Swimming Through Ideas
My ideas and focus first started around the idea of visual culture. I am still very much intrigued by the influence of visual imagery, and its impact on individuals consciously and subconsciously. However, the exploration into many of the articles for this course has caused me to think greater into material culture. The reality is, all things have an influence; not just visual images. With this idea, couldn’t things (objects) we even create or recreate impact our conscious and subconscious? Object and imagery influence has become my main focus now through material culture. I was even thinking about pursuing a research topic I came up with after reading “From Topics to Questions,” which was: I am studying/working on the disconnect between administration and teachers in creating effective school atmospheres. I want to find out whether this is the cause for failing large inner city school districts. I want to help my reader understand that teachers are not failing our students and deserve greater freedoms that allow for less testing and less strict surveillance. I am beginning to think that material culture could even give insight into this proposed topic. Since this topic was formulated after a day filled with disheartened belief in the abilities of my district to make decisions that were best for the success of students and their teachers. I also just read an article from City newspaper here in Rochester, the article is called, “Black Teachers Matter.” Tim Louis Macaluso writes on page 10 that, “we often view [black] students through the eyes of poverty and underappreciate some of their soft skills—the resilience and the ability to adjust to complex situations, code-switching, and being able to adapt.” I think through the exploration of objects with students, a teacher could find the way to reach a student’s adaptability to lead them to a successful route. Material culture will allow for a teacher to connect with a student’s strength.