Background: Throughout this unit, we have tried to expand how we define beauty. We’ve learned that beauty is often subjective (experienced differently for different people) and is much more than the media and society would have us believe. If we are open to it, we’ve learned that beauty can surprise and dazzle us when we least expect it.

Your Task: In this class, we have been considering the question, “What is beauty?” To help us answer this question for ourselves, each student is invited to take a picture of someone he or she thinks is beautiful in some way. As discussed in class, please take a series of shots, ranging from long-shots to extreme close-ups (three photos total). Your photos should focus on what you think is most beautiful—literally or figuratively—about the person. Make the exercise as real for you as possible. Show us what you see!

A successful series of photos will include:

An extreme close-up

A medium shot

A long shot

Writing

Choose one of the photographs that you took and write an accompanying description that helps us “see” the photo. Your writing should include four of the five senses and careful attention to word choice and figurative language (simile, metaphor, personification, onomatopoeia, etc.). In this writing exercise, you will try to paint the picture with words!

Lastly, please write 3-5 sentences that explain why you choose this particular photo to exemplify your idea of beauty.

I look forward to your thoughtful work!

Wondering about Wonder:

A Collaborative, Digital, Multi-media Exercise