SUMMARY
For my Apollo project two, I wanted to connect it in someway to project one and continue my research of Africa and its different cultures. I decided to do this project on the culture of Senegal and how it has been influenced through the centuries. I researched and gathered information focusing on four aspects of this country's culture: Language, beliefs, values and behaviors. I created a triple exposure poem to showcase/represent all of the new found information in an interesting way and to incorporate the thinking skill, perspective.
What is a Triple Exposure Poem?
Before this project, I had never heard or read a triple exposure poem. Apollo teachers Mr. Greg Wimmer and Mr. Wes Ward, introduced me to this style of poetry and gave me pointers on how to go about writing one.
The first step in creating this type of poem, was understanding the history behind this style of poetry. The original creator of a "double exposure poem" was American poet, Greg Williamson. In this form, the poem could be read in three different ways: the standard type, the bold type in alternating lines, or the combination of both. I was immediately intrigued by this style of poetry and decided to further research on the original creater. Click down below for further information.
The first step in creating this type of poem, was understanding the history behind this style of poetry. The original creator of a "double exposure poem" was American poet, Greg Williamson. In this form, the poem could be read in three different ways: the standard type, the bold type in alternating lines, or the combination of both. I was immediately intrigued by this style of poetry and decided to further research on the original creater. Click down below for further information.
ABout Greg Williamson
Born in 1964, Poet Greg Williamson grew up in Nashville. He received his education at Vanderbilt University, the University of Wisconsin at Madison, and Johns Hopkins University's Writing Seminars. Williamson has published a number of works of poetry, including The Silent Partner (1995) and A Most Marvelous Piece of Luck (2008). He has received numerous awards such as the Nicholas Roerich Poetry Prize, a Whiting Award, an Academy Award in Literature from the American Academy of Arts and Letters, etc. Williamson has taught at Johns Hopkins University since 1992 and currently lives in the Baltimore and Atlanta area.
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The second step was to create my own unique spin on this style of poetry. Instead of creating just a double exposure poem, I created a triple exposure titled "Whispers". This poem can also be read in the three different ways as mentioned for the double exposure, but instead of two perspectives, it would have three.
English
To tie in the English portion of this project I decided to use and analyze the three perspectives I was creating for the double exposure poem. These perspectives would be from the eyes of someone who lives within Senegal and is rooted in the culture off the country. I wanted to focus on the family and tradition element of the culture, therefore I created three views that would represent those elements: the perspective of a mother, father and son. Through my analyzation I learned what each role the mother, father and son, play in modern day Senegal culture.
Social Studies
The social studies aspect of the project was the most time consuming portion. I researched and analyzed the culture of Senegal, gathering information on the language, beliefs, values, and behaviors of the people.I also researched the influence of French rule on the country and how it has impacted the culture. I presented this knowledge through the double exposure poem and its perspectives.
Down below is a more in depth analyzation of how each subject area was presented through the poem.
through Their Eyes
To differentiate the three differentiate perspectives, I used three colors in the first lines or "stanza" of the poem. Each character has there own view and unique personality that accurately represents the role they would play in real-life Senegal, West Africa. Down below is a short description of each character:
Although the colors are not used through the poem, the rest of the lines are written in the same order of perspectives ( the alternating lines of each perspective match).
Thinking Skill: Perspective
I incorporated the thinking skill, perspective, through the three different views on Senegal culture I created. All three perspectives were different from each other so that there was a broad overview of all the different aspects of the culture.
- Purple: Mother: (Her perspective is based in the 1600's during the time of French rule and colonization in the Senegal. During this time, woman played an important role in some tribes) -
- She is the backbone of the tribe, full with love, care for others, wisdom and knowledge. Her role is to raise the young ones with the stories of their tribe's past; she teaches the young to honor their ancestors through teaching them the importance of spreading the stories to their children and representing the culture correctly. She also holds the knowledge for and talks for the land. Honoring the land in which they walk on and working to keep it healthy and "alive", is an important aspect in the Senegalese culture that the mother role holds dear.
- Yellow: Son: (His perspective is based in modern day Senegal)
- He is the dreamer and light of the tribe. His role is to carry on the family traditions and to to breathe new light into the people.
- Blue: Father: (His perspective is based in Senegal in the 90's)
- He is the provider, protecter and strength of the tribe. His role is roam the land to provide the necessary materials needed for the tribe to survive and to protect his people from the harm of creatures and outsiders ( people not from the tribe). He is the leader of the people and also shares the role with the mother, to passing down the stories of the past to young ones.
Although the colors are not used through the poem, the rest of the lines are written in the same order of perspectives ( the alternating lines of each perspective match).
Thinking Skill: Perspective
I incorporated the thinking skill, perspective, through the three different views on Senegal culture I created. All three perspectives were different from each other so that there was a broad overview of all the different aspects of the culture.
Beliefs & Vaules
The information I gathered on Senegalese culture can be seen through out the poem. For instance in the "second stanza" of the poem, there are three quotes that each represent the values and beliefs of the Senegal people:
*The translation is from the perspective of the people of Senegal.
“It is better to walk fast than to grow angry at the forest.”
Translation: The land is not the enemy. We should not feel entitled to harm the land due to our misconceptions and not understanding the value of its life and the life of its creatures.
“Build the barn before you buy the cow..”
Translation: Without a foundation the kingdom will crumble. Through telling the stories of the pass and providing the young ones with the strength and wisdom, the tribe will stay rooted in its history and culture and be able to support the many generations to come.
“A chameleon changes color to match the earth; the earth doesn't change to match the chameleon.”
Translation: The land and its people are one. We have to become one with the Earth and live in harmony with its creatures. This cannot be achieved, if we are forcefully changing the land in which we walk on to make it become something it is not.
*The translation is from the perspective of the people of Senegal.
“It is better to walk fast than to grow angry at the forest.”
Translation: The land is not the enemy. We should not feel entitled to harm the land due to our misconceptions and not understanding the value of its life and the life of its creatures.
“Build the barn before you buy the cow..”
Translation: Without a foundation the kingdom will crumble. Through telling the stories of the pass and providing the young ones with the strength and wisdom, the tribe will stay rooted in its history and culture and be able to support the many generations to come.
“A chameleon changes color to match the earth; the earth doesn't change to match the chameleon.”
Translation: The land and its people are one. We have to become one with the Earth and live in harmony with its creatures. This cannot be achieved, if we are forcefully changing the land in which we walk on to make it become something it is not.
INCORPERATING THE CULTURE: LANGUAGE
To incorporate more of the past and present Senegalese culture, I decided to use their language. Through my research, I found that one of the most prime languages in the Senegal is French. This can be due to the heavy influence the French had and continues to have on Senegal. I also found that before French rule in the 1600's and in many rural places in the country, Wolof is the prime language. Throughout the poem I used certain words in two of the perspectives that represented different time periods of Senegal: the mother (before French rule) and the son ( after French rule or modern day Senegal). These perspectives also represent the different languages were used.
Down below are the definition of the words:
Père: Definition of pére in English from French: Father
Waa kër: Definition of waa kër in English from Wolof: Family
Mère: Definition of mére in English from French: Mother
Down below are the definition of the words:
Père: Definition of pére in English from French: Father
Waa kër: Definition of waa kër in English from Wolof: Family
Mère: Definition of mére in English from French: Mother
APT: After porject Thoughts
Through the exploration of Senegal, West Africa, I was able to learn about an interesting culture, its people and how it compares to my culture and others around the world. In the end was able to create a piece of work that represents all of the hard work and dedication that went into this project
Annotated Bibliography: Project 2 | |
File Size: | 89 kb |
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