Composing Your Life: Exploration of Self through Visual Arts and Writing

Calendar

SES #	TOPICS	CLASS EXERCISES
1	Introduction to Subject	Ice-breaker Exercise (art)
2	Turning Points	Turning Points (writing), Drawing My Life (art)
3	Class Dinner	Getting to know students in casual setting outside of class
4	Family Traditions/Influential People	Family Influence (photography, writing), Key People in My Life (writing)
5	Gender and Self	Gendered Photos (photography, writing), Reverse Gender Autobiography (writing)
6	Race and Ethnicity	Personal Definitions (writing), Family Tree (writing, art, photography), Cultural Artifacts (photography, writing)
7	Self Image and Roles	Most and Least Favorite Roles (writing), Roles We Play (photography, writing)
8	Values and Meaning	Values and Meaning (writing), Expressing Meaning (art, poetry), Insurance Inventory of Valued Items (photography, writing)
9	Class Trip to the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston	Class outing to discover how artists use a variety of methods for self-portrayal
10	Self in Historical Context	Visualizing Self in Historical Context (photography, writing), Switching Places (photography), One Thing That Changed My World (photography, writing)
11	Alternative Views of Self	Stranger, Acquaintance, Friend (photography), Unmasking the Self (art), Alter Ego (photography, writing)
12	Self in the Future	Where Do I Want To Go From Here? (writing), Where Do Others Think I Will Go From Here? (photography, writing), How Do I Want To Be Remembered? (writing, photography)
13	Presentation Self Portrayals	Final Projects (art, writing, photography)
14	Public Exhibition of Self-Portrayals	Reception for the exhibition: Students speak briefly about their works to audience
15	Composing a Life from Beginning to End	Students run a group exercise which they designed during the previous week. Review/evaluation of term