Saturated Selfies: Intentional and Intense Photography and Writing

In photography, the term ‘saturation’ is used to describe the intensity of colors. This course will investigate our intense, colorful, and amazing life through a combination of photography (specifically, selfies) and writing. Many view the selfie as silly at best and at worst narcissistic, however, selfies are actually just another form of self-expression which we can use to document our lives and tell our stories. Through a variety of readings and texts, online discussions, and both photography and writing exercises, we will investigate our personal identities and how we choose to portray ourselves, as well as what story we are narrating about our intensely amazing lives. This four-week course is ideal for those just entering an examination of selfies as a form of art, as well as for those who took the previously offered “Selfies” class.

Week By Week

Week One ​will begin with an overview of the selfie as a form of art and a way of investigating self. We will do introductions, be introduced to our first digital photography technique, and do a bit of Instagram exploring.

Week Two will look at selfies as a form of storytelling. We will try out another technique and explore Vine as a tool for social media storytelling.

Week Three will focus on the use of hashtags as a way to build community and create movements. We will experiment with another digital photography technique and do an exploration of various hashtags currently trending.

Week Four will look at how photography and writing can be used together in various ways. We will try out a way of turning photography into other forms of art and look at some poetry forms that incorporate visual art. Additionally, we will reflect on what we’ve gained and learned over the last several weeks and ways we plan to continue this work.

Format

This is an online class. Each week will include various texts to help us explore the topics. Each week will also include discussions of the readings and our personal experiences, as well as photography and writing prompts. Participants should expect to spend around three to four hours per week on this class. If you have specific accessibility needs please contact the facilitator.

Who Should Take This Class

This class is ideal for anyone wanting to expand their creative practices, explore the selfie as a form of art, or intentionally investigate their intense and amazing lives! This course is ideal for those just entering an examination of selfies as a form of art, as well as for those who took the previously offered “Selfies” class. No prior experience with photography or with writing are needed. Participants will need a digital camera of some sort (phone or similar devices work just fine!) and a way to upload photos to their computer.

Facilitator Bio

Angie River is a writer, educator, activist, and performance artist, as well as a lover of selfies! She has taught writing workshops and done performances in various states across the country, and is published in “Tidepools Literary Magazine,” “Reading for Hunger Relief,” The Body is Not an Apology webpage, and the upcoming anthology “Queering Sexual Violence,” as well as having her own blog (https://nittygrittynakedness.wordpress.com/) and zines. Angie fully believes in the power of art to help us gain a better understanding of ourselves, to build connections and community, and to make personal and social change.

What People are Saying About Angie’s Courses

• “I thought the instructor was marvelous-- organized, prompt, thoughtful, and dedicated to giving what read as honest and notable feedback.”
• “One of the top two classes I've taken through TLAN. Great!”
• “I got a lot out of [this class]. It transformed me and my self image.”
• “Thank you so much for providing the content and a warm atmosphere.”
• “Thank you for facilitating this course. I have been enlightened.”