Not covering the Civil War in your class? No problem. Here are a some ideas for using the show:

1. Is what we see in a photograph real? Can we regard a photographic image as truth? What is truth to you?

2. When we extract the information gleaned from a collection of images what narrative or story results?

3. What personal narratives (if any) do we bring to the action of viewing art? Does the story change with each viewer? Why or why not?

4. Who is an American? How do we define citizenship in context to active duty or engagement in the military?

5. Who is present in these images? Who is not? Why?

6. Given that race is a substantial issue in the Civil War, what can we learn from the images about it’s role in the military? Civilian life? Reenactment?

7. How do we estimate quantity and distance visually? When are these tools important? What context can we put this strategy in?

8. The who, what, how, when and where’s of constructing reality.

9. The 19th Century American landscape – as a location, as a study in ecology, as a discussion about preservation or as a backdrop.

10. The psychological and biological effects of war on soldiers and civilians…and perhaps even reenactors.

11. What is a living historian? Reenactor? What does one need prepare for such a role?

12. The geometry and science of pinhole photography.

13. Using art as a vehicle for foreign language study and application. Then – foreign language as a entry point to citizenship.

14. Is preserving national battlefields a necessity? Why or why not?

and of course:

15. Straight up visual literacy or VTS (Visual Thinking Strategies) exploration. An oldie but ALWAYS a goodie.

Visitors to the exhibition have explored:

Living history – 4^th grade
The necessity of land preservation – History/7^th grade
What is truth? – Humanities/6^th grade
The story of war- History/7^th grade
Reenacting vs. acting (preparing for the role) – Theater /5^th grade
Visual translation (vision impairment simulation) – French / 8^th grade
The history of photography – Art/US
War strategy and theory – History/US 

• •  Read Eric Lee’s wonderful article on Mr. Falco’s visit to Packer here.