their photographs might also reflect their personal experiences. Remind students that those photographers might not use the same technique of including a familiar object with an unfamiliar place or culture, but ask them to try to identify ways in which the photographers did reflect their own background in the images.
Some suggested online galleries are:
National Geographic: James L. Stanfield
National Geographic: Karen Kasmauski
Extending the Lesson:
Explain to students that people's perceptions of the world are not only influenced by personal experiences, they're also influenced by cultural and religious backgrounds. Have students visit National Geographic: Xpedition Hall—Culture Goggles to explore an ancient city through the cultural perceptions of Christians, Jews and Muslims. Related Links:
| 
Check out:
