The Dance

The Dance

Lynda and Tom had met three years ago in junior high when their two small town elementary schools combined for their junior high and high school studies. Up until then, Lynda had seen the same classmates since kindergarten. The same bratty boys had been pulling her hair and dropping worms down her shirt for years so they were the furthest from attractive in her mind. That fateful day in September of grade seven for Lynda, Tom walked in and that was it. Love at first site.

For Lynda and Tom their high school prom had finally arrived. It was never a question that they would be each others date, I mean, come on, they had been together since junior high! Love at first SIGHT! Lynda had been designing her dress for the last year, and telling Tom what tuxedo she would like to see him in. All was set except for one thing that would throw everything for a loop that would be announced at dinner.

“Hi Tom, I can’t wait for dinner tonight I made my Mom’s famous spaghetti” said Lynda bright eyed and bushy tailed as Tom entered the room. “Hey Lynda, I can’t wait” Tom replied before giving her a peck on the cheek. For Lynda, this was the night. This was the night that she was to profess her love for Tom and let him know that she was finally ready. Tom had never pushed her beyond making out in her bedroom, and some heavy petting but she felt like this was the next step. Would her mother approve? Not likely, but Lynda saw herself as modern day woman at 17 years old and confident that she wanted to make her own decision.

Now as for Tom, he had a different bit of news to announce. “Lynda, please sit” he said in a nervous tone as he gestured to the couch. “I’ve got something I need to share with you Lynda” said Tom. “Oh so do I!” said Lynda, “but you go first honey, I think my news might be a little distracting if I go first”. Lynda giggled. “Oh... Ok, ummm I guess I’ll go first then”. Tom started to go white. This is something he should have brought up years ago but this is probably one of the most terrifying things to share in a small town. “Ok, well Lynda, I love you very much, and I’ll still love you very much no matter what...”. Lynda’s eyes started to well up. “How could you do this to me just before prom! You’re such an asshole!”. Lynda ran to the washroom in tears and slammed the door behind her with more force that she had ever exerted in her life. Dust flew off the door frame and finally settled in front of Tom as he stopped in front of the door.

“Lynda, it’s not what you think... Trust me, it’s not what you think”. Although not positive, Tom really just wanted to grab her attention long enough to tell her what he had been waiting to all these years. “What do you mean it’s not what I think!?, what else could it be when you tell me something like I love you and I’ll still love you”. Lynda was sobbing heavily so Tom sat outside the washroom until he could hear that she had settled down a bit. “Ok Lynda, I’m just going to tell you, I hope you understand, but if you don’t, it’s ok because like I said I will still love you no matter what... I... I’m... gay...”.

Silence. Not one sound uttered between the two for what felt like forever, but was really about five minutes. “I.. Wha.. Um.” Lynda was struggling to articulate what she was feeling because he didn’t exactly understand what she was feeling herself. “Lynda, it’s still me, the same Tom from before, just a more honest Tom”. A sigh of relief sounded as Tom breathed in and out after that statement.

It was only two weeks till prom and it took a week before Lynda called Tom. “Tom, I’m so sorry for my reaction, and well, lack of reaction but either way you were breaking up with me, and you know how people are in this town about that kind of thing”. “Yes, I know, more than anyone I know” Tom said in a quiet soft voice. “Tom, it’s ok. I still love you, but...well prom. What happens to prom?”. Tom laughed lightly “Oh Lynda...”. “What!?, that’s a perfectly valid question Tom!”. “Lynda, just because I came out, doesn’t mean I already have a boyfriend!”. They both chuckled and shook their heads. “Listen, I still want to take you to prom, wear the tuxedo you’ve chosen for me, and dance with you until the sun comes up”. A single tear fell down Lynda’s face, and she ended their talk with “Yes, that sounds perfect”.

Prom was perfect. They did everything Tom described, dressed in Lynda’s selections and dancing till the sun came up. The great thing about dancing is that you can be loving, intimate, and have fun without revealing anything to the world. Did anyone know what Tom had told Lynda only two weeks before? Secretly picking out attractive men in the room that they would set each other up with if they could as they spun around the room, this was only the beginning of a new relationship for Tom and Lynda.

What I love is the romance of an empty dance floor at the end of the night. The energy coming from that floor. Secrets whispered between friends and couples as they shuffle around the floor knowing their voices are masked by the music wrapping around the room. Tom and Lynda would have many other dances in their lives, but none as memorable as that one.

Jennifer Hall.

Addendum:

On November 17th we will work through a creative writing assignment that will aid in your narrative explorations for the assignment, In the Library (Scene of the Crime). You are asked to compose a short narrative (min 1000 words) that will give a context for the images to be presented for your assignment. The narrative will begin prior to the images you are producing and will present the environment, climate, context, style, and period of your shot. The narrative will be established and characters will be introduced. This short narrative will act as an outline to a revised short story (min 250 words) which will ultimately be included with your final photographic image(s) and final submission on December 1st.

You will be writing your narrative in groups of two, but no more than three people. Each member is responsible for his or her own narrative however, you are asked to work collaboratively to develop your narrative (basically "bounce" ideas off one another). Each member will be required to include a minimum of 20 images culled from various sources that will aid in the visualization of the narrative and ultimately be reflected in your final photographs. The 20 images will be submitted digitally as source material as an attachment with the final work.

Your narrative and images will be due by the end of the day on the 17th. Please email them to me at justin.waddell@acad.ca

When submitting your final photograph(s) on December 1st, you are to include a fully revised/edited short story (min 250 words) and source images with your submission. You are asked to transfer your images to the ACAD server during class on the 1st.  We will be printing the images in class (pending approval from Dean) as a two-page spread on 11"x16" paper (two facing 8"x11" pages). I would like to also produce a .pdf document of all your collected writings and images and available for download from the ACAD Photo Blog.

In the Library (Scene of the Crime)

Assigned:                  November. 10, 2010.

Open Studio:                  November. 17, 2010.

Due Date:                  December. 1, 2010 (3 weeks).

Description:

With In the Library (Scene of the Crime) you will respond to objects within a space. Consider the object as an index (ie. It “points to something”) and is taking part of a discourse with the viewer (ie. communication). The complexity of the communication will be factored by the environment and context in which it is represented. For example, an apple in a basket with other apples reads one way, and an apple in a raging fire means another. Another example may be an apple at it’s ripest compared to an apple rotting.

Select an object and environment for its symbolic, iconic, or mythic meanings. Blur, focus, or distort those possible meanings with formal concerns such as lighting, aperture, focal range, filters, or other objects and environments, contexts, etc…

Concept and Structure:

After reading The Exhaustion of Space at the Scene of the Crime by Anthony Vidler, you are asked to consider objects and space as being part of a larger narrative.This project was derived in part from location shoots for films, crime-scene documentation, photo-journalism, and filmic montages. Persons returned to a location to document an event in the past tense… the resulting images were equal parts documentary, (auto)-biographical, deadpan, humorous, and entirely serious.

Objectives:

·       To respond to primary conceptions of actual objects vs. final photographic work.

·       To consider blocking and staging of an image.

·       To select objects and environments that the subjects can interact with (lighting, colour, sound, textures, etc).

·       To challenge the possibilities of narrative.

Process:

·       We will be discussing the text, The Exhaustion of Space at the Scene of the Crime by Anthony Vidler, on November  10^th.

·       During the afternoon of November, 10^th you are to begin to visualize your shoot by brainstorming, sketching, researching, and planning your schedule. The instructor will be available to meet and discuss your ideas with you.

·       Studio time will be provided on November 17^th. You are required to work in the studios at ACAD on the 17^th unless you have prior approval from the instructor.

·       There will be additional expectations placed for the presentation of preliminary drawings and research. More information will be provided by the instructor before the second week.

·       Booking of equipment and studio times are the responsibility of the student.

·       You can work in groups to assist one another but each member of the group will have to produce one unique work for submission.

Christina

Natasha's.

Kaitlynn's Photo

Kristen's Images