"Interpretation is not...an absolute value, a gesture of the mind situation in some
timeless realm of capabilities. Interpretation must itself be evaluated, within a historical
view of human consciousness. In some cultural contexts, interpretation is a liberating
act. It is a means of revising, of trans-valuing, of escaping the dead past. In other
cultural contexts, it is reactionary, impertinent, cowardly, stifling." –Susan Sontag
Select an image that you are drawn to and consider the following questions.
1. Why did you select the image/text you choose?
2. What is the intent/purpose of the image/text?
3. What value(s) does the image/text present?
4. To what extent does your understanding of the text/image rely upon, or derive from, your life
or knowledge? What knowledge were you able to apply to the analysis of the image/text?
5. What, if anything, did you assume anything about the image and its construction?
Consider another image, one that may not have immediate resonance with you.
1. What drew you to this image?
2. What is the intent/purpose of the image?
3. What value(s) does the image/text present?
4. To what extent could you apply knowledge or understanding to analyze the image?
5.
Does the construction of the image imply anything about its meaning?
Alternate questions
1. What relationship do you have with the image? Is it personal, critical, historical, emotional,
etc? Does your relationship to the image influence how you understand that image?
2. What did you take for granted in examining the first image? Did you have the same advantage
in the second image?
3. Consider the process of selecting an image to analyze. In selecting the image there was a
dialogue between your understanding and the implications of newness.
4. What perspective does the image serve?
5. In what way does this image capture the past?
6. What did you rely upon to interpret and analyze the document? (Was it a critical, historical,
emotional, etc. response?)
7. What did you assume about the image and its construction?
.
Self-Reflection:

Why did you choose to become an educator?

What do you like most, and find most rewarding, about your subject?

What is the most important element of your subject?

Without giving your subject a title, how would you describe your subject?