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12. Read the Image

This activity can be carried out in a classroom, at school, or in a museum.

Target group: High school students, university students

Duration: 30 min.

Group size: 10 – 30 people

Photo: Michael E/Wikimedia Commons

Activity objective

To demonstrate how incomplete information and personal biases can lead to different interpretations of the same events

Expected learning results

The participants:

  • recognize the importance of obtaining complete information to interpret particular events or people’s behavior;
  • develop discussion skills, learn to listen to one another, and present their arguments; 
  • realize that our understanding of events and people is shaped by the information we have and by our own perspectives.

Description of the activity

Preparation

Choose a photograph that relates to the events from the Revolution on Granite, the Orange Revolution, or the Revolution of Dignity (examples of suitable images are provided in the Appendix).

Cut the picture into two pieces in such a way that, separately, each half tells a story, but which, when put together, gives you a different story (see the examples marked with red lines in the appendix).

Stick the two halves to separate sheets of paper and prepare enough copies for all participants (one copy of each half per participant or per group, depending on how you plan to run the activity).

The activity can be done individually or in groups. We recommend working in groups of 3–5 participants. Make sure each participant has paper and a pen.

Scenario

Tell the participants that they will see the first half of the photograph and that they must write down what they think is happening, who the people in the image are, where the events are taking place, and mention any other details they see. If your audience would benefit from a more structured task, you may provide a narrative framework (see the suggested outline below).

Later, give each group the first half of the photograph (labeled 1 in the examples) and ask them to make up a story based on what they see. Allow about 5 minutes for this task.

Ask each group to read their story aloud.

Then give out the second half of the photograph and ask participants to review their initial interpretation in light of the new information. They must write a revised version of their story, following the same structure as before.

Story/description writing prompts

  • What do you think is happening in the picture?
  • Who are the people in the picture?
  • Where are they?
  • What are they doing?
  • Why are they there?
  • When do you think these events are taking place?
  • Give the picture a title.

Reflection

  1. Why did you imagine certain things about the photograph rather than others?
  2. How did your interpretation of the image change after you saw the complete picture?
  3. Did different participants or groups interpret the photograph differently, either before or after seeing the whole picture? If so, why do you think that happened?
  4. Based on the first part of the photograph alone, would you have supported the people you saw? Why or why not?
  5. How would you evaluate the behavior and intentions of the people in the photo after seeing the complete picture?
  6. In real life, when you see only part of the whole, for example, a quote taken out of context or a short clip from a longer video, do you still try to interpret it, or do you look for additional information before forming an opinion?
  7. When you receive new information, are you willing to revise your opinion, or do you tend to stick to your original view? Why?
  8. Why do you think it can be difficult to admit that we have changed our minds?

Tips for teachers/ educators

You can choose other images that are better suited to your target audience. We also recommend that you view the following supplementary materials provided by the Maidan Museum:

  1. Dignity and Freedom Day. Information and educational materials: https://www.maidanmuseum.org/uk/node/3174 
  2. The First Maidan: People and Events. A Brief Guide: https://omeka.nibu.kyiv.ua/s/nibu/item/6618#?c=0&m=0&s=0&cv=0

Required materials

  • A photograph or drawing related to the chosen topic (see the appendix).
  • Copies of the selected images for all participants, depending on whether the activity is conducted individually or in groups. 
  • Paper, pens.
  • You can print out the story-writing prompts (as many copies as there are photos), display them as a slide, or write them on a flipchart.

Kateryna Romanova, researcher, National Memorial Complex of the Heroes of the Heavenly Hundred – Museum of the Revolution of Dignity.

This activity is based on the “Every Picture Tells a Story” activity in All Different All Equal Education Pack of the Council of Europe (2016). See https://wergelandcentre.org/resources/all-different-all-equal/

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