Printer-friendly versionObjectives
Activities will help students:
- explore the role of photography (and the photographer) in documenting activism
- examine different kinds of activism in photography
- analyze how photographs can be persuasive
Essential Questions
- How do photographers play a role in activism?
- How can photographs be persuasive and/or inspiring?
Introduction
The photo shows two students collecting signatures to
protest the treatment of women at the university.
Photograph
Examine the photograph.
(AP Photo/Bob Child. Click here for caption.)
Activities
- Work in small groups to analyze the photograph.
Discuss:
- What other details do you notice about this photo?
- What do you think the photographer’s purpose or intent is in taking this photo?
- How does this photo capture a kind of activism?
- Now take a look at some photographs from other
protests. Examine these photos:
- Proposed School Budget Cuts Met With “Little” Protest from Students
- Iran Protests Hijab Ban
- Prop 8 Protest in Atlanta, Ga.
- What seems to be the major issue that people in each photo are protesting for/against?
- How are these photos examples of different types activism in action?
- How are the moods of the people in each photo different? How are they similar?
- Each photo shows a different kind of activism, from
collecting signatures to marching with signs and filing complaints. Other forms
of activism include:
- demonstrations (or street marches)
- boycotts
- hunger strikes
- sit-ins
- civil disobedience
- petitions
- Out of all of the photos you have seen during this activity, which is the most persuasive? Why? Write a short speech in which you argue why the photo you chose is the best example of activism.
- Deliver your speech to the rest of the class. Then either design a rubric or use one like Persuasive Speech Rubric to assess the speeches.
