DIALOGUE I: Reflections & Questions
Reflections on DIALOGUE I from Start at Belonging
Sam
Entering into a conversation with anyone, on a subject that is unknown to you, is like standing in a vast darkness. I felt that this isolation (a beginning) was a place we all find ourselves in at some point, and wanted to communicate a sense of inertia. However, there are ways to move through the emptiness and I considered what this might be like for someone who is confronted with a diagnosis.
Space seemed like an appropriate theme, it evokes alienation, but the stars give a sense of light, a place to reach. The pulsing lines are a reflection of messaging, of muscle, of connection. To me this image relates to circumstances where we have to stand up, look out and search for a way to step out.
QUESTION PROMPTS
What emotions or ideas stood out in this dialogue?
How does the combination of poetry and illustration shape your understanding of the themes in this dialogue? Consider how the words and images interact—are they complementary, contrasting, or even contradictory?
What role does uncertainty or ambiguity play in this piece?
How do you relate this dialogue to your own experiences with communication, illness, identity, or uncertainty?
How might poetry and illustration help express emotions or experiences that are difficult to articulate in everyday conversations?
