How are global citizens ALIKE & DIFFERENT?
A number of years ago National Geographic photographer, Peter Menzel, assembled a project that he entitled "The Material World." Its goal was to demonstrate, through people's possessions, what it means to be a truly average global citizen of the world. He and his team of photographers visited 30 different countries from every part of the world-wide spectrum and they sought out a statistically average family living in that country. An extensive interview was conducted and then the family was photographed with all their possessions. He generally spent approximately a week getting to know them and their world. The books and posters were then created to share his experience with others.
At SMS, we utilize this program as a way of allowing students to compare their lives with those of their fellow human beings living in other countries. The photographs even the ones from the 1990s display real people and give us a better sense of what it might truly be like to walk in their shoes.
