Led by Professor of Rhetoric Claire Deal and Professor of Fine Arts Pam Fox, this community partnership enabled students to integrate the disciplines of rhetoric and visual art to tell powerful and compelling stories. At its core, the course, and the resulting art installation, centers on the integration of documentary-style photography, written text, and audio to deepen the narrative experience.
Throughout the semester, the Hampden-Sydney students developed a wide range of skills, including audio and photography techniques, and honed their interviewing and oral presentation abilities. In addition to being learners, they also facilitated thoughtful discussions and creative workshops while at the jail. In this collaborative exchange, students presented on topics such as photography, writing, and soundscapes—guiding creative exploration while also learning from the experiences and insights of their PRJ partners, who engaged as both students and content creators. The partners shared personal stories, contributed written material, and helped create photographs and audio pieces. This process allowed the Hampden-Sydney students to act as social documentarians—capturing and presenting powerful narratives that seek to challenge assumptions and foster a deeper understanding of both self and community.
“The more time we spent at Piedmont, the more comfortable and open the environment became,” says Ryan Nicholson ’27. “I always try to make others feel at ease, so it meant a lot when one of the quieter partners asked to work with me. It really underscored the power of strong communication, the value of authentic connections, and the importance of challenging stereotypes and preconceived notions.”
Originally co-taught by Dr. Deal and Professor Fox 20 years ago as a two-semester sequence with freshmen honors students—one semester on campus and one at the jail—the course has been reimagined as a single-semester experience. Meeting once a week during a two-and-a-half-hour period, the on-campus portion focused on building key skills such as interviewing, writing, and documentary analysis. Students also wrote journal entries, engaging with the principles of documentary performance and reflecting on their evolving roles as both learners and collaborators. This preparation enabled Hampden-Sydney students to collaborate meaningfully during eight visits to the jail, supporting the PRJ partners with their visual, written, and audio works. These projects, shaped by the voices and visions of the PRJ partners, offered powerful insights into the human condition—revealing personal truths and reflections along the way.
In the spring 2024 semester, the Honors Program, in anticipation of Hampden-Sydney’s 250th Anniversary, solicited course proposals that would reflect the College’s mission statement: to build good men and good citizens in an atmosphere of sound learning. Professors Deal and Fox felt the social documentary course they had previously taught together would be a great fit. As Dr. Deal noted, “Combining visual arts and rhetoric offers a powerful way to explore what it means to be a good man and a good citizen while forming real connections with our jail partners. We also wanted both our students and our partners to recognize our shared humanity. The arts have the power to shift perspectives, break down barriers, and reveal the common ground that brings us together.”
Professor Fox reflects on how the course is designed to blend creative practice with human connection: “Each Hamden-Sydney student found their niche—some focused more on photography, others on audio. Using pinhole cameras that they built themselves, students guided PRJ partners through a hands-on, trial-and-error process in capturing their desired images. The course was intentionally built around art forms that are expressive yet accessible—requiring no formal training but offering powerful means of self-expression. Whether building a camera, writing a personal poem, or reflecting on an image’s meaning, these simple tools opened doors to creativity and honest dialogue. The written, visual, and audio elements all played a role in shaping a collaborative final installation—one that captured the individuality and spirit of the PRJ partners, who—both times we’ve done this course—have shown themselves to be thoughtful, sensitive, and truly remarkable individuals.”
One of the most impactful assignments was the writing and revising of personal poems, which the PRJ partners thoughtfully crafted and shared, offering a deeply reflective look into the group’s diverse experiences and perspectives.
“I was genuinely surprised by how powerful and thoughtful the poems were,” says Jacob Wilson ’27. “Each one was profound, deep, and meaningful. Afterward, we asked our partners to expand on their poems and the photos they took. That led to some great conversations about their creative processes—and it was clear how much of themselves they had expressed in these different forms.”
Alongside their PRJ partners, the Hampden-Sydney students had the opportunity to express themselves, grow, and learn from one another through meaningful collaboration—sharpening their skills in writing, photography, and oral presentation, and blending fine arts with rhetoric to create powerful, moving pieces.
“There’s something deeply authentic about allowing individuals to choose how they want to be seen,” Fox says. “Dr. Deal and I stepped back and let the students and PRJ partners make their own choices, watching those decisions take shape and trusting the process. It’s been incredibly rewarding to see the men open up, engage with us, and embrace the many creative elements of the course.”
Concluding the course, the exhibition “Living with Conviction” debuted inside a cell block at Piedmont, where Hampden-Sydney students, PRJ partners, and PRJ staff came together to reflect on their shared work and the time spent learning from one another. Hampden-Sydney students played a key role in designing and curating the exhibition, both at Piedmont and later at the Atkinson Museum on campus, where it now invites the broader community to engage with the diverse stories and perspectives expressed by the PRJ partners.
“As an educator, it’s been incredibly rewarding to witness our students’ growth from our first visit to the jail to the final days of the course,” Deal says. “Our students stepped outside their comfort zones, demonstrated real maturity, and brought together many aspects of the course to help create powerful, emotional work. It’s been a valuable opportunity not only to teach but also to learn from one another—and that’s something truly special.”
As our students continue to embody Hampden-Sydney’s mission, they remind us that meaningful work and true growth can emerge from any place and any person. This course stands as a testament to the power of connection, creativity, and education—proving that when we engage with others and challenge our preconceived notions, we can learn just as much about ourselves as we can about others.
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