Wrapping things up here in South Korea this week as the Final Straw shooting schedule comes to an end and the universe-best assistant, Suhee Kang arranged a lecture for me at Sanmaeul High School.
A larger piece is coming soon to sociecity, but the short version is that this school is interesting for me on many levels. As a first impression, the setting is simply beautiful, on an island off the coast of South Korea, a few hours from Seoul.
Second — and probably most importantly — the school teaches some interesting ecological and philosophical values in addition to the government-mandated materials which all Korean students must learn.
All students take a course in agriculture, tending to their own small plots of land throughout the year, they also take part in a debate and philosophy course which encourages students to be vocal and explore ideas with each other.
My lecture this past Tuesday night is courtesy of another part of the school’s philosophy, bringing in new voices and opinions to enrich the student experience. During the 2-hour session, we explored multiple perspectives on and uses of imagery, from reporting to art, to social activism.
The lecture ended with a “portrait” session and interactive Pretty Little Masks demonstration.
Thank you to the students and faculty for the experience and their warm reception. Hopefully I’ll see them again soon!
