Hybrid essay ideas
Since I am a journalism major, I woUld love to stick to interviewing people and making a story out of it. About two days ago I met a guy on the train, he is from Kazakhstan, he lives in Newark and he works on 42 street. He paints pictures, no, he “sprays”pictures. His dream is to go to Baruch college someday. He is trying so hard tobuild his future. I want to meet him again and ask him to tell me his story, maybe I will find more conflict. I just imagine the visuals, they will be just awesome. I also want to try thetechnique that was used in “Ode to every thing”, so-called video made of many pictures, which is somewhere in the middle between pictures and video.
I could also write more about my experience at the hospital. Though it was the worst two weeks of my life in the States, I still have a lot of funny moments to mention and could make this essay not only hard to read and “oh my God what she went through type of an essay, but one having positive side.
Here I could use some of my pictures and I guess audio, record my friends who came to support me.
3 responses so far
Hi Zhanna,
I think that both of your ideas could turn out really great, but personally I like your first idea a bit better because that could be more fun to do. This guy that you met sounds like an interesting character, and I’m already curious to know more about him. I can already see it as a sort of journalistic profile piece, and since you mentioned that you wanted to use pictures and video, you could definitely incorporate shots of him at work, or of him “spraying” pictures.
If you decide to go with your second idea, I can see this being a more heart-felt and touching piece. Pictures could definitely complement this essay well. And interviewing the people who helped you during that time sounds like a nice option, but I feel like your essay could probably be just as powerful, even without their input.
-Nakeisha
Hi Zhanna,
I like the idea of interviewing the guy and finding out more about his life and dreams. It would be cool if you took a picture of one of his “paintings” and used that as backdrop to your essay. There’s a story behind every piece of art, getting the artists’ point of view would be a great bonus to your story.
Your second idea is a good one also. I agree with Nakiesha, it will definitely be more heartfelt.If it makes people think of their own experience with being hospitalized or having a loved one in that position, it is instantly relatable.
I look forward to reading your essay.
-Cass
I agree with the previous sentiments. I think the first option can be more interesting and more original because it allows for two narratives to converge, both yours and the man you had met on the train. I like the idea of making your essay using “mixed media” and think it can really turn out very well.
-Rebecca