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Helping photographs to speak
through simple journalling techniques
Sadly many of stuff our photographs away in drawers and
shoeboxes. Whilst that's not so important for more recent
photographs it's bad news for those that tell of our past. Before
you forget, and before others forget, dig them out and add your stories.
When you work with those with fading or daily changing memories then
you'll know how difficult it is for people to establish a sense of
self, and a sense of place through photographs.
Photographs of significant people can have little meaning or
relevance. Each time you come upon them can be like the first
time.
Whilst this is great news in some ways (as it means you can approach
each conversation anew) it can seem like you're going over old
ground. What's really important is to gather, and record
essential information, before its too late.
We've all had family members 'pass on' before we've had a chance to
gain, or verify information. This can establish those family
'folklore' stories, where things can become more and more fanciful over
time. It also, sadly, can add to those 'black sheep' stories,
where individuals somehow have their credibility changed by those of
successive generations.
Fortunately, you can stop this from starting, if you are able to record
your own, or others' details in some way.
So what do you start with?
Well, if you're working with those who have memory impairment then the
most obvious place to start is with what they know and can recall and
what they are most willing to share.
That may be information about parents or grandparents. Or perhaps
it may even mean starting with themselves, or their brothers or sisters.
So how to go about it?
Well here we can take a few lessons from Journalling techniques
practised by those doing Memory Albums or Scrapbooking.
We know from research that the memories that stay with us the best are
those that have the greatest impact. That is those that touch a
nerve. Perhaps we have sort of emotional response to the event or
the person. Perhaps the occasion was particularly important for
us, or it may have been a conversation and words said at this event
that made a huge difference to how we thought about something or
someone.
So in being able to access these memories we need to know what open
questions to ask. Using the right questions, together with an
encouraging approach will help.
Use questions that focus on
As you get information, record it sensitively, and in agreement.
You may only have an opportunity to put these into bullet points,
but there may a chance to take things further and to write a brief few
lines that 'tells' the story of the photograph. Don't be tempted
to add your interpretation of photographs, because this can affect the
recall of others. It may even take them down a different path than the
one they were engaged on. Remember, the more you do this kind of
linking or association, the stronger these memory links or 'engrams'
will become.
It's not so vital in the early stages to get the correct spellings or
dates down. These things can always be confirmed through someone
else -( perhaps another family member), with a greater ability to
recall. In checking details, bear in mind that this action tells
the person you are working with that you don't trust the information
that they have shared. If that's an issue, consider how you will
receive and react to personal stories.
Remember that the person you are working with is telling their story
(as they see it or recall it) and asking another family member to
verify, or add to information be disrespectful for the story telling.
Lastly, before sharing any information with a larger audience, do check
that you have permission. Data protection and confidentiality
issues must be considered when dealing with personal information. And
vulnerable individuals.
=====================================================
Geraldine Jozefiak is passionate about
crafts and their place in
education.
Be part of raising standards in teaching and learning
by using the best possible craft instruction.
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