Shirin Neshat, Roja, 2012

Photograph, gelatin silver print with India ink.

Used in slide decks such as Stories and versions of Portraits and Identity but taken out of deck that was used for lower elementary with a focus on reading emotions. 

This particular work was the subject of a debate back and forth in the collaborative group that was tasked with putting the deck together. A stunning work, it's value for inclusion and its potential for creating deeper, richer conversations were understood. The decision came down to whether the interpretation of the work would be in contrast to the goals for the students. Would students in second grade "read" the sitter's expression and categorize it simply as worried, frustrated, or sad? Would that categorization be in successful alignment with the artist's goals? It's questions like these and others that lead to thought provoking discussion and deeper dives into what we are saying to our students through the visuals we select for them.