The crime of being unique
| Objective: To envision a completely different universe in order to reveal the hidden dimensions of the concept of uniqueness! |
Duration: 30 to 90 minutes
Material:
- Sheets of paper and pens
- Coloured pencils and markers
- Camera
Instructions:
Thought experiment: Imagine a world where... being unique could get you in trouble! What would that world look like? Would it be fantastic or horrible? How would this world be different from ours? How would life change? Would you want to live in that world? Why or why not?
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- Think about the effects. What if there was a universe where you all had to be the same... and it would be a crime to be unique! In imagining this world, you may find it difficult to visualize how all people could be completely identical. Is that even possible? Would being the same change the way you see the world? And what would be the lonely experience of being unique in such a population? Why might this uniqueness be considered a crime? Make a list of three positive and three negative points about being unique in this alternative world, and add reasons to explain your impressions.
- Variation: Consider how this world might affect different contexts, such as: relationships, school, jobs, government, art, religion, the environment, etc.
- Create characters. To take your thinking even further, think about what distinguishing features could make a person so unique that they would be a threat in this world where everyone is the same. What might this person's crimes be and why? Is it a difference in their appearance, intelligence, abilities? Then think of a few more unique people from this world, including what makes them so different. Finally, imagine that these characters form a group that represents the unique traits you have identified. How do you think this group of "criminals" would live? Imagine how this group would be treated by the rest of the population, and how they could help each other to live better. Write a short story that describes their experience from their point of view, in as much detail as possible!
- Represent this world. Based on your reflections, imagine how you could represent your impressions of this alternative world—through a drawing, a collage, a diagram, a poem, or a dance. Your style can be realistic, abstract, comic, dramatic, etc. How could this world help us better understand—and even improve—our own?
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Bonus: What if there was an opposite world where you had to be unique at all costs? What would you do to stand out and be striking? Imagine that you have to prepare your application to prove your uniqueness... in exactly five photos. Think of five things that make you special— how can you take pictures of yourself to showcase these different things? When you have your ideas, do a photo shoot and make sure you capture an image for each of the five things that make you unique! Do you think there are other people in the world who would have chosen exactly the same five things? What does it mean to be unique ? |
| Tricks for tots: Can you make a parade of your personality? If you could organize a parade on the street that would show all the aspects of you that you love the most, what would be on display? Choose your most unique traits to include in the parade. Do they represent the special person that you are? When you have your ideas, draw a picture of your parade, making sure to include all the allegorical colours, decorations and floats that will express your personality traits! |
| Tips for teens: Have you ever heard the sarcastic saying: "Never forget that you are absolutely unique, just like everyone else?" A lot of people seem to really want to be unique... and they can convince themselves that they are, even if they don't do anything special. Imagine a person with a completely ordinary trait that they believe is truly unique. Then draw a caricature of this person and use the above quote as a title! What messages could be interpreted from your drawing? How would you like to raise awareness with this caricature? |
Share your creative reflections by sending them via email.
Include photos of your projects and notes of your thoughts, as well as your first name and your age!
