Final Project so far.

My final project has at last begun to take a solid shape. My initial idea was to create a photo portfolio to express the ways in which objects, as simple as they are, can become so complex. (to illustrate the difficulties that aphasic patients have in forming a single word); but, as I was thinking about the process further, I decided to incorporate my aspirations of photojournalism. So the idea of turning simple objects into things more visually complex, I am going to partner that with research and an essay based on why something that most of us find as such an easy task, becomes so difficult for those with aphasia. Language and speaking is second nature to us and when that is taken away, it's easy to see how complex it really is. My client is different than the others in that he has suffered a right-hemisphere stroke, leaving him with different disabilities. In the research paper I want to be able to compare the consequence of strokes on the two hemispheres; the photo's, I will be taking three viewpoints of each object to illustrate the idea of a "normal" viewpoint, as well as two different views to illustrate the two different outcomes of stroke.

Thus far in my research I have been able to gather and begin writing on what both the right and the left side hemisphere's of the brain are in control of, generally. I have also dove into what happens to the brain when it is subjected to a stroke and why language impairments are a result, as well as different mood disorders occur.

The sources I have found to aid are as follows:
1. Joanette, Yves. Right hemisphere and verbal communication . New York: Springer-Verlag, 1990. Print.

2. Burns, Martha. Speech/language treatment of the aphasias : an integrated clinical approach . Rockville, Md: Rockville Publishers, 1988. Print. 

3. Levin, Tal. "Aphasia Talks: Photography as a Means of Communication, Self-Expression, and Empowerment in Persons with Aphasia." (2007): n. pag. Web. 26 Mar 2010. . 

4. "What are the Effects of Stroke?." Public Health Agency of Canada, 29 01 2009 . Web. 26 Mar 2010. .

The assignment we were given for this week was to think about home and what it means to us. To me home has been a place of memory. To me home revolves around personal space and the ways that I can find a personal space, areas to be away from things going on, like in school or with friends. When I am at home I like to have space to myself. The first picture illustrates the importance of my room, my bed, and journaling in general. My room has always been the most personal space. It was the one area in the house that I could really get away and when my door closes, people know that I don't want to be bothered. The swingset is a bit deeper. I have been moving around, a lot since I was younger. From college to house, to other houses. The swingset reminds me of memories of a stable place where a childlike freedom is always relevant-like a home should be...The eggs I feel is the most self explanatory-Breakfast at home is my favorite thing!

The Practice of Looking

The Practices of Looking provides an insight to the visual complexities we go through when we look at an image. We see pictures every day whether it be advertisement, news, or art photographs are unavoidable. But when we take a minute to look at a picture (look as a “act of choice…that involves greater sense of purpose and direction” according to Sturken and Cartwright) we begin to dissect the picture, consciously and subconsciously. A lot of times we don’t realize that the way that we look at a picture is often biased by the culture and society we have been brought up in or even others that we have learned. We take the meaning of a picture from details that the photographer chose to include, such as objects, positioning, angles, and lighting. Often times we can get a literal as well as a cultural, connotative meaning from a single photograph.

There is more that our minds go through when looking at an image than we first realize and Practices of Looking does a good job of explaining different aspects of why we view an image the way that we do. I did feel like one very big point was missed, that quite honestly, I thought was going to be hit but never was. What prompted me to think of this was on page 11 and the photograph by Weegee, “Their First Murder”.
This picture is talked about and the first thing that is said about it is that the children in the picture have just seen a murder scene in the street; without being told that upfront, I would have never guessed that’s what was going on when this shot was captured (though I do believe that was the emotion sought by the photographer). My problem now with the readings is that an image is a split second captured in time and in that split second something can be captured that tells a different story than what is actually going on. During this reading the authors speak of the intentional taking of a picture but I truly believe that some of the best pictures to be produced, though certain intent may have been sought, have been unexpected. I say this, only because especially with people, there is no saying what can happen in that split second when the shutter is released. That picture though, may end up being the best one to have been captured. The authors touch on the truth value of photography, but focus on digital imaging, but I believe that a photograph can sway a situation depending on that split second that a photograph is captured. I think the best term to put on what I am trying to say is “accidental biased”.

I think I may have to come back and touch on this again to better make the point.