What I Would Give.
What I Would Give is a book I designed in response to my research and personal experience with a phenomenon called childhood amnesia, or infantile amnesia. This refers to the idea that, as we age, we become less able to recall memories from our early childhood, particularly memories from age 4 and under. When I'm with my family, we often reminisce about when my brother and I were children. My parents recall trips we took or funny stories they remember. Some of these stories my brother can recall, since we have a five-year age gap, but I struggle to remember these cherished childhood moments.
It can be frustrating because my parents put so much effort into creating opportunities for us to spend time together, and it often feels like a waste now since I can't remember any of it. I enjoy looking at pictures from my younger years in an attempt to trigger some memory recall through visual stimulation, but I still find myself unable to remember much.
This book features pictures from my childhood, edited to appear green and faded, symbolizing the envy I feel toward my younger self and her possession of these memories. Each spread includes one full-bleed image, accompanied by poems I wrote about the more general events I can recall. I also write about the emotions these pictures and memories stir up—whether it’s joy from seeing how young and innocent I once was, sadness and longing to be a child again, or anger for letting myself forget. On the last page, I included a dedication to my mother Amanda, father Jeff, brother Caleb, stepfather Craig, stepmother Jodi, and stepsister Abby, for making my childhood so wonderful and supporting me throughout my life.
What I Would Give is printed on 5.5x8.5 glossy paper at the VCU Creative Print Bureau, saddle stitched and pamphlet stitched with thin black string.
It can be frustrating because my parents put so much effort into creating opportunities for us to spend time together, and it often feels like a waste now since I can't remember any of it. I enjoy looking at pictures from my younger years in an attempt to trigger some memory recall through visual stimulation, but I still find myself unable to remember much.
This book features pictures from my childhood, edited to appear green and faded, symbolizing the envy I feel toward my younger self and her possession of these memories. Each spread includes one full-bleed image, accompanied by poems I wrote about the more general events I can recall. I also write about the emotions these pictures and memories stir up—whether it’s joy from seeing how young and innocent I once was, sadness and longing to be a child again, or anger for letting myself forget. On the last page, I included a dedication to my mother Amanda, father Jeff, brother Caleb, stepfather Craig, stepmother Jodi, and stepsister Abby, for making my childhood so wonderful and supporting me throughout my life.
What I Would Give is printed on 5.5x8.5 glossy paper at the VCU Creative Print Bureau, saddle stitched and pamphlet stitched with thin black string.
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