Extra, extra! Read all about it! 11th grade AP English classes venture to Washington, DC!
On Wednesday, April 11, students from Mrs. Janet Kratz and Mrs. Ellen McKee’s AP English classes–plus a few lucky seniors–travelled to the Newseum, a “Museum of News” in Washington, DC dedicated to media past and present.
Junior Jacob Wassermann originally suggested the idea for the trip to McKee, calling the Newseum “a must.” He and his grandmother, Adele Herman, attended the trip on Wednesday.
“This field trip was a valuable experience for it gave AP English students the opportunity to immerse themselves in all different types of rhetoric–from the bias of journalism to the paint strokes of classical paintings,” said Wassermann.
While at the Newseum, students took a class on Media Ethics and had free rein to explore six stories of journalism related content.
“The exhibit I enjoyed most [at the Newseum] was the Pulitzer Prize Photo Gallery,” said senior Tanika Velingker, who accompanied the juniors on their trip.
Other favorites included an FBI exhibit, focusing on the first century of crime coverage by the media; a September 11 memorial, representing a majority of media coverage from the day of and days following the attack; a history of news hall, holding newspapers dated as far back as can be imagined; and the Berlin Wall gallery, including actual pieces of the fallen wall.
“My favorite part of the Newseum was the Pulitzer Photo exhibit because the pictures captured specific moments of history in a way that really involved emotional feeling while being aesthetically appealing,” said junior Jeanne Shi.
After spending the morning in the Newseum, the students walked a few blocks away to the Smithsonian Museum of American Art.
At the Smithsonian, students were first treated to an hour-long guided tour, explaining some of the museum’s prominent pieces of work, before being let go to enjoy the museum and connected National Portrait Gallery.
“I loved the Smithsonian Art Museum. I really enjoyed David Hockney’s “Painting as a Performance.” It was really cool how the piece of art transitioned through all sorts of colors and shades as you heard the gears turn. It was mesmerizing; you could just sit on the comfy seats and watch the colors change for hours,” said junior Janki Patel.
Some other works students mentioned enjoying included a portrait of Marilyn Monroe done by Andy Warhol and a collection of Oscars donated by the estate of Katharine Hepburn, both on display in the National Portrait Gallery.
The Art of Video Games was also a student favorite. The exhibit–one of the first to explore forty years of video game evolution–prominently featured 80 games selected by the public, many of which were available to play inside.
“Our trip truly was amazing. I had a great time looking at the exhibits in the Newseum. There was just so much to learn not just about the news and media in itself, but also about the history of this country. There were headlines that completely blew me away. I was equally as pleased with the Smithsonian Museum of American Art. There were a wide variety of pieces that captured the true culture of our country dating way back to the colonial times. I will definitely be going back to see both museums again,” said junior Abagael Bergey.
The trip offered a unique opportunity to AP Language and Composition students.
According to McKee: “AP Language and Composition if all about the power of the written word. The Newseum shows how that plays out in newspapers–the September 11 exhibit, for instance, shows maybe 50 front pages from September 12. What words would you have chosen to capture that day? “A Day of Infamy.” “Bush Promises to Fight Back.” Attacked!” “Terrifying.” “Bloodiest Day.” Students saw very clearly the impact of word choice. The Newseum is an amazing, interactive experience that demonstrates the power of the written word in ways that a teacher could only dream of.”
Students pose for a group photo on their April 11 trip to Washington DC’s Newseum.