I thought all the confessions were really well thought out and executed. They taught me a lot about my peers, everyone has something that they keep inside and don't reveal to the rest of the world on a daily basis whatever that may be. I thought that some were definitely more deeply revealing than others, and thus more powerful. I though that Erika's presentation was one of the strongest. I thought the fact that she implemented a story time structure with a well written easily publishable book about her situation. The focus was on the growth and love that she received from others around her instead of dwelling on the sadness of the loss of her parents and that was a very powerful and inspirational mechanism. It was a beautifully done confession and I liked the fact that it was centered on the fact that she now has an unconventional, but huge loving, non-genetic family that is her support. She said that despite the fact of what had happened, "She was not quite done being someone's daughter" and I though that that last line fully drove her message home. The setting brought the audience back to a vulnerable childhood moment of learning socialization and i think that was really relative because it was a time when we were learning whom was in our social spheres and the definition between friends and family, while Erika's two spheres were simultaneously shattered and merged to form less clear social groups.
Some projects were less clear and well executed. I personally didn't quite understand the message of Walter's piece. I got the message that his car was like his sanctuary where he could escape the pressures of college life and relax by listening to music. I feel like there should have been a deeper note to that, like why his schoolwork is so stressful, if it is more stressful to him than the average student and why. I wanted to learn more about him than just his escape from student life. I also remember early on in Design 2 my teacher saying, "If you aren't particularly talented at drawing, don't do it" She stressed this a lot and it couldn't help pop up in my mind as I viewed the illustrations. They didn't add strength to the piece, they probably took more away. If I was trying to convey a message of where my sanctuary and escape is, I would have used photos as better representational and personal icons. I would have collaged them together in a way that is meaningful for me. Since he was trying to say that he uses his car and his hometown as his personal comfort zones, I would have collaged them into an arch-like space on the wall and would have stood in the middle demonstrating the comfort and protection that I felt from them.
