CIRCULAR STORIES
understanding circularity through an ethnographic approach to everyday objects and images
Choose an everyday object, an image, a symbol and take a photos of it. Look at the object as if it was something precious from the past, as if you saw it in a museum in 200 years or more.
You shall observe and analyze it by answering the following questions:
1. Describe the object: material, size, form, weight, is it new or used, etc. Try to be as precise as possible.
2. What is the object's or image's function or functions? If there are any specific circumstances to be mentioned about how, when and where it is used, describe it.
3. What does the object/image tell about its user(s), owner(s)?
sex, age, economic, cultural or ethnic background, etc. Describe also what your conclusion are based on, for instance if you compare it to other objects with similar functions. Try to find other objects/images used for the same purpose by other people, in other cultures, etc.
4. What does the object/image tell about the society, the era, or the geographical zone in which it is used?
5. If you didn't know what the object/image was used for what other functions could it have ?
This last question is the starting point for the up-cycling creative activity that is chosen correspondingly to the answers given of the question.
EXAMPLES
From sign to ornament
up-cycling images through digital creative techniques
From object to ornament
up-cycling images through arts & craft techniques
Skills to be exploited and improved through the method corresponding the specific needs:
The methods enables the participants to explore different understandings of circularity - such as circular skills, up-cycling materials or the circular transmission of knowledge - through the practice and playfulness while they acquire also divers skills. It can also be oriented in different directions by emphasizing different skills corresponding to the specific needs of different target groups.
1. linguistic skills - by giving detailed and precise descriptions about the objects, its functions, etc.
2. analytical skills - by learning a method to describe and analyze things objectively, inspired by scientific argumentation
3. skills in public speech and argumentation - the exercise can also be oriented in this direction as part of the creative activity
4. self-esteem and self-awareness - the complexity of the exercise make appeal to many different types of skills and knowledge. It is also a way to raise awareness about the existing skills by exploring the difference between what we think that we know and what we really know.
5. emotional management and negotiation skills - the exercise improves the capacity to think and analyze from a neutral and objective point of view without adding emotional content.
6.intercultural skills - one needs to think about multiple ways how and object/image might be used or interpreted
7. participation and co-creation - participants take part actively in deciding about the techniques to use, the outcomes and the message of their creations.
8. use of extra-linguistic skills, digital skills, creative skills, self representation skills, networking skills are enhanced by visual storytelling methods: