The detailed instructions are in the attachment. Thank you. Tell me if you would like me to take the photos, the
photo can be like the social distancing between the line up in front of the stores, and the elevator maximum
capacity of 3 people etc. These are the new normals. The maximum word count is 1000.
Part 2 of the Environmental Autobiography uses a method called Photovoice, a process of engaging people in
recording and reflecting the strengths and concerns of their communities, engage in critical dialogue and
grassroots social action (Wang and Burris, 1997, 369). Typically, participants are asked to represent their
community or point of view by taking photographs, discussing them together, developing narratives to go with
their photos, and conducting outreach or other action. For our class we’re going to use this method to reflect on
the differentiated effects of the pandemic. What has become “the new normal” for your life and life in the place
where you are? How does the new normal affect social identity groups differently? How does the new normal
affect places differently?
STEP 1: Capture images [You’re already doing this]
Take pictures of what’s changed around you—in your home, or neighborhood, or wherever you happen to be—
as a result of the pandemic. What has become “the new normal” for your life and life in the community where
you are? Is the new normal the same for all social identity groups?
STEP 2: Reading [assigned readings]
Re-read the following three pieces available on the course website. Think about the images you’ve been taking
as you read. Take notes, and highlight passages that seem most relevant. Also see step 7 for the questions
you’re asked to address that are drawn from these readings.
Christman, Phil. 2017. On Being Midwestern: The Burden of Normality. The Hedgehog Review. 19(3): 92- 104.
Tatum, Beverly Daniel. 2000. The Complexity of Identity: Who Am I? In Readings for Diversity and Social
Justice. Maurianne Adams et al, editors. 5 pp
Massey, Doreen. 2013. A Global Sense of Place. In Space, Place and Gender. John Wiley & Sons. 146-156.
STEP 4: Select six (6) images [6 points]
From the pictures you’ve taken, select from among them the six that you think you have the most relevance to
the course themes identified in Step 2. They should be of six different experiences. They can be images in your
home, neighborhood…anywhere you have been since the onset of the pandemic. They can also be
screenshots of your activity online, however a website of preexisting content would not be appropriate; the
images should show your experience.
STEP 5: Write 1,000 words about the images [12 points]
Write about how the images you selected connect to one or more of the course themes mentioned in Step 2.
You do not have to give each image equal weight in your analysis, but do provide at minimum the context for
each image. Your text should include:
1) A brief explanation of the context of each image. Explain the changes that have occurred since the
pandemic. How is this image an example of the new normal?
2) An analysis of how your observations about these changes relate to one or more of the course readings.
You may write your text as one continuous essay or as captions to each image. Using the readings, the course
modules, and the exercises from Tutorial 2, answer one or more of the following:
• How has the pandemic accelerated or reversed time-space compression?
• How does that impact the power geometry (Massey 2013, 149) of social identity groups, or places?
• What norms or social hierarchies—between groups or between places—that were previously hidden have
become apparent as a result of the pandemic?
• How has the global sense of place (Massey 2013) been impacted by the pandemic?
Sample Solution