When I first enrolled in English 2269, I was unsure of what exactly it was that we would be doing in this course. From a brief reading of the syllabus, I knew that the class was going to be primarily project-based, which was something I was used to after taking an honors digital photography class last year.

I hadn’t really heard anything bad about the class prior to signing up; however, I had also not heard anyone praise the class either.  It was listed as a prerequisite for some of my other journalism courses, so if I am being completely honest, that was my reasoning for taking this course. Although it was a requirement, it was one I didn’t mind having to take, as the course material looked interesting and I thought that, in this class, I would have the opportunity to learn about a variety of digital mediums.

Artist Statement
As a high school senior preparing to graduate from a school located a mere 20 minutes from Ohio’s capital city, I was more than a little hesitant to accept the offer to attend Ohio State. After all, college was supposed to be an exciting adventure, and in my opinion—the same opinion held by many of my Dublin-born-and-raised classmates—Columbus was not exciting and would definitely not be considered a place of adventure.

Nevertheless, I decided to attend, as I knew that Ohio State offered academic opportunities that greatly overshadowed my desire to seek out a more interesting change of surroundings.

Fast forward to August 2013. As I stood in my dorm room, contemplating what to do now that I had unpacked my numerous boxes of pillows, books and snacks, I once again questioned my decision to attend a school located in such a mundane city. “What am I going to do here in Columbus for four years?” I asked myself. “Columbus is the most boring city in the world.”

Oh, how wrong I was.

A Day in the Life Audio Story: "Don't Tread on Me"
https://soundcloud.com/etchison08/a-day-in-the-life-audio-story-dont-tread-on-me

Artist Statement
Passion is defined simply as “a strong feeling of enthusiasm or excitement for something or about doing something” by the Meriam-Webster online dictionary. However, anyone who has ever felt passionate about anything in his or her life—whether that passion is for music, athletics, or even sculpting corncob pipes—knows that a passion is so much more than just feeling strongly about something. A passion can be an intense motivator, a beacon of hope, or a cause that reaffirms a reason for living. A passion is something that is fostered through experience and nurtured through hard work and dedication. And sometimes, a passion is something that you would fight for and defend to your last breath.

But what happens when someone or something tries to discourage you from pursuing this passion? What would you do if the possibility of fulfilling your lifelong dream was suddenly no longer under your control?

This is exactly what my audio story is all about.

Certain images have a potency that, for better or for worse, cause them to remain with us long after we tear our eyes away from the canvas, computer monitor, or newspaper page. Whether these images haunt or inspire us, terrify us or give us hope, for some inexplicable reason, they have acquired the power to penetrate the emotional numbness we often feel toward the world around us. 

What sets these specific images apart from the thousands of others that we see every day? Why do we remember some images better than others? Why are some images still prevalent in our culture today while others have faded into obscurity?

Approaching this photo essay assignment, I decided to delve further into the concept of persistence of image. By transplanting a selection of well-known images from a variety of classic movies into the modern-day surroundings of OSU’s campus, I hope to challenge my audience to consider the legacy of powerful images and icons, their persistence throughout changing times, and their continued cultural significance in our society today. 

http://issuu.com/amandaetchison/docs/photo_essay_final_format/0

"Breakfast at Brutus'"


Background image and Crimson Cup photo are my own.

দেবর্ষি রায়. “Audrey Hepburn.” Flickr. 16 June. 2013. 12 Sept. 2014. CC BY-SA 2.0. goo.gl/VYP0sf

For Friday's class in English 2269, we were asked to explore the extent of Creative Commons and Fair Use materials by creating an informational self portrait using different images that describe our personalities. 

My self portrait can be seen below:

Image is my own.