2.2 A: Reflect on a photograph Duration: 45 minutes Instructions: Level of complexity: 2 Introduce the group to the work of the award-winning photographer Greg Constantine and his project Nowhere People http://www.nowherepeople.org/the-project. Knowledge/Subjects: Art, Civics, Photography, Social Activism, Social Studies Greg first learned about statelessness in 2002, and in 2005 he embarked on what would turn out to be a ten-year journey documenting statelessness around the world. He has published three books of photographs of his journey, shown his work in exhibitions, and integrated his photographs and the stories of stateless people in a multimedia website. As a group you can also read Greg’s letter to stateless children located on pages 74-76 in Neha’s book (also in Appendix IX) and/or watch Greg’s TEDx talk on statelessness here: https://www.youtube.com/ watch?v=u9DD6MZj5Z4&feature=emb_title According to Greg: “Photography is a language and it’s a language that needs to be included in discussions because it’s far too easy for the voices and the stories of the dispossessed and unwanted to actually just become lost” (TEDx talk 2016, London). This activity is about reflecting on his photography of statelessness. Skills: Comparative Analysis, Creativity, Critical thinking, Deductive reasoning, Empathy Values/Attitudes: Sense of identity, Value diversity Objectives: • For participants to discover the power of images to convey information and emotion while deepening their understanding of a life without a nationality. Materials: Internet Access or copies of photos from Neha’s book located on pages 23, 52, 53, 55 59, at http://www.nowherepeople.org/ or in Appendix VIII. If unable to make copies, you can show the entire group a photograph from Neha’s book or the teacher’s guide and then either discuss the photograph as a group or have the participants discuss it in small groups. Note: Be sure to allow the participants the opportunity to look at the picture multiple times! 1. Ideally, participants would be divided into small groups of 3-4. 2. Hand out a photograph to each group (if possible, have each group analyse a different photograph). You can assign photographs from Neha’s book, make copies of the photographs (in Appendix VIII) or visit Greg Constantine’s website http://www.nowherepeople.org/ and select the photographs you would like the participants to analyse. 3. Each small group will discuss and analyse the photograph they have been given for 5-10 minutes. They will then share with the group the photograph they have as well as their thoughts and interpretation of it. After sharing, other participants can ask questions or give their own thoughts on the photograph. 4. It might be helpful to provide a list of questions for the participants to use as they begin analysing the photograph. However, they do not just have to use these questions and should feel free to discuss whatever comes to them as they look at the photograph. You can also do an example of photograph analysis with the whole group before you begin and/or have participants draw inspiration from two children’s reflections on these photographs available at: http://www.kids.worldsstateless.org/act/reflect-photograph Example of questions: • What is the first thing you notice when you look at this photograph? • Is there anything striking about the use of light and shadow? • What emotions do you see in the photograph? What emotions do you feel when you look at this photograph? • What does the photo tell you about the person portrayed? • Do you think there is a (particular) message that the photo is trying to convey about statelessness? If so, what is the message? • Does this photograph relate to the concepts of citizenship, rights, identity or exclusion? In what way? 37