All the Feels

Today in school, kids always want to find the easy way out. Doing the bare minimum to get something done is sometimes all students work for. As long as they turn something in they are happy. How has the value of our work turned into something we don’t want to be proud of? I know looking back to my college art class, I knew I wasn’t majoring in art and I wasn’t the greatest artist out there, so as long as I finished the project I was happy. I was never proud of my work or could care less if anyone could follow what I was trying to portray until it was on a topic that was important to me. 

In the article "The Art of Digital Storytelling," the teacher explains how when telling a story, the audience can follow it, but can’t always feel exactly what the author is. Giving a summary on what they are telling instead of going into detail is a flaw that this generation is facing. Again, finding the easy way out. But, when we are telling a story we need to express how we are feeling in detail so others can stay engaged and want to continue listening with full attention.

 In the article is showed how no one in the class wanted to present their written story first. It could be because the students were nervous to present, but it also could be that the students know they didn’t do well and it isn’t a story other people are going to want to listen to. When the teacher gave her two examples of her college experience, it showed how much detail can make a story completely different. A student commented on how the first story was a summary and wasn’t giving real feeling. It was just like reading the basic points straight off the paper. When the teacher read her second story that had exact quotes and feelings, then the student actually felt bad for her and respected her story more. It shows how if you care about what you are talking about and give your actual feelings, then others will be able to understand what you went through, maybe relate to a similar situation, and want to ask questions and be involved. 

So, with that being said, let me get back to my art class from college. I finally had a project I worked very hard on. I skipped the football game and homecoming activities that weekend to stay in and work on my mosaic painting of my dog. This project was very important to me because my dog had passed away earlier that year. I wanted it to show my dogs happy face and make sure it was an easy image to identify because it was a mosaic painting. When I finally finished and had to present it, my teacher could tell the difference in my attitude towards my work. I was able to tell a story through my art in a way I never thought I could and this is something I will never forget. It is possible to relate to others just by the amount of detail and emotion you put into something and I feel that teaching this to students at an early age is very important. I hope story telling is something that never goes away, whether it be through a book, art, or verbally, stories tell events that happened in the past and it is an amazing way to remember history and to help others communicate with one another on a different level.