Dennis Thrasher – Documentary Artist

In this supplementary resource set, artist Dennis Thrasher describes the process of researching and composing documentary art. His goal is to tell an accurate and compelling story of a particular time and place. Students explore Thrasher’s artistic process in this resource set.

Students watch a short video – Dennis Thrasher – and work through three different integrated visual and media art activities. Students create and present their own documentary art linked to their community’s history. A social studies extension links students’ understanding of local history to key concepts in U.S. or world history.

For a deeper experience in interpreting and creating documentary art and in exploring the economy and lifeways of early 20th century rural Kentucky communities, teachers are encouraged to use the three other units in this collection- Unit 1: Rural Economy in the Early 20th Century and Unit 2: Rural Life in the Early 20th Century.

Documents for Dennis Thrasher – Documentary Artist

For teachers:

• Dennis Thrasher, Documentary Artist – teacher version

For students:

• Dennis Thrasher, Documentary Artist – student version
• Video: Dennis Thrasher

How to Use Dennis Thrasher – Documentary Artist

Teachers may elect to use this resource set alone or in conjunction with the Creelsboro Landing, 1890s – Documentary Art Interactive and/or Irvin Store, 1920s – Documentary Art Interactive. To use this resource set, instructors may begin with either one of the documentary art interactives or with the short video about the artist – Dennis Thrasher.

After watching the video and reading the Background Reading, students work through three integrated visual and media art activities, such as analyzing, interpreting, and evaluating documentary art, and exploring how perspective influences perception of subject matter. Students create and present their own documentary art linked to their community’s history. A social studies extension links students’ understanding of local history to key concepts in U.S. or world history.

Documenting Local History Using Primary Sources

Detail from Irvin Store, 1920s by Dennis Thrasher (2018).

Through the lens of the Creelsboro Documentary Project, this supplementary resource set highlights the vital importance of using primary sources to document not only historic events or famous people, but the lives of everyday people.

Five activity options and a short video – Using Primary Sources – serve as a springboard for developing students’ skills in writing and conducting research projects that are not solely internet-based. These activities complement social studies courses that emphasize state, national, or world history, or human geography, as well as visual and media art skills. This resource set also supports the other three collection elements.

Documents for Documenting Local History Using Primary Sources

For teachers:

• Documenting Local History Using Primary Sources – teacher version

For students:

• Documenting Local History Using Primary Sources – student version
• Video: Using Primary Sources