WU - Course Reflection (Lesson)

Course Reflection

Why Is Reflection Important?

Reflection is a part of many cultures and religions. In American culture, we often reflect at the end of the year and make resolutions for the new year.  At Thanksgiving we reflect on what we’re thankful for. Ramadan is the Muslim month of fasting, prayer, reflection and community. Yom Kippur is a day in Judaism to reflect on the past year and ask forgiveness for sins. These are just a few examples. What other ways are reflection a part of your religion and/or culture? What purpose does it serve?

Reflection is also an important part of education. It is pausing to take stock of what you have learned and thinking critically about how your new knowledge connects to other aspects of your education and to the larger world. Consider how photography has evolved from its beginnings as a chemistry dependent scientific process to a digital image that can be created by a pocket-sized device. How did photography create change in research, technology, and culture? How did advances in technology change photography? How does knowledge and skills from other disciplines inform the planning and execution of art? You will explore these questions further in the Reflection on Photography Classwork.

Reflection is an important part of growing as an artist. We pause, focus on, and carefully consider things. Reflecting can help us appreciate how we’ve grown, how we’ve improved, what we’ve accomplished, and foster a sense of pride in our artwork and ourselves. Reflection also allows us space to consider how we can continue to improve, what else we’d like to learn and explore, and the direction we’d like to go in next. This helps us create new goals and plan to better achieve those goals. Reflection can help us identify mistakes we’ve made in the past and help us change for the better. 

You’ve made it to the end of the course. Congratulations on completing Photography II! Slow down, look inward, and reflect on all of your progress in your Course Reflection VVJ.

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