Place History
In this writing assignment, you have the option to use nonfiction, memoir, or fictional modes of narrative to provide a history of a place that is of general interest (somewhere you know nothing about) or personal meaning (somewhere you have lived or visited). Choose a place that is specific and rooted in ecological complexity. For example, if you were interested in writing something about New York City, you would want to narrow this down to a specific location, such as one of its many parks or waterways.
You should begin from a photographic image of that place, one that you've found online or taken yourself. Write two to four paragraphs of what the image portrays. Building from your description of the place, contextualize further to provide a history of what is depicted. Treat this as an exercise in straight exposition, not written from a character’s point of view but rather the place as the primary point of view. Think about and extrapolate upon the possible complexities of the place depicted in the image—the persons, objects, lifeforms, species that inhabit it over time, the ecological and historical factors that have shaped this place—and create a more extensive history for your selected image that showcases it in the context of different time periods:
You may need to do some research to help with building the contexts and history of your selected place; be sure to cite all sources where appropriate and at the end of your story with links. Narratives may be any length but at least a minimum of 2,000 words. When you post the narrative to your website, be sure to include the photographic image that you used to begin the story. You might also want to post more images of this place to accompany your narrative. Make sure the formatting of text and images is clear and organized, and don't forget to submit a copy to the Pilot dropbox by the deadline, Sunday, Nov 1 (11:59 pm).
*Adapted from Jeff VanderMeer, “Found History: Everything’s Personal…And Everything Is Story” (Wonderbook).
You should begin from a photographic image of that place, one that you've found online or taken yourself. Write two to four paragraphs of what the image portrays. Building from your description of the place, contextualize further to provide a history of what is depicted. Treat this as an exercise in straight exposition, not written from a character’s point of view but rather the place as the primary point of view. Think about and extrapolate upon the possible complexities of the place depicted in the image—the persons, objects, lifeforms, species that inhabit it over time, the ecological and historical factors that have shaped this place—and create a more extensive history for your selected image that showcases it in the context of different time periods:
- How would things be different before or after the photograph was taken?
- What kinds of layers are built up and/or torn down?
- Who or what is forgotten and/or remembered?
- What kinds of events and/or encounters have occurred in this place?
- How has the landscape or ecology changed as a result of these events/encounters?
You may need to do some research to help with building the contexts and history of your selected place; be sure to cite all sources where appropriate and at the end of your story with links. Narratives may be any length but at least a minimum of 2,000 words. When you post the narrative to your website, be sure to include the photographic image that you used to begin the story. You might also want to post more images of this place to accompany your narrative. Make sure the formatting of text and images is clear and organized, and don't forget to submit a copy to the Pilot dropbox by the deadline, Sunday, Nov 1 (11:59 pm).
*Adapted from Jeff VanderMeer, “Found History: Everything’s Personal…And Everything Is Story” (Wonderbook).
