Final Project: The Source

 

Historical Context:

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Read: 

I, Pencil, My Family Tree as Told to Leonard E. Read. The Freeman, 1958

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Contemporary Context:

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To understand the social and environmental impact of obtaining and processing the raw materials that make up our everyday items. In other words...all this stuff we use, eat, wear, apply, drive.... This knowledge will hopefully inform our choices of what items and manufacturers we wish to patronize out of respect for humanity and the health of the planet.

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The "I, Pencil" reading and the artists from Silent Beaches have inspired this assignment:

 

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Choose an everyday item and trace its material contents to their sources.

 

This project will be composed of an essay (@1200-1800 words) and a visual representation.

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Considerations for the essay:

 

What ingredients/raw materials is the item composed of?

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Where does each material come from?

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How is each material grown, manufactured, mined, etc.?

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Who is responsible for the growing, manufacturing, etc. of each material?

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Is the way in which material obtained socially and economically just?

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Is the material rare or endangered?

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What is the environmental impact of obtaining this material?

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How does the material get transported?

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Does the material come directly here or does it go elsewhere first?

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Is the material combined with and assembled elsewhere before arriving here?

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Where is it assembled and by whom? Under what circumstances?

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Considerations for the graphic: (you can create this in any program, including Wix)

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How can you show a clear path from raw material(s) to product?

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Should you combine photography and text?

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How much text is necessary?

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Can you use color, font, or scale for emphasis?

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