Pictorial Essay – Cultures of the World

1. Pictorial Essay –Cultures of the World By Claire Condro, Maggie Emerson, and Edward Klein

2. Title image Pictorial essay will explore the differences and similarities between various world cultures Specifically 3 places – Paris, London, and Peru Compare and contrast culture, language, symbols/practices

3. Image 1 – Street Signs This image will compare and contrast the common street signs of various cities by juxtaposing signs with synonymous meanings. Approximately 6 pictures will appear overlapping one another with blurred dividing edges, with images grouped by meaning rather than culture. The recognizable American equivalent will also be incorporated as a reference point to help visualize the variation in cultures. I.e. Street Signs in Peru – two green street signs crossing with white lettering in Spanish stating the street name and street number Example basic images include:

4. Image 2 – Public Transportation This image will compare and contrast public transportation in the 3 chosen cultures. It will include a map of the world as a background, with buses, cars, and subway systems routed around their specific locations. I.e. Public Transportation in Peru - picture of a micro cruising down a street  with the alternative: a person riding a llama Example basic images include:

5. Image 3 – Schools and Education This is image will contrast the very different perspectives that each culture has towards education and schooling. It will include illustrations of both school buildings and the children educated within – the buildings and students within will be distinctly separated by dividing lines, in order to show the vastly different resources and attention available to the youth of different cultures in public school. The different images of education will be arranged to look like a school district map, with district dividing lines acting as the separation between the countries. Examples include:

6. Image 4 - Food This image will include contrasting “classic” food dishes from the various cultures. It will show a dinner table set with 3 place settings – one for each culture, with the meal presented at the appropriate setting. The simple white tablecloth and wooden table/chairs will allow the prominence of each cultural setting to stand out on the table. I.e. Peruvian food: plate of  tamales  wrapped in banana leaves Example basic images include:

7. Image 5 – People This image will compare and contrast the people of various cultures by placing them together in the same context. The people will be placed walking down a busy street, with elements from their own cultures – tourism in London and Paris, street carts in Peru. The street will change from cobblestone to paved to dirt/rock-covered road along them way to denote cultural differences; however, the people will all be walking in the same direction. I.e. Peruvian education: a book open with pictures of Incan to modern Peru, kind of like a reading rainbow effect Example basic images include: