Young answering "What is the meaning of Life?"

For the first unit of the course Journalism, we studied photojournalism and critical thinking behind the photo. We looked at many examples, we looked at a picture of a girl in Africa malnourished and how powerful the picture was when it impacted people. We also talked about the journalist who takes the pictures, what they go through, how their job is dangerous and how they can't do anything to help the people when they are taking the pictures. In our FE, we went to Weinberg Newton Gallery and we saw an exhibition called "Killing Season in Chicago." The exhibition contain pictures of killings on Chicago, most of the killings involved guns and some pictures were repeated to show how many people died in that spot. The pictures didn't have people in them because the photographer wanted to show places you might know and didn't know there was a killing there. For our action project, we interviewed someone on their opinion on, "What is the Meaning of Life." I chose to interview my cousins because of their young age range. During this project I had difficulty with putting everything together for the final product and I am proud of my interviews. 

                                                                                       

Life is a precious gift that everyone has, but people don’t know how to describe it. The meaning of life can have many perspectives depending on who you ask. Trying to answer the question, “What is the meaning of life?” is very philosophical because there is no right or wrong answer. To find out what other people's answers are for this question I interviewed my cousins J, M and X on Tuesday, September 27, 2016 and interviewed them at their house. I chose my cousins because they are a wide range of ages, and I wanted to see their perspectives on the main question “What is the meaning of life?” M is 14 years old; J is 11 years old, and X is 8 years old. I wanted to see how different ages approach this question and how they arrived at their conclusions.

Once I got to their house, I sat with J first I gave her some background information, without telling her the main question. I didn't tell her the question because I wanted it to be spontaneous and see what kind of responds comes up. I felt like if I told her beforehand then she would have overthink it and give me an answer that she thinks I want to hear instead of giving her sincere answer. I did the same with M and X.

KIS. M picture. 2016

This is M's picture, for his picture he wanted on a wall and I agreed because that way I could focus the camera on his face, the lighting was perfect because it reflected off the wall and it allowed me to take a clear picture of him. The dark colors of his clothes also helped so there could be a balance in colors because if he was wearing light colors then that picture would have been to bright. 

KIS. J picture. 2016.

For J's picture she didn't know what do do or how to pose because she is camera shy. I saw her homework in her room and suggested to do her homework while I take the picture, she agreed. I suggested her doing her homework because it shows what she does everyday, which is do home work and also she didn't have to look at the camera so that worked for her too. In taking this shot it was hard to get the angle for her because it was too wide and many things around her, I didn't want other things to take away the focus of her. Also the lighting was good because in the position she is in you can still see her face instead of shadow.  

KIS. X picture. 2016.

For X's picture it was a little more difficult because she had so many ideas on what she should be doing, what she should wear and how she should pose when taking the picture. After many takes with different backgrounds, clothes and props, she allowed me to use this picture. In taking this picture the light was a little different because it is more yellow and it made her look a little dark, but it worked out because her face still shows. Also the space was good because there wasn't that many things around so the picture focuses on her. 

Interview transcript of the M, J and X.

Q: In your opinion what is the Meaning of Life?
A:
M- The meaning of life is when you live with your family and people that care about you. You take care of them and they take care of you and you live as one.
J- Meaning of life is when you get to live.
X- Fun, also to be with your family and live life.

Q: What do you mean you get to live?
A: J- Like when you’re born. Life is something not a lot of people get to have like when babies die in their mom stomach or people die before they have a babie. Life is really special practically because not a lot of people get to live.

Q: What happens to the people who didn’t have family or friends?
A: M- Well, they have the people that surrounds them, the people that have been there with them through all their problems and they helped the person through everything.

Q: What’s another reason on why life is special?
A: J- Because when you die it’s not the same thing as when you are living, you don’t have your same family members or the people that you care about.

Q: If I asked you this question when you were younger do you think you would have said the same thing? What do you think you would have said?
A:
M- Probably not, I would have said that life is like when you are breathing and your heart is beating. I would have said something like google's definition wouldn't be the same as your own definition.
J- No, I would have said, my mommy gave me life.

Q: If I asked you this question in the future do you think you would answer the same way?
A: X- Life can be hard and tough, but you can get through it and it’s going to be awesome once you finish studying and school. There is also some hard things that you need to understand.

Q: Do you think that your definition of life applies to everybody no matter their race, religion or anything like that?
A:Yeah because everyone has someone who they care about or that cares about them so it applies to everyone.

Q: Have you been in a situation that made you realize the meaning of life?
A:
M- Well I guess my own experiences with my family, so that gave me the definition because I spend a lot of time with them, they are really important to me and they are part of my life.
J- I made me realize it when I hear a bunch of stories when their babies die inside of their stomach and that's just sad because not a lot of people get to live.
X- I don’t know I guess I just thought about it really good. Life is hard, but most of the parts are really fun to do and you know I think what me me think about it was that we always go to places.

Q: Do you think your definition of life still applies to you if you didn’t have your family? Like if you were one of those kids who are out in the streets the whole time.
A: 

M- I still think so because even though they get separated or they go into the streets they will always going to remember their families and even if you don't want to care about them you will always going to have a feeling that you need to make sure they are ok. I will apply to all those people too.
X- No, because they don’t have family and they don’t go places. Loneliness, but trying their best to move on with their life.

Q: Where do you hear these stories?
A: J- One of the stories I hear in People’s Music School. The other one my mom told me that my aunts baby died and I felt sad because that would have been not fair. That hurts people when their baby dies and you could commit suicide or something like that.

Q:You mention school and studies. That means that part of life is having an education? Why?

A: X- So then you can learn, be smart, you won’t be living on the streets and you can have a good job.

Thank you for letting me interview and being open to answer my questions.
A: M, J, X - You’re welcome.

At the end of these interviews, I took the time to actually let their answers sink in and realize what they said. The way they answers was very different and how they approached the questions in different angles. M approached it from the importance of family and friends perspective. J approached it as appreciating life and how special it is. X approached it as fun and going to exciting places with family. The foundation for their answers and that they always kept in mind was family and how it important it is because they kept mentioning it. I was surprised on how M answered my questions on certain words he said without repeating himself too much. I was surprised on J’s perspective on life and what kinds of stories kids her age hear. I was surprised at X’s mentioning education and how important it is especially at a young age.