The photograph represents what her granddaughter, Stephanie Toschlog, is trying to tell people about the effects of Alzheimer’s disease. The photograph is one of many in her documentary that explains what a day is like for her grandmother. Others include a handwritten note on the washing machine—a reminder of how to do laundry—while another shows her in thought trying to give an answer.

 

Photo by Susanna Tanner

Jean Harper

Toschlog is one of 15 students enrolled in Jean Harper’s documentary course at Indiana University East in Richmond.

Harper offered the Writing Prose Nonfiction class through the Division of Humanities and Fine Arts. To assist in offering the course, she applied for and received an IU East Technology Advancement Teaching and Learning Award, a grant issued through the Information Technology Division.

The grant helped to purchase digital cameras—one for each student—and other necessary equipment to use for the course. When the course began in January, students were asked to think of a topic they wanted to photograph and detail in writing.

Now, with the end of the semester drawing to a close, the students will have an opportunity to display their work at the Richmond Art Museum. Their show, Documentary Work: Images and Stories from Indiana and Ohio, will be on display Sunday, April 24, through May 18. On April 24, a reception will begin at 4 p.m. and students will discuss their documentaries. The event will conclude at 6 p.m. The show will then move to the IU East Library to be displayed for the summer.

 

	Images and caption information from "Paulee Restaurant," by Courtney Hughes
	“It is a beautiful morning at the Paulee Restaurant. The sun is shining, and the temperature is the warmest it has been all year. Yet, the people that honor Paulee every morning with their presence are in a quiet mood.”
	"Jenny (above) seems a little off of her game today. She is still as swift as ever, but she hesitates a bit. There must be something on her mind. Everything seems somewhat subdued."

The subject matter students chose to document covers a variety of topics from the fun to the serious. A few of the topics include the story of a Connersville woman who was convicted of a felony, served her time and is now trying to put her life together, even though some find forgiveness hard to grant. She lives at the Genesis Shelter for abused women in Richmond and is working toward converting former churches for new use while contemplating what that might mean for the community and the congregations.

Sarah McClanahan chose to document the Winchester Bowling League, its connection to the past and its appeal to a new generation. Amanda Rodeheffer visited a class at Ansonia High School in Ohio, documenting English teacher Tara George. Every graduating senior passes through George’s class.

For Rodeheffer, passing through George’s class in high school is probably the reason why she is an English major today.

“I wanted to see if she is making an impact on the students lives today like the impact she had on mine,” she said.

Rodeheffer hopes the public viewing the documentaries will see the diversity in the projects and appreciate the amount of work students put into the projects. She also wants people to relate to what today’s teenagers have to accomplish.

“I want people to see just how much work high school seniors have to do to earn their diplomas,” Rodeheffer said. The experience has been enjoyable for her, and she has learned to see both sides of student life. “I can sympathize with the students on some things, and I can sympathize with the teacher on other things,” Rodeheffer said.

Through the class, students learned how to choose subject matter, how to approach people to document and how to approach the technical work such as using digital cameras, using software and creating Web sites to display their work.

Students also shared and critiqued their work with peers and attended workshops.

McClanahan, a senior arts and humanities major, said she has always felt comfortable with a camera and has used a digital camera on several university-sponsored trips. The course has taught her an important lesson. “I’m a talker. The biggest life lesson I have learned from this course is, sometimes you have to sit back and listen,” McClanahan said. “The stories people tell when they think no one is paying attention are remarkable.”

Documenting life at the bowling alley was her second idea for the class but she chose the project because she not only spends a lot of time there and people talked her into it, but she wanted to record the history of the lanes and keep a newer generation involved.

Harper said the students were absolutely thrilled to have their work showcased at the museum. She said by displaying the documentaries at the museum, students are doing more than just turning in the projects for a grade.

“What they are realizing is that their projects are about real people and real events; they will be out in the public. The stakes are higher. It’s about more than just a grade,” Harper said.