Capture and Caption

In Joan Didion’s The White Album she writes, “A place belongs forever to whoever claims it hardest, remembers it obsessively, wrenches it from itself, shapes it, renders it, loves it so radically that he remakes it in his image.” Students will find that “place” to make theirs by finding a picture that means something to them. Can be of anything--a family photo, a baby picture, a movie poster, a celebrity, athlete, whatever. If it means something to you then that’s the picture.

If students are unsure about the picture, students can begin with the idea of what they’d like to write about. The relationship between text and image are symbiotic. One cannot work without the other. Some people are visual, others are textual. Whichever you need to get started. Work from there.

1)Students have the option of using their already existing Instagram of creating a new page strictly for this project (I suggest using the one you already have.)

2)Students will then think of their connection to the photo. Who’s in the photo--celebrity, family member, friend? What’s happening in the photo? What do you remember? Why is this significant?

3)Then, students will then think of 5 details that will help them tell the story. Idiosyncrasy is the key!

4)What larger ideas/emotions would you associate with this image? Happiness, nostalgia, fear, fame, romantic love? Thinking about more than what is being shown is a great way to see things better.

5) Students will then think of a way in. An entrance point to write about the picture--an anecdote, a joke, an observation, a quote, a scene from a movie, anything which allows the student to begin to connect themselves to the picture. This is your intro.

6) Students will their way in as a guiding light to interpret and organize the 5 reasons and 3 commonalities they’ve written down. Everything written down may not be used. That’s okay. It’s better to have surplus and cut, than to have very little material at all. This is your body.

7) As you’re writing, think about how your way in, your beginning idea, your guiding light, can be seen as a way out. What’s the point of it all? Why are you writing about this? What are you really trying to say. This should be your conclusion, your light at the end of the tunnel.

8) Read post aloud to yourself and edit.

9) Hashtags! Think about how to connect your story with others.

10) Post!

In addition to the Leonardo DiCaprio post I cover in the video, I have attached another post I did for Biggie, it's a screen shot which allows you to see everything I spoke about. If you need help, I am always here.

Eliška Křížová

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