WATCH: "Paper & Glue" (2021)
Bridging the Gaps: Be ready to reference a chapter & concept for each Question.
& Film language: Ideological Approaches & cinematic tactics: mise en-scene: alternative filming, lighting, composition, depth of field... that amplify a specific message visually--not explicitly spoken.
QUESTIONS:
You must use film language & refer to your texts.
The Rules has abbreviated ways for references for your two texts.
1. What one cinematic tactic used in the film (a specific scene or image) did you find aesthetically intriguing that represented one global issue in this film? Be specific & include the film time:stamp. Be sure not to repeat a previous comment or state more than one example.
2. What did you think of this film regarding creative cinematic tactics used for art-activism in addressing a global issue? Cite a scene or image (with a film:time stamp) that illustrates your POV & use film language.
3. What new knowledge or cultural POV did you learn to help you better understand any one of the global issues in this film? Discuss only one global issue. Include a reference from your Bridging the Gaps text that justifies your reasoning. (BTG, p. 7 or BTG, pp. 9-10).
4. Find a very recent credible-mediated news story about one art-activism topic. Explain briefly & include a link for the story. (A project or an artist).
20 comments:
Q1. Cinematic Tactic and Global Issue Representation:
At 28:40 in Paper & Glue, JR’s mural of a woman from a remote village on an urban building highlights marginalized communities. The large-scale portrait contrasts with the bustling city, emphasizing the need for greater representation and visibility for those often overlooked.
Q2. Creative Cinematic Tactics for Art-Activism:
At 53:10, JR projects refugee faces onto walls using a truck. This artistic intervention transforms everyday spaces into sites of activism, turning the act of projection into a powerful statement of identity and humanity for displaced individuals.
Q3. The film deepened my understanding of refugee visibility. The projection of faces on walls (53:10) reminded me of how art makes invisible issues visible, as discussed in Bridging the Gaps (p. 7), where art helps create a "visual bridge" to complex social problems, fostering empathy and awareness.
Q4. A relevant example of art-activism is Banksy’s Nola series, created in 2008 in New Orleans following the devastation of Hurricane Katrina. The series consists of several murals, with one of the most iconic depicting a young girl holding an umbrella over her head, shielding herself from the falling rain of a broken roof. The artwork is a critique of the slow and inadequate response to the disaster and highlights the abandonment of the city's residents, particularly those in marginalized communities. Banksy used these murals to raise awareness about the ongoing struggles in New Orleans, turning public spaces into sites of reflection on social and political issues.
https://banksyexplained.com/nola-and-new-orleans-murals-2008/
1. One of the most aesthetically intriguing cinematic tactics is Gregory Crewdson’s use of lighting and composition to convey themes of isolation, which can be interpreted as a reflection of global mental health issues. A powerful example occurs on the 44:50, when Crewdson sets up a photograph featuring a lone figure standing in a dark, empty street. The subject is bathed in harsh, artificial light, which starkly contrasts with the surrounding shadows, creating an eerie and unsettling atmosphere. This contrast not only highlights the figure's solitude but also symbolizes the emotional and psychological isolation many people feel, particularly in urban environments. The lighting accentuates the sense of disconnection, making the subject appear trapped in a space devoid of warmth or human connection. The visual impact of this image speaks to the broader global issue of mental health, where individuals, despite being surrounded by society, can often feel emotionally detached and alienated. This scene, through its stark lighting and composition, effectively communicates the emotional toll of living in an increasingly fragmented and impersonal world.
2. A creatively blends art and activism, using cinematic tactics to address global mental health issues, particularly isolation. A striking example occurs at 42:00, where Gregory Crewdson photographs a solitary figure on a deserted street, illuminated by harsh artificial light while the surroundings remain in shadow. This use of lighting and composition emphasizes the subject's loneliness, symbolizing emotional isolation in modern society. The stark contrast between light and shadow highlights the disconnect many individuals feel, making the image not just a work of art, but a visual call to recognize and address mental health struggles in an increasingly isolated world.
3. In “Paper & Glue”, one global issue that stands out is the theme of mental health, particularly the sense of isolation many individuals feel in contemporary society. The film helped me better understand the deep emotional impact of urban loneliness, a global issue that affects people worldwide, often unseen by those around them. The use of stark lighting and desolate settings in Crewdson's photographs emphasized the emotional weight of isolation. In Bridging the Gaps, the text highlights how urbanization can lead to increased feelings of alienation, noting that "as cities grow, the sense of community often diminishes, leading to a greater sense of disconnection" (p. 148). This idea directly relates to the way Crewdson’s work visually reflects the loneliness and emotional struggles experienced by individuals in urban settings, making it clear how mental health issues can stem from societal disconnection.
4. The article from Yahoo discusses the artist and activist, The Case for Creating a World on Fire—an art-activism project by Kehinde Wiley. It highlights how the artist, known for his large-scale portraits of Black figures in classical poses, uses his art to address issues of racial inequality and the erasure of Black identity in historical narratives. The piece focuses on how art can serve as a powerful tool for activism, challenging societal norms, and advocating for change. Wiley’s work encourages viewers to confront systemic injustice and explore the intersection of art, culture, and activism in contemporary society.
https://www.yahoo.com/lifestyle/case-creating-world-fire-200000460.htmlguccounter=1&guce_referrer=aHR0cHM6Ly9jaGF0Z3B0LmNvbS8&guce_referrer_sig=AQAAAFC4GSYlYLxzRYtUohmMfNsPHswCIL5xROu5auPsxkGMSGozg74lkIzrwoJIeJ32clVxr5C7iCrU6l54ziDBiB_YQ57TUPmNQhMJimB0u0U2IGjwLehB38nqZ104eDB82QZGh0ezqu0hTguoCepQSLkNjFTpnrxPyw5b8DKHXo
Q1(1:18:17) A creative tactic used to address the global issue of children not being able to get an education, especially in violent areas, is by assigning their first project to photograph people throughout their community. We not only see the finished product, but we also see the POV of the children and the paths they took, the people they talked to, and how excited they looked to be holding a camera. It shows the potential children have when given the chance to grow and learn.
Q2 (17:04) JR photographs the eyes of Mayer, a DREAMER living in the US, one on Mexico’s side and another on the U.S. side. The creative cinematic tactic to show a birds-eye view of the eyes and the border disappearing for a moment shows how easy it can be to forget about walls and just focus on what matters, that person and the desire in their eyes for a better life.
Q3 (49:33-51:34) JR wants to paste portraits of the bare faces of those protesting to show that they are still human, they are funny, and they are hurting from what is happening to black people and those living in the neglected areas of France. They are being painted as violent, but the reason behind that anger is often ignored or not seen as a valid excuse to be angry. BGT (pg. 10) dives into the issue of news agencies being owned by the government that exert control over what should be shown and talked about. This can be applied to how protests seemed to only show the destruction caused by them and this can make governments and police deflect blame from the reason behind their protests. It's done in multiple countries around the world when problems come up.
Q4 JR went to New York where he made a giant portrait of Nika Shakarami, who was killed in Iranian police custody after being taken in for not wearing a Hijab. He invited people to dress in black and wave their arms to simulate the waving hair of the women. He created this to support the expulsion of Iran from the Commission on the Status of Women after the killing of other women and the restrictions on women’s rights.
https://www.designboom.com/art/jr-protests-iranian-regime-collaborative-portrait-hundreds-volunteers-new-york-interactive-installation-12-09-2022/
Caroline Lipscomb
Q1. This film takes people, moments, and images that may otherwise be ignored by society, but the producers have chosen to apply emphasis on them. One of the first examples is at 00:05:25, when a man’s tattoo that says, “skinhead,” is focused on as JR addresses the inmates. In this shot, we see intense nonverbal interaction (which we learn about in chapter five of Bridging the Gaps), as expression is shown with the producers implement depth of field. In the background, JR is explaining the inspiration and competence he believes the men to be capable of, while JR attempts to break down these very labels and barriers- such as this tattoo- as he reveals the men's true nature.
Q2. At 01:03:30, there is a complex issue in Brazil regarding drugs affecting young children and adults. The cinematic tactics in this film were thoughtfully creative because they got information and perspective from every point of view- both physically with different angles, and emotionally as they heard from family and friends of victims. There is composition and mise en scene, all used in amplifying global issues pertaining to government structure and individual freedoms (chapter 3 of B.T.G.).
Q3. Before watching this film, I imagined borders- specifically the U.S./Mexico border- to be divisive of a whole other world. However, watching JR travel to the border and create ariel footage and photographs, I saw that it is simply land, with people living their lives just as we are trying to live ours, and sadly divided in polarization by man. As page 8 in chapter 1 of our text (B.T.G.) states, “global media systems, mass and specialized, have changed the delivery of information.” We view real world problems as simply a media topic with ultra dramatization, but they are sometimes more simply than we think (00:08:36). We also see many references to chapter 11 on government.
Q4. In using screen projections, peaceful protestors acted through art against political campaigns in Britain, Germany, and more to express views on the European Union.
https://www.archdaily.com/1027904/art-activism-and-the-city-illuminating-social-change
Cody Menzies
1. (00:38:14) At this point in the film you see several portraits highlighting in the small marginalized communities as the portraits are on buildings that are basically crumbling down.
2. (01:04:27) The giant portraits used by taking wide shot photos emphasize the scale of how big this project was. These photos become part of the environment and show personal struggle of the people.
3. Cultural Empathy from the book is what caught my attention the most as some of these people are in the more poor areas of the world and can still smile for a photo and help bring attention to their community through art.
4. The opening of an Art Museum in Houston, Texas to let local artist have their work shown to help bring the community together through art.
https://www.houstonchronicle.com/news/houston-texas/trending/article/colossal-interactive-museum-20208992.php?utm_source=chatgpt.com
1. From the start if the film to minute 1:49 there are several examples of eyes. Eyes watching, looking to be in distress. Several of the eyes depicted were on rundown buildings or areas. You can see a lot happening around them. By being in what could be considered an area that is under developed or poor. We see the eyes of those who live there. The impact we have by helping them.
2. Using story telling to explain the activism and how the child who was in the crib did not know of the border. Did not know that he was in a way locked out of the country on the other side. By using his photo at 10 ish minutes into the film all the way to the table scene at 15 minutes into the film using the eyes as the tablecloth. It shows how we all view the world differently through our eyes and our perspective changes depending on where we look from. With overhead we can see even with boarders we are still all human and can come together to create unity.
3. When it came to the prison scene, I did not realize how isolated they felt and when they spoke about being truly seen. Seen from above and others knowing they are there. Or the guy talking about wanting his face tattoo removed because that is no longer who he is and apart of the society he wants to be apart of. When in reference to bridging the gap we can see that even with cultural differences we are all still just human and want to find connection. We also can find that connection in many different places.
4. This article discusses multiple artists but I wanted to talk about the work of Theaster Gates as their artwork touches on many topics of community an the similarities between the artists work and the film. Gates is working to create safe places for the community to come together on neutral grounds.
Art as Activism: 5 Artists Who Transformed Art into a Powerful Tool for Political and Social Dialogue | by Malcolm Fernandes | Medium
1. 27:52 I found this scene aesthetically intriguing because I made me think of the men in the picture not as prisoners, but as people. It brought out their humanity. They made mistakes in their youth and have a lifetime to pay for it. The flyover of their photo in black and white, especially, made me think of the prison system and how people are incarcerated for long periods of time with no real rehabilitation to help them learn from their mistakes.
2. 1:27:02 The image where Ladj Ly appears as the building is being destroyed. This scene captures how destruction can become artistic. It is emotional storytelling at its best. The film goes beyond stating statistics, instead of using personal stories for the viewer to connect with.
3. I gained a better understanding of how marginalized communities are seen in the media. For instance, in the film JR brought to life the people from Les Bosquets, a housing project in the suburb of Montfermeil. The large black and white portraits of the young people made an impact and helped to break stereotypes about the community.
4. A recent art-activism project, “R-Evolution,” a 45-foot-tall sculpture of a nude woman by the artist, Marco Cochrane. It is located at San Francisco’s Embarcadero Plaza and will be unveiled April 10, 2025. The sculpture’s purpose is to challenge the underrepresentation of women in public art and promote themes of female strength and empowerment.
https://www.sfexaminer.com/news/the-city/sf-arts-board-okays-big-nude-woman-statue-on-embarcadero/article_05c63c90-f896-11ef-bebd-23aa250b9d77.html
Q1: (00:16:04) the overhead pan out shot of the eyes at the border. Signifying the unity of the two respective sides despite the physical barrier between our cultures.
Q2: It was quite an interesting experience to see the multiple ways the zoom out pans that captured the entire meaning and vision behind the piece. In the beginning of the film, the shot of the baby from the US side of the boarder. The pan out perfectly captures the surrealism of the piece.
Q3: The poverty of the surrounding areas around Paris. In bridging the Gaps, on page 7, it describes that Extrapersonal relationships, usually public ones depend upon your own expectations and experiences. So growing up in the States you never hear about that side of France. You’re accustomed to think that it’s just peaceful country side living, you’re taught a fairytale world.
Q4: Ernest Zacharevic’s “SOS” piece, where he cut down oil palm trees that have been negatively impacting the Endangered wildlife that lives there.
https://www.graffitistreet.com/art-and-activism-10-street-artists-using-the-power-of-art-as-a-catalyst-for-change/#:~:text=Ernest%20Zacharevic's%20creative%20interventions%20are,authorities%20to%20hold%20polluters%20accountable.&text=Zacharevic%20has%20brought%20attention%20to,Read%20more%20here.
1. At 00:52:30 The shot the director gets with a drone of JR’s mural on the US/Mexico border wall. The size of the mural was astonishing, and the use of the drone emphasizes the split between the two countries.
2. At 1:05:00 the director uses both time laps photography and zooming camera work showing the progression of JR’s artwork on a prison wall depicting the inmates inside the prison. This brings the inmates, and their stories front and center instead of being locked away and forgotten.
3. The issue that stuck out to me was the mass incarceration of people in the prison system today. I feel there needs to be a restructuring of the system were individuals who are non-violent are treated differently than violent individuals. Bridging the gap argues for systemic reform especially regarding minorities, but I think it less an ethnic question and more of a violent and non-violent offender. After all there should be separation and different sentencing for non-violent individuals who haven’t hurt anyone.
1. At 00:52:30 The shot the director gets with a drone of JR’s mural on the US/Mexico border wall. The size of the mural was astonishing, and the use of the drone emphasizes the split between the two countries.
2. At 1:05:00 the director uses both time laps photography and zooming camera work showing the progression of JR’s artwork on a prison wall depicting the inmates inside the prison. This brings the inmates, and their stories front and center instead of being locked away and forgotten.
3. The issue that stuck out to me was the mass incarceration of people in the prison system today. I feel there needs to be a restructuring of the system were individuals who are non-violent are treated differently than violent individuals. Bridging the gap argues for systemic reform especially regarding minorities, but I think it less an ethnic question and more of a violent and non-violent offender. After all there should be separation and different sentencing for non-violent individuals who haven’t hurt anyone.
4. Back in Humboldt County Ca the native artiest have been using art as a protest the dam’s existence and to Celebrate the removal of the Klamath Dam. The Dam has been a topic of concern for years due to the impact on the environment and the native fishing industry.
https://lostcoastoutpost.com/2025/mar/29/econews-report-celebrating-klamath-dam-removal-thr/
Q1. From (1:48) you can see a lot of paintings on top of houses and trains in areas where one wouldn't expect there to be certain murals. The painting of eyes and mouths and faces with wide expressions. This stands out as it reminds of the most famous symbol in literature that talks about moral decay. It could mean a harsh reality beyond the glamour in other areas and reflection of moral corruption as well as eyes for something or someone greater than one looking over everyone (judging).
Q2. Starting from (12:00) one creative cinematic tactic used for art activism is when he finished making the mural by the border and posted it on social media, a lot of people started to visit and take pictures by the mural and noticed the wall. This shows how something so simple such as a mural representing good vs innocence brought a lot of people together from both sides despite their cultural differences and opened their eyes to something more important than just a fence.
Q3. (24:00) A new cultural knowledge POV that I learned and better understood from this film is when the inmates started helping with the gluing and pasting of the image, another man started speaking of how this area is usually filled with violence every day and that is most that he has ever seen. Also that everyone wants to see beyond what there is meaning looking beyond this art project. It takes a little bit of researching to find out about a lot of people who are going through rough times for the longest time, but it takes a lot of courage to be living through it. I believe that this art project helped project the voices and actions, helped raise hope and give them something to believe in.
Q4. A mural of Vanessa Guillen at Taqueria Del Sol in Houston represents the failed justice that Vanessa went through during and after her death. This mural shows her in her military uniform representing that she was still a part of this country but because of her ethnicity and gender she was denied protection and justice against her murders. This shows that she died fighting for a country that did not care enough to protect her.
https://www.houstonpublicmedia.org/articles/arts-culture/local-arts/2020/09/18/382196/houston-mural-project-honors-20-years-of-vanessa-guillens-life/#:~:text=A%20mural%20depicts%20a%20sillhouette,Taqueria%20Del%20Sol%20in%20Houston.
Magda Hernandez
1. One moment that stood out in "Paper & Glue" occurs around the 00:12:00 mark, when JR installs a massive black-and-white photo of a toddler—nicknamed “Kikito” peering over the U.S.-Mexico border fence. Drone footage slowly pulls back to reveal both sides of the wall, letting us see how JR’s work visually unifies what is physically, socially, and politically divided. Using the cinematic tactic of a wide overhead shot underscores the stark contrast between the fence up close and the broader landscape around it, emphasizing the global issue of immigration. By framing Kikito as larger than the barrier, the film transforms a seemingly impassable boundary into a shared visual canvas, provoking viewers to reflect on how borders like walls may not be as fixed as they appear.
2. “Paper & Glue” engages in the immersive point of view shots and sweeping aerial cinematography to underscore JR’s large-scale pieces, associating personal stories to broader global issues. In "Paper & Glue" Around 01:12:08, the camera captures a sweeping crane shot over Rio de Janeiro’s hillside, revealing massive portrait collages that transform the landscape into a living art piece. This visual synergy of location and scale amplifies the film’s activist message, emphasizing community identity and resilience. The creative fusion of documentary realism with artistic display effectively draws audiences into the protagonists’ shared humanity.
3. I learned how street art in “Paper and Glue” amplifies the voices of marginalized communities and tells their stories, revealing social inequalities often overlooked by mainstream media. Through JR’s transformative murals, I now see how art can cross cultural and linguistic barriers to foster empathy. As "Bridging the Gaps" explains, “the broader the range of your friendships and familial experiences, the better prepared you are to anticipate and understand cultural differences” (p. 7). This insight shows how personal connections and storytelling can reshape public perceptions of a global issue. This resonates with the way relationships and varied sources of information shape our perspectives in intercultural contexts. As stated in Bridging the Gaps in Global Communication: “The broader the range of your friendships and familial experiences, the better prepared you are to anticipate and understand cultural differences” (p. 7). JR’s art effectively functions as a “broader range of… experiences,” granting us insight into unfamiliar lives and struggles. In doing so, it encourages critical reflection on both personal and public biases, prompting us to recognize and challenge social inequalities wherever they surface.
4. In 2023, Cuban artist and activist Tania Bruguera launched a participatory project called Schools of Integration at Manchester Art Gallery, aiming to highlight the experiences of immigrants in the UK. The project turned the gallery into a classroom for cultural exchange, inviting migrants from around the world to teach workshops on language, music, and traditions. By centering firsthand perspectives, Bruguera used art as a platform for dialogue and empowerment, drawing public attention to complex immigration issues.
Tania Bruguera’s “Schools of Integration” in Manchester (https://www.madeinmindmagazine.com/conversation-with-tania-bruguera/)
Q1. (19:10) The shot of Mayra standing with the mural of Kikito in the background was one of my favorite shots of the whole movie. The combination of Mayra, who is a dreamer and Kikito, who is a toddler growing up on the US-Mexico border, emphasize the will and humanity of the people across borders that many people in the United States don’t think about every day.
Q2. (1:14:00) I thought the timelapse shot of JR’s journey up the long stairs of the Brazilian favela was a beautiful way of storytelling that can be interpreted multiple ways. To me, it expresses that a meaningful activist mission can sometimes be a long and dangerous journey that’ll take a helping hand. Without Rosiete’s help, JR wouldn’t have been able to enter the neighborhood and meet the people he did to allow them to share their stories.
Q3. I wasn’t aware of the French Riots of 2005, which stemmed from two young boys that died from being chased by the police. Bridging the Gaps references one issue of sharing global media, “Another unintended consequence of globalization of media is the spread of values, not always welcomed by some cultures and/or governments.” (Pg. 8)
Q4. Palestinian director Hamdan Ballal was beaten and kidnapped last week by the Israeli military. Ballal co-directed the Oscar winning film “No Other Land.”
https://apnews.com/article/no-other-land-oscar-israel-palestinians-084c63f33e748a3279646759e9b705c2
Author: Jaylen Galvan
Q1. (19:10) The shot of Mayra standing with the mural of Kikito in the background was one of my favorite shots of the whole movie. The combination of Mayra, who is a dreamer and Kikito, who is a toddler growing up right on the US-Mexico border, emphasize the will and humanity of the people across borders that many people in the United States don’t think about every day.
Q2. (1:14:00) I thought the timelapse shot of JR’s journey up the long stairs of the Brazilian favela was a beautiful way of storytelling that can be interpreted multiple ways. To me, it expresses that a meaningful activist mission can sometimes be a long and dangerous journey that’ll take a helping hand. Without Rosiete’s help, JR wouldn’t have been able to enter the neighborhood and meet the people he did to allow them to share their stories.
Q3. I wasn’t aware of the French Riots of 2005, which stemmed from two young boys that died from being chased by the police. Bridging the Gaps references one issue of sharing global media, “Another unintended consequence of globalization of media is the spread of values, not always welcomed by some cultures and/or governments.” (Pg. 8)
Q4. Palestinian director Hamdan Ballal was beaten and kidnapped last week by the Israeli military. Ballal co-directed the Oscar winning film “No Other Land.”
https://apnews.com/article/no-other-land-oscar-israel-palestinians-084c63f33e748a3279646759e9b705c2
1. (00:15:10 – 00:15:28) One cinematic tactic of showing people taking pictures with the mural of the child that looks like it is climbing the wall highlights how JR’s art invites interaction and personal connection. This moment emphasizes the power if art to bridge cultural divides, as people engage with the artwork and share the experience. It underscores the film’s theme of creating unity through storytelling.
2. (00:29:29 – 00:29:43) Cinematic tactics are used to highlight art-activism. One example is when the inmates work together on the prison yard that has had a lot of tragic things happen in there. By showing the prisoners work together, the film shoes that art can unite people no matter their background.
3. I was able to understand more about the marginalization and social justice, focusing on immigration, incarceration and displacement. The film highlights how underrepresented communities are often overlooked or misinterpreted in society. JR challenges those points of vires, and is able to bring forth the visual of those who are typically ignored and fostering through symbolic interactions. Elements of language, symbolism, whether it will be “verbal or nonverbal- interaction, social objects and perspectives,” tend to show and give an opportunity to understand a meaning to things (BTG, P.75)
4. https://www.theguardian.com/artanddesign/2021/jan/19/pink-seesaws-across-us-mexico-border-named-design-of-the-year-2020
The pink seesaws were created by to architects. Between the posts there is a gap that allowed them to install the seesaws. They have installed this interactive art work at a site where border patrol has detained around 300 immigrants. The artists wanted to show the duality of the joy and the sorrow in this innocent act of play.
Q1. At (01:12), one cinematic tactic I found aesthetically intriguing was the mirror shot of the women getting ready for a meet-and-greet. This scene beautifully represents confidence-building and self-empowerment, especially for women from the favela who are finally being given a platform to be seen and heard. Watching them look at themselves in the mirror before stepping into a public space symbolizes a moment of reflection, pride, and readiness. It was powerful to see how this simple act of getting ready became a form of visibility and voice a global issue tied to the lack of representation for marginalized communities.
Q2. I thought “Paper & Glue” was a powerful example of how creative cinematic tactics can elevate art-activism and make global issues feel intimate and powerful. At (01:11), repeated zoom-out shots and a timelapse reveal the large-scale installation of eyes across buildings in the favela. These wide shots emphasize how the artwork transforms the space and makes the presence of favela residents unavoidable, even to those who often ignore them. The shift from day to night, with the eyes still watching, symbolizes that their voices remain constant even when the world looks away.
Q3. The film made me realize how Les Bosquets, like many other marginalized communities, are often abandoned and portrayed only negatively in the news. It showed how representation truly makes a difference. What was first seen as defacing property through art became something celebrated. JR’s project helped people from Les Bosquets be seen in a new light. This connects to “Bridging the Gaps” (p. 79), which explains how media influences public opinion. News coverage is selective, and it often takes a shift in perspective or in this case, art for people to see these communities differently.
Q4. A recent art-activism project is “77 Minutes in Their Shoes,” an exhibit held on January 2025 in Austin,TX. It honored the victims of the Uvalde school shooting by displaying photos of the shoes they wore that day. The exhibit was a call for action on gun violence and was created in collaboration with the victims’ families.
https://www.ksat.com/news/local/2025/01/11/77-minutes-in-their-shoes-art-exhibit-highlights-gun-violence-honors-robb-elementary-shooting-victims/
From Clark,
when asked for your POV I do expect to see a 1st-person narrative. Also, per the syllabus, any "robot" language is not permitted. I teach writing & can detect this stuff PDQ. Deductions will result in no points when I get answers that are third-person ChatGPT. Please do NOT do this on the rest of the posts or on your final. This class is for you all---not ChatGPT. Normal errors were GSP related, and minimal...
Q1. 00:08:15
A lot of techniques were used within this film but what really sold it was the composition, how the shot was framed, and the editing technique. One scene that paints this well is JR's installation at the U.S.-Mexico border. This shot showed Kikito, the baby peering over the border fence, challenging perceptions of separation and immigration This visual metaphor powerfully addresses the global issue of borders and migration.
Q2. 1:03:00-1:13:00
The film was very intentional, it really humanized social issues, which whether or not we admit it is hard to comprehend when you aren’t the one being affected. This was amplified by the composure of the shots, our POV, and montages of the people who are living the reality of these social issues. The segment on the Morro da Providência favela in Brazil appears to blend scenes of community engagement, the creation of the artwork, and the reaction of residents like Rosiete to seeing her face pasted on a wall. This approach created a powerful narrative that connects the art directly to social issues.
Q3. The biggest reality check I got from this film was that social issues happen, yes but what about the people going through them. Most of the time we don’t think about them because they aren’t happening to us but everyone is human. Everyone has a story. It was the biggest thing I learned. “An individual evaluating the significance of a message with economic consequences ranks it according to personal experiences….” (BTG) this example from the book highlights that because it isn’t our situation we deem it less important or less relevant. This got us to think about how other people go through life, it gave us their POV.
Q4. A recent art-activism project worth noting is Ai Weiwei's installation "Safety Jackets Zipped the Other Way," unveiled in Stockholm in February 2025. The work features thousands of life jackets worn by refugees, arranged to spell out "HUMAN" when viewed from above. This powerful piece draws attention to the ongoing global refugee crisis and the need for compassionate responses to displacement.
https://hypebeast.com/2020/2/ai-weiwei-hornbach-safety-jackets-zipped-the-other-way-diy-art
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