The flyer for Kirsten Johnson’s appearance really struck me, because it wasn’t what were used to seeing on these types of things. Usually, in preparation for an event like this, the flyers list the person’s criteria and awards to persuade the students to attend. This one, however, didn’t try to persuade, it simply told her story–the negative and positive. It didn’t skip right to “Kirsten Johnson: Sundance Winner.” She doesn’t only talk about the glitz and glam of filmmaking, but instead starts with a sort of disclaimer, saying that she has faced many challenges in her field both cinematically and morally.
Her second bullet point, stating, “My work can change the way my subject is perceived…” was the one that really stuck out to me. There is a constant debate about the ethical implications of documentary filmmaking, photojournalism, photography, etc, that revolves around the relationship between photographer and subject. I think it will be interesting to explore Johnson’s view on the ethical dilemma, since she has firsthand experience and is not afraid to talk about it, by the looks of her flyer.