Short Paper #1: Acting Human in Public

In Brandon Stanton’s book, Humans of New York, he documents dozens of ‘humans’ in New York as they go about their daily lives. By looking at them as a group, rather than individuals, we can see some of the invisible ties that bind us as a species. Even though we might come from different races, nations, states, religions, socioeconomic classes, and political affiliations, when it all comes down to it, we share many of the same needs, desires, and fears as humans all across the globe. So what makes us human? Based on this book, what identity most unites us as human beings in New York, or Ada, or anyplace else on the globe?

Choose THREE pictures that you feel all represent people sharing the same basic identity as human beings. By “identity,” I mean a role, a philosophy, a belief, a sentiment, or a response that unites these people despite all the physical differences. How was Stanton trying to highlight this connection in the pictures or the captions? How can we see this behind the people themselves? Briefly examine each picture and show us the clues and details that make each picture more similar than different. Since there are no page numbers, you can’t say “look at the picture on page 23”—you have to actually describe the picture and give us a mental image of the person you want us to see.

REQUIREMENTS

·        Choose ONE identity and THREE pictures, no more, no less. Focus your paper around the identity and describe the pictures so we can understand how you see them as all contributing to this idea (even if we don’t agree—we need to see why you see it).

·        Description and analysis: make sure you help us see what the people look like and what details you feel are most important for ‘reading’ their character. Compare the different images so we can see the connection.

·        RESPOND to the images: don’t write a lengthy introduction or make stuff up. Just tell me what you see and how the images connect. If it’s too short, you haven’t analyzed the images in sufficient detail.  

·        At least three pages, though you can do more.

·        DUE Thursday, January 30^th in class (bring the paper with you!)