Learning Module 1 - Activity 1
Lewis Hine Argues for Social Reform

"With a picture sympathetically interpreted -- what a lever we have for social uplift."–

Lewis Hine

Process:

• This activity and its related online threaded discussion will be active from September 9 – October 7
  
  
• The work on this activity must be done before participation in the online discussion. The topic and discussion threads are posted in Discussion Board.
  
  
• Assessment: The online discussion is worth 30 points.
  
  
• This activity and discussion will be used for one of the exam essays for this learning module.
  
  
• Be sure to read through the entire activity and contact Susan Oliver (soliver@cerritos.edu) with questions.

Learning Objectives:

• To increase an understanding of the causes for the Progressive Reform Movement.
  
  
• To gain a greater appreciation of the ways that photographs not only provide evidence of past events, but also can make an argument for reform.

• To learn more about Lewis Hine and his commitment to use his camera as a means for arguing for social reform.

• To engage in a critical analysis of one photograph of Lewis Hine.
  
  
• To explore the variety of resources that web-based technology provides such as video clips and educational websites.
  
  
• To share ideas, questions and discoveries in an online threaded discussion with others.

Step One: Review of Video Excerpt on Lewis Hine

Overview: The video excerpt is located in TalonNet. It provides an excellent overview of Hine’s photographs. He, as well as Jacob Riis, used their cameras as a means to promote social reform.

• View the video clip, “Hine.” Consider following along from the transcript that excerpt.

• Watch a couple of times. Look carefully at the photographs that are included, asking yourself how these make you feel. Listen attentively to the points made by the narrator and those interviewed.

• As you review the video clip, answer the following questions:

• What did you learn about Lewis Hine’s background and interest in photography?
  
  
• How did Hine use his photographs to argue for social reform?
  
  
• Use your answers to these questions in the discussion board.
  
  
• Next, think about what more you should know in order to fully understand how Hine used photography to argue for social reform. This list will be used in Step Two.

Step Two: Learning More about Lewis Hine and Social Reform Photography

• Use the following resources to answer the questions you listed in Step One.

• Write down your answers. You will offer your answers in the online threaded discussion.

Resources:

About Lewis Hine: This site provides a great overview about Hine and his commitment to use his camera to argue for child labor laws.

Documenting the Other Half: The Social Reform Photography of Jacob Riis and Lewis Hine. This website, which includes the links shown below, provides additional information about Hine, his work, and the historical context of the Progressive Reform Era.

• Photography and Social Reform.
• Progressive Era Reform
• Lewis Hine

Step Three: Understanding that documentary photographs have a point of view and/or make an argument.

• Access The History Place - Child Labor in America . This website includes the most widely used photographs taken by Hine in his “crusade against child labor.”

• Browse through the photographs. Notice the Hine’s original captions are included with each of the photographs, and the photographs are grouped in categories, e.g. “Faces of Lost Youth,” “The Mill,” etc.

• Select one photograph that you think makes a strong statement about the problems with child labor.

· Source: The History Place - Child Labor in America

Step Four: Sharing your observations and analysis

• Go to the Group Discussion Board located in Course Compass.
• Use your work in this activity to contribute to the discussion.

The following are the three topics for the discussion threads. Review these to prepare for the online discussion

Discussion Threads:

Thread One: Analysis of the video clip

What did you discover about Lewis Hine from the video clip? Based on what you learned from the clip, how do you think Hine used his photographs to argue for social reform? What kinds of information did you need to know to better understand the ways that Hine used photography to argue for social reform?

Thread Two: Learning more about Hine and Social Reform Photography

In the activity, you were asked to review a couple of websites about Lewis Hine and his commitment to use his work to argue for social reform, and, more specifically, for ending child labor. Provide two or three essential things that you learned about Lewis Hine’s work in the Progressive Reform Era. Be sure to cite the specific website that gave you these insights.

Thread Three: Analysis of One Photograph by Lewis Hine

In Step 3 of the activity, you reviewed the Hine’s photographs of working children. You selected one photograph and did a careful analysis of its “message.” Tell your classmates which photograph you selected by including its caption and a brief description of the image. Then offer your conclusions about the ways that this image reveals about child labor in the early decades of the 20^th century.