Browsing by Author "McCarty, Lisa"

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Open Access
Beyond the Diagnosis: A Photographic Inquiry of Chronic Illness
(2017-05-23) Monroe, Alexandra
The old adage for authors is to ‘write what you know,’ and I believe the same can be said for any other artistic medium. I was diagnosed with Irritable Bowel Syndrome about four years ago and it has been a life-altering experience for me. I now have to shape the rest of my life around the management of a medical condition that forces me to locate the nearest bathroom whenever I go somewhere new, carry medication with me at all times, and cook everything I consume. I have struggled with this new way of life, and wanted to help remove stigma while building connections with others. It finally occurred to me that I could use my passion for photography to document the experiences and stories of myself and others with chronic illness. The main portion of this project is a website, www.monroephotos.com, that shows photographs I made with each individual as well as a portion of the story behind their illness. I struggled to give a name to this project but I ultimately decided on Beyond the Diagnosis because it implies that there is a story to tell after a diagnosis of chronic illness, and that an authentic life can be lived in the face of illness. And, as I will outline in the paper component of this project, there is real world evidence and scholarship that examines the need for a reclaiming of the self after facing a life-altering diagnosis. The project provides a window into the lives of five survivors of chronic illness beyond what is detailed in their patient charts – they are more than their diagnosis. With the contributions of my collaborators- Kevin, Eleri, Sam and Alex, as well as my own story- the website and paper explore the ways in which chronic illnesses impact the daily lives of each participant.
Open Access
Intersection of Love and War: An Experimental Photographic Memoir
(2018-04-01) Hissong, Courtney
Intersection of Love and War is a combination of my words and images into a body of work that reflects my experience as a woman challenging traditional military expectations, regulations and salutations. I explore whether a civilian spouse can maintain a separate, productive identity while supporting a life partner and Soldier dedicated to the United States military, its order and traditions. I question this third party’s constant presence within my marriage and I examine how these hurdles, boundaries and ramifications effect our relationship. As the self-proclaimed family historian, I use my own documented material, photographs, videos, emails and letters, to illustrate my changing lifestyle as I struggle to understand the dynamics of military relationships. I have captured our achievements and missteps, solo trips and vacations with the kids, our charitable work and each reassignment. I have analyzed and scrutinized the decisions I make, while witnessing how other couples cope with a constant third party, “Army mistress”, within the marriage. This is my story of an accidental meeting and intentional marriage, the intersection of two contrasting ways of life. This photographic memoir is the culmination of my thoughts, feelings, experiences, and how I have handled or resisted the transitions along the way. Through my perspective, introspection and observation I share my journey, the roads I have taken, in my transition from unattached civilian to military spouse.
Open Access
St.Wilfrid's Church: Fragments of the Soul of an Urban Church
(2019-05-22) Fanjul, Stephanie
This is a personal chronicle about a small stone church in Camden, New Jersey. St. Wilfrid’s Episcopal Church has survived de-industrialization, corruption, racist policies, and apathy over its one hundred-thirty-three years. The vulnerability and resiliency of the church enticed me into its sphere and motivated me to join the effort to preserve it. The pure beauty of the sanctuary touched me, and I was saddened to think it might be lost. I wanted to honor the spirit within the sanctuary by describing it before it was destroyed. I discovered old church records with delicate pages and elegant handwriting. I was able to talk to people who loved the church and worked to keep it alive. I worked beside volunteers who supported the church’s open door clinic and attended Sunday services with them. The spirit of the church captured my heart. This experimental documentary knits fragments of the past together with visual images, and personal accounts from the present to illuminate the story of the church and its people. Thousands of small churches have experienced the same travails, hundreds of cities have abandoned their neighborhoods and lost their places of worship. Only a few congregations, like St. Wilfrid’s, have survived. They have been able to reinvent themselves and find a mission that is meaningful. This is a hybrid visual narrative documenting the faith, resiliency, and resurrection I witnessed at St. Wilfrid’s Church.