What Do You Believe?

“Brie” by Henri Cartier-Bresson, June 1968, Brie, France
Woman and Dog on Beach, Far Rockaway, New York, ca. 1920
Unknown Artist, American School
Gelatin silver print


What do you believe in? This is as Allison ( 2006) notes, is a simple if difficult invitation: Write a few hundred words expressing the core principles that guide your life- your personal credo.'

When you visit the NPRsite you can read hundreds of essays from people expressing what the believe in. Look at the links to the previous essays and note how many of the writers have made their essays personal. They have taken us into the experience that underlies the belief: they show us the moment and then tell us what they learned. Read :

• twelve year old Macklin Levine's : The Power of the Beatles
• Jake Hovenden's: Inner strength From Desperate Times
• Muhammed Ali's: I Am Still the Greatest
• Lisa Sandin: I Am Not My Body
• Terry Awal: Finding the Strength To Fight On
• Elvia Bautista: Remembering All the Boys
• Tarick McClain (kindergarten student): Thirty Things I Believe
  

You can use the This I Believe database to search by theme or by age of writer. Read as many as you can to become immersed in the style. How do they start their essay? How do they conclude? What example do they use to give life to their belief?

Look in your pack to find Tips for Writing
Use this as guide. Also check the page Lesson 6: How Do I Support My Personal Essay?This gives some suggestions. Then read more essays noting these devices when they occur.

I chose Henri Cartier-Bresson's image 'Brie' for this particular post to indicate the journey involved in reaching personal beliefs. As we have discussed these writings focus on small pieces of your life that have shaped a belief, 'moments that teach us who we are'(This I Believe). Cartier-Bresson's photo for me symbolizes the road, the experiences or the journey we make in life.

I also included another photo I found while browsing in the Metropolitan Museum of Art( great gallery to visit on-line and if you are ever in New York!). When you read Macklin Levine's essay above the connection will be obvious. I loved this photo however with the woman trying to restrain the dog and the lunging curiosity of the dog as he makes for the anonymous photographer. It appears almost as if the dog is reaching out through time to us, the viewer!



Reference:
http://kentbeatty.com/2008/10/12/great-photographers-henri-cartier-bresson/