My Third Eye: How Photography Magnifies Oral History

A rare and educational, visual and oral presentation of 16 founding fathers of the Rastafarian Culture.

The Rastafarian movement first appeared in Jamaica in 1930 with the crowning of Ras Tafari Makonnen when he was granted the title of His Imperial Majesty Haile Selassie, Emperor of Ethiopia. Since that time, Rastafari, named after Ras Tafari, has spread the world over and been adopted by many people both young and old who practice a Rastafarian life ways according to their own understanding. I introduce the presentation with a brief history of the movement and recount my visitations to Jamaican and International Rastafarian communities over the past twenty five years. Traveling, camera in hand, I attended spiritual gatherings, visited with Rasta bredren in their homes and met many along the way in a variety of venues.

Following, I share a screening including 16 Elders who are amongst the founding fathers of the Rastafarian movement. While showing their pictures I share highlights of their contribution to the movement and my personal experiences meeting them. I was honored and still recognize the privilege having been granted permission by these Rastas, many of whom have passed, to take their pictures and commune with them.

Throughout the growth of the movement, especially the early stages, Rastas have been severely rejected and subjected to cruel and un-warranted intolerance. Nevertheless, Rastas hold firm and have gradually gained greater and greater acceptance. Bob Marley has played a major positive and informative role in spreading the word as Rastafari takes on a new and widely positive spin.

I first gave this presentation at the request of the University of the West Indies, Mona Campus, in Kingston Jamaica. It was enthusiastically received at The Rastafari Studies Conference in August 2013. I am proposing to present at other Universities and Student Unions.

Susanne Moss - PO Box 2128 Beacon, NY 12508  - SuMoss@Selahphoto.com

INDIA COLLAGE

I have prepared a presentation of images in slide show format highlighting life in India as captured during 5 weeks of exploration in early 2013. Thank you in advance to consider offering this presentation to Student Associations and/or relevant class studies at your University.

The images captured illustrate day-to-day life both secular and non-secular of the Indian people living in cities and the countryside. Included are small shops and roadside stands as well as world-famous Mosques, Temples and Monuments of all sizes. 

One section is dedicated to the Tibetan refugees who have settled over the past 50 years in the foothills of the Himalayan Mountains. They have established a local government as well as a viable community of artisans and arts, enterprises, health clinics, schools and monasteries. The Dali Lama has built a huge compound for lectures, living and prayer and lives there when he is not traveling around the world. 

I presented this “slide show” in September, 2013 at The Howland Cultural Center in Beacon, New York. I accompany the images with my observations and thoughts regarding the significance of what we are looking at. 

The presentation, about an hour long, was enthusiastically received and many excitedly shared their impressions during a lively Q/A.

   Susanne Moss - PO Box 2128 Beacon, NY 12508  - SuMoss@Selahphoto.com