Baseline Interview
This assignment ties in with our ongoing discussion about our society’s shifting baseline with regard to the natural environment (our baseline declines when we take worsening conditions as normal, which typically happens with each new generation).
For the assignment you will interview a grandparent, or someone preferably 2 generations older than you are. You may have a chance to speak with an elderly family member over the weekend, by phone, WhatsApp, Zoom or the like.
First ask the person about his or her childhood experiences of nature, in the same way that you shared your own early memories of being in nature during Workshop #1. Then ask the same person what has changed and what is missing from the landscape of their youth. Write down your notes and reflections in your sketchbook/journal. You will share the stories with your classmates in Canvas Discussions. These firsthand accounts will enrich the reading which is also due on April 6th, about Maya Lin’s eco-art project entitled What is Missing? You may want to read this text before conducting your own interview. It will provide some context and guidelines.