Re-photography in Media Literacy

           

Re-photography

Re-photography is a before and after photo that explores the world through visual change.

Levene, D. (2015). The American civil war then and now. Retrieved October 4, 2015

This before and after photo technique uses old photographs or images of historic places to tell its story. A lesson in this type of media study can begin by exploring the resource below. This resource documents (below) the various sites from the American Civil War; it is through text, image, and audio that we can see how society was then and how it has changed now. This type of image is very meaningful because we can track the development of history through these images. After viewing this resource, students are then divided into groups and are given another resource to explore.

Photography then and now. (2015). Retrieved October 4, 2015

Students are asked to pick one of the photographs and engage more deeply with the image  by sharing: Why did they choose this site or event? Who did it affect? How did it happen? Why was it significant? Then they will examine the most current image and research: what does the image demonstrates? How has society changed? How has it evolved? After spending around 25 minutes on this resource each group will share their findings. This type of activity is important because it allows for students to evaluate the media source by determining what the purpose of the image is, the message of the photographer and determine if the photographer’s intended message is effective. 

By doing so, students are able to enhance their research as well as their critical thinking skills. The next part of this activity is for students to create their own re-photograph image. The students (in groups) can choose an issue, historical event or place; they then, upon choosing their topic, search for a past or before image and a present image (Google image search). Then they will first paste the present image on Google Drawings, then on top of the present image they will paste the before image. However, the positioning of the before picture is entirely up to the students’ discretion. After completing, they then will share with the rest of the class why they chose that event, why it is significant, where they chose to position the before image, and they must explain to the class how society has changed from the before image to the present image. Do they think society has changed for the better or worse? This type of activity will enable students to think critically of media content and allow them to create their own. I have created my own image (below): 

Hileman, T. (2015, March 2). Grinnell Glacier 1938. Retrieved October 5, 2015

Grinnell Glacier in Glacier National Park (US) in 2005. (2013, December 3). Retrieved October 5, 2015

The image that I have chosen is the Grinnell Mountain in Mount Gould, Montana in the United States. The black and white image was taken in 1938; we can see that the Grinnell Mountain is covered with glaciers. And the image with color is a 2005 image of the very same mountain, however as we can see the glaciers have significantly melted. I have chosen to place the 1938 picture in the middle of the 2005 image so that we can clearly see the glaciers have melted. Between 1938 and 2005 (67 years), there has been increased technological and industrial change in our world. This image shows how the increasing level of carbon dioxide, which is a result of a high level of emissions from humans, is causing the rise of global temperatures. One of the consequences of increased global temperature is the continual melting of glaciers and an increase in sea levels. This image depicts that we should be taking more steps towards acknowledging that global warming exists and take action to change our ways; if we do not, we may not know what this image will look like in the next 67 years (or what environmental damages we may cause).