Visual Arts Careers
Visual Arts Careers (1:38)
“There’s a huge opportunity for girls who want to be a producer, director, a writer. In this entertainment industry, there’s not enough girls out there. And I think the voices of young women need to be heard.”
Role models in order of appearance: Chantel Paul, Jen Mergel, Katie Noble, June Grant, Kim Williams, Renee Hill-Sweet, Eileen Rivera, and Julie Dash.
1) Photographers and photo curators (people who care for photographs) say that a photograph can inspire a story. How can a photograph help inspire a story? Imagine you have a photo of a person holding a balloon in a thunderstorm. What questions could you ask and answer about the photo that might inspire a story?
2) The museum art curator said that artwork can tell a story. How can one or more works of art tell a story? Tell about a work of art or an art show you have seen in a museum, in your school, in your community, or on the internet that helped to tell one or more stories.
3) The film producer/writer said that young women should consider careers in television and film because a lot of times our voices, women’s authentic voices, aren’t heard. What is an “authentic voice?” If more women had careers in the film industry, how would that make certain that
women’s authentic voices would be heard?
4) The assistant director said that there are a lot of different visual arts careers that take place behind the camera. She also said that’s where a lot of the creative control takes place. Careers that take place in front of the camera are called performing arts careers. These may include singers, dancers, actors and anyone who entertains an audience. What visual arts careers take place behind the camera? Why are we more familiar with those careers that take place in front of the camera than the ones that take place behind the camera? If creativity takes place both in front of the camera and behind the camera, which career type would you prefer and why?
5) The same assistant director talked about the importance of having “creative control” behind the camera. What do you think she meant by creative control? Explain. Why is it desirable to have creative control when working on an artistic project?
6) In the video, the production strategist said that there is huge opportunity for girls who want to be a director, a producer, or a writer in the entertainment industry. A film is another word for a movie, a television show, or a video. What is the job of a film director? What is the job of a film producer? Tell why you would or would not enjoy directing or producing a film.
7) A career in visual arts gives you the opportunity to tell stories from a girl’s or a woman’s point of view. Why is it important to share female points of view? Why is a girl or a woman the best one to bring this point of view to viewers?
There’s something incredible to me about that moment when you look at a photograph and you connect with it because it reminds you of something that you know about, or a person that you know.
I realized I loved the idea of making an exhibition, of telling a story through the presentation of artwork.
I like an element of life, of human emotion, or signs that people have been there. Maybe it’s not an image that focuses on people. But maybe in the image, you can tell that there’s been life there.
There’s no greater thrill than walking down the street and seeing your project, and know that it will be there for a long time, and being able to say to someone, “That’s my building.” Or, “I worked on it.”
Women should consider a career in television and film, because a lot of times our voices, our authentic voices, aren’t heard.
There are a lot of different professions that go on behind the camera. There are a lot of very powerful things that happen there. And that’s where a lot of the creative control is.
There’s a huge opportunity for girls who want to be a producer, director, a writer. In this entertainment industry, there’s not enough girls out there. And I think the voices of young women need to be heard.
It’s like being a magician. You’re able to take an idea from script to screen, and you’re able to see it come to life. It’s like making your fantasies come true.
Independent Learning Guide: This all-purpose guide can be used by educators, parents, and mentors to jumpstart a lively discussion about careers in the visual arts.
Classroom Lesson Plan: This step-by-step lesson plan is available to guide a more in-depth “before, during, and after” learning experience when viewing the video with students. This lesson plan is also suitable for use in after-school programs and other educational settings.
Use Empowerment Activities as a fun way to reinforce the video topic and build community with your students.
Related Empowerment Activities:
Fun Page Activity: Discover the visual artist in you with an activity that lets you use pictures to tell stories!