Portraits and Identity in black and white.

Dear students from France, Turkey, Poland, Greece,

You have already proved how imaginative you are, so here comes a new challenge for you. As you can see, these are famous photo portraits of outstanding personalities of our civilisation, taken by well-acclaimed photographers. What you have to do first, is to find out about the pictured people.Read about their biographies in books or surf the Net.Highly recommended sites for short and condense biographies are: http://www.biography.com/people or http://www.biographyonline.net/                     

Finding quotes by these people can be also pretty helpful.So, draw inspiration from biographies and quotes and choose one of the personalities to write about.Reveal aspects of their identity, take their perspective, identify yourself with them and write in first person 'I' as if you were in their place. Since, what you are asked to produce is an autobiography (about 200 words) based on biographical facts, you can include sentences such as: I was born in..../ As a child......./My dreams/goals/feelings....

As it is expected that 4-6 students will choose the same photo to write about, it will be amazingly interesting to see different viewpoints of the same content.So, at the end of this task we can organise a story competition. 16 Winners:2 from each photo.

IMPORTANT DETAIL: Girls, don't hesitate to choose a male personality and Boys, don't hesitate to choose a female personality.

1.Johnny Depp. Actor. Photo by Maurizio Galiberti         2. Lionel Messi. Footballer. Photo by Mike Hewitt

                    

 

3. Patti Smith.Singer and Songwriter. Photo by R.Mapplethorpe  4. Salvador Dali.(1904-1989) Artist. Photo by P.                                                                                                                                                        Halsman  

       

 

 

5.Frida Kahlo (1910-1954).Artist                                                  6. Coco Chanel. (1883-1971)Fashion designer.                                                    

                  

7.Alfred Hitchcock.(1899-1980). Film director. Photo by Philippe Halsman.

                           

8. J.K.Rowling. Writer. Photo by Murdo MacLeod.

                                       

 

Pupil administrators can write below the headings.

1. Johnny Depp

Hi my my name is John Christopher Depp but everybody know me as Johnny Depp, I was born on 9^th june of 1963. My mum worked as a waitress and my father was a civil engineer, we moved frequently to accommodate my father’s job but they divorced so I had a hopeless childhood. At the age of 15 I dropped out of school and I began experimenting with drugs. I really liked music, specifically guitar so I joined a garage band because my dream was to become a rock musician, it was pretty good to join it, I felt satisfied. In 1984 my first wife introduced me into acting with Nicolas Cage, her ex-boyfriend. I had little roles in some movies, then in 1987, the popular filmed television 21 Jump Street got me into stardom and a teen idol.

 I was very proud of myself to play a crazy and funny guy “the Captain Jack Sparrow “it was so fun in one of the most famous movies “Pirates of Caribbeean” which received many awards.

I had difficult relationships but when I met Vanessa Paradis, I realized that she was very important for me. With our 2 children, Lily Rose Melody and Jack John Christopher, it was my greatest success compared to my childhood. In 2012 I was listed in the Guinness World Records as the highest paid actor with $75 million. In 2012 we broke up so I felt alone but one of my quotations was I think the thing to do is enjoy the ride while you're on it. 

(BY XAVIER AND ROBIN FROM FRANCE)

My name is John Christopher Depp but everybody knows me as Johnny Depp. I was born  in Owensboro, Kentucky, on June 9, 1963 .  I had a hopeless childhood because my parents got divorced , when I was 15. I left school and began experimenting with drugs and then I joined the garage band."I literally locked myself in a room and played guitar." I felt satisfied in the band.

And something about my serious relationships ( haha). Before I met  Vanessa Paradis , none of my relationships was serious . When my first child, Lily-Rose Melody Depp, was born, I realised that she was very important in my life, and three years later we welcomed the second child, Jack John Christopher Depp III. I love them. . In 2012, I and Vanessa split up. I felt so depressed and alone...

I'll tell you about my career. One of my first plays A Nightmare on Elm Street, and next: Edward Scissorhands, Charlie in the Chociolate Factory, Dark Shadows and series  Pirates of the Caribbean which is very popular among young and adult pople. I'm satisfied with the role  in these series . I could show there my comic  nature.I am proud of my director role in "Stuff" and "The Brave" which I played the main role, too.

Yours,

Johnny. ( by Joanna from Poland)

 

Hello I'm Johnny Depp, I'm an actor, producer and musician. I was born in Owensboro Kentucky on June 9 to parents John and Betty Sue Depp. My father worked as a civil engineer and my mother worked as a waitress and homemaker. I also have 3 siblings... When I was 15 my parents got divorced and as the youngest of four I got to my father's office. At 16 I dropped out high-school and joined a band and I made this decision at the most difficult time of my life because, you know music touches us emotionally where the words alone can't...you can close your eyes to the things you don't want to see, but you can't close your heart to the things you don't want to feel. At the age of 20 I met and married Lorri Allison a makeup artist. A year later I joined acting when Lori introduced me to the actor Nicolas Cage. My first legitimate movie was " Nightmare On Elm Street ". Other successful films of mine are " Edward Scissorhands", " Ed Wood" , " The Ninth Gate", " Blow" and of course " Pirates Of The Caribbean". Pirates Of Caribbean is the most successful film I've ever made. Once my daughter was asked by a lady what the father did... and she answered " He is a pirate" I was very proud of that answer. With " Pirates Of Caribbean" I have received many awards but awards aren't as important to me as when I meet a 10 years old kid who says " I love Captain Jack Sparrow" That's real magic for me ! This is my story ...! 

( Joanna Chrysomalli From Greece :D ) 

Hello! I believe most of you know who I am and what I do.I’ve talked a lot about my career and if you are a fan of mine then I’m sure you’ve watched most of my films. However, this time I want to talk about my family, my childhood and adolescence.There are so many things I want tos hare with you. I was born on 9th of June, in 1963, in Owensboro, Kentucky. I grew up in a middle class family .My father  was a civil engineer and my mother, Betty Sue Depp was just a waitress and homemaker. From childhood I loved acting and doing strange things because I was an extraordinary child. When I was 7 years old, my family moved to Miramar, Florida because of my father’s job. We lived in a motel for a few years. I hated new places.We always had financial problems and  that is why, at the age of 12 ,I was interested in smoking and in drugs. It was stressful for me and to get distracted I locked myself in my room and spent time humming a tune accompanied with guitar. At the age of 15, my parents decided that I had to work in my  father’s office and earn money. But nobody understood that  I was an art person and when I was 16 ,I left  work and the relationship between me and father broke. Also I left high school and I lived in the garage of my friend’s house.

(By Daniel Garibyan from Turkey)

My name's Johnny Depp and I was born in 1963. My childhood was an eternal travel, I lived in more than 20 places. When I was 15, my parents got divorced, unfortunately. 
I have always loved playing the guitar and a year after my parents' divorce, I dropped out the school and started playing in a rock band. That's a great life! But then I thought, that education was very important and I tried to come back to school. However, the headmaster told me, that I should follow my dreams and become a musician. It was good decision, I played in a band, and met my first wife, who introduced me to Nicolas Cage. He suggested me trying in acting. And that changed my life dramatically.

I got a lead role in "21 Jump Street" and thanks to that role I suceeded  and became an idol of plenty of teenagers. Being well-known helped me getting more and more roles, which needed more and more experience and wordly wisdom. I played in many films, but the most important role was acting as a famous pirate, Jack Sparrow, who became a cult figure. I didn't expected so big success, it was a wonderful time in my life. Now I'm focusing on the next episode of Jack Sparrow's adventures, in 'Pirates of the Carribean: Dead Men Tell No Tales' which is supposed to be in cinemas in 2017. I can't wait to show you a new face of Captain Jack Sparrow!!! :)

Greetings 

Johnny :)

(By Aleksandra from Poland )

Hi! I was born in Owensboro, Kentucky on 9 June 1963 so I'm 52. My father who was called John worked as a civil engineer and my mother who was called Betty Sue came from full-blooded Cherokee stock and worked as a waitress and homemaker. I'm the youngest child of four.  I was withdrawn and a self-admitted oddball. "I made odd noises as a child", I revealed in an interview. I just did weird things, like turn off light switches twice.  I think my parents thought I had Tourette's syndrome.

Me and my family moved frequently to accommodate my father's job, finally landing in Miramar,Florida when I was 7.We lived in a motel for nearly a year, until my father found a job. I hated my  new home and, by the age of 12  I began smoking, experimenting with drugs, and engaging in self-harm due to the stress of family problems. I literally locked myself in a room and played guitar.

In 1978, when I was 15 my parents got divorced. As the youngest of four, it became mine job to go to my father's office and pick up the weekly child-support money. The split caused a rift between me and my father.At the age of 16,  I dropped out of high school and joined to the garage band called The Kids. Our  group became successful enough to open for the Talking Heads, but we  barely made ends meet.

Coming to now, I'm an film actor and producer. I took  my  first role in the 1984. I had won the Golden Globe Award and Screen Actors Guild award for Best Actor. My stepping stone  in my career was taking a role in Pirates of the Caribbean which is my most popular film ever. 

(By Berkay Fıstıkçı, Turkey)

I was born John Christopher Depp II in Owensboro, Kentucky, on June 9, 1963.
I was raised in Florida. I dropped out of school when I was 15, and fronted a series of music-garage bands, including one named 'The Kids'. However, it was when I married Lori Anne Allison (Lori A. Depp) that I took up the job of being a ballpoint-pen salesman to support myself and my wife. A visit to Los Angeles, California, with my wife, however, happened to be a blessing in disguise, when I met up with actor Nicolas Cage, who advised me to turn to acting, which culminated in Depp's film debut in the low-budget horror film, A Nightmare on Elm Street (1984), where I played a teenager who falls prey to dream-stalking demon Freddy Krueger.

(By Sayat Hamamciyan)

My name is Johnny Depp, and I was born in Kentucky in 1963.I’m a very famous actor and director also. The first legitimate movie that I took part was the “Nightmare  on Elm Street (1984). I took on several smaller parts. Afterwards , I began studying acting till 1987, and then I was given a role on a TV show ,21 Jump street . I used to take darker roles in films . At the age of 20 I met and married my love Lori Allison. Then I moved to L.A with her. There I met many famous actors that helped my career. One of them was Nicolas Cage , who was Lori’s ex-boyfriend. Today I have played  in many movies like : “ Edward scissorhands”, “ The pirates of Caribbean “,”The  ninth gate”, The rum Diary” and many other. That’s my life in short.
( By Joseph Lalas from GREECE)

My name is Johnny Depp, I was born on June 9, 1963. My childhood was far from being a dream and it was not like now, it was hard. At the age of 7, my father had no job and we lived in a motel in Miramar, Florida for about a year, I was devastated. Imagine, I was the youngest of four children, I was not happy with my life so I started to do weird stuff like  turning the light switches off, twice but nobody cared. At the age of 12 I was really screwing up and I was experimenting with drugs, like smoking pot. I knew i had to change, but how ? The only thing I was good at beside from screwing up my life was playing the guitar. When I was 16 I was kicked out of high-school so I decided to join a garage band and from that moment, for the first time of my life, I had a goal, a dream to look up to, I wanted to be a rock musician. Our group became succesfull and we were able to play at certain concert openings like for the Talking Heads. My life started to make sense. Well I still lived in a 67’ Chevy Impala of a friend but I started being satisfied with myself. I once met Lori Anne Allison and I married her in 1983 and she was a make-up artist. She introduced me to Nicolas Cage who advised me to try acting instead of playing music. That is exactly what I did, imagine yourself, when you were nobody,living your life in a car, and a famous actor like Nicolas Cage tells you to act, would you even think about it for a second ? I instantly decided to learn more of acting, I had a private coach and things were moving quite fast as in 1987 lessons paid off, I was asked to replace Jeff Yagher to play the role of undercover cop Tommy Hanson in the popular Canadian-filmed television series 21 Jump Street. My life changed drastically as I started acting, I then met a wonderful woman, her name is Amber Heard and I married her. Things can only get better and in fact playing a role in the Pirates of the Carribean was certainly a dream I wanted to accomplish.

By Arthur and Stijn from FRANCE                                                       

Hi I’m Johnny Depp I was born in Kentucky in 1963. When I was 7 years old my family and moved into a new house in Mirar Florida, I really hated this home. I had no one. So at the age of 12 I started to smoke experiment with drugs and got engaged in self harm actions, due to the stress of my family. The only thing that I wanted to do when I was back from school was lock myself in my room and play my guitar for hours. Music was my escape for my problems. In age 15 my parents got divorced it was a very tough time for me. As the youngest I had to go to my father’s office and pick up the weekly child-support money. When I went 16 I dropped out high-school for joining a garage band “The Kids”. We became successful enough to open for the “Talking Heads” but we barely made ends meet. When I was 20 I fell in love and marry Lori Allison. In the same year we moved to L.A with my band in the hope of something big. A year later I started acting when my wife introduced to her ex-boyfriend actor Nicolas Cage. Cage saw potential to me and he introduced me to a Hollywood agent. After several small roles as a film extra I landed my first movie in a horror movie in “Nightmare on Elm Street”. I was so excited! In 1985 I broke up with the band and my marriage with Lori. Then I started to study acting. I became a teen idol in overnight. I became more famous when I played a very dark role “Edward Scissorhands” in 1990 “The sleepy Hollow” in 1999 and “Alice in Wonderland” in 2010. Success had come at last! 

( Markella Sena From Greece) 

2. Lionel Messi

Hello! I am Lionel Messi a footballer from Argentina !More specifically I was born in Rosario of Argentina in 1987 and I come from a poor family. My father is a steel worker and my mother a cleaner. As it is expected, I began playing football from an early age and my father was  impressed with my talent. Unfortunately I suffered from a serious illness at the age of 11 called growth hormone deficiency, which stunted my growth. This desease required expensive medical treatment which only FC BARCELONA agreed to pay for. That was the reason why I moved to Spain with my father where I became part of the prestigious FC BARCELONA YOUTH ACADEMY which offered to cover my medical bills. However I made a lot of sacrifices by leaving my country and my family I am now proud of myself because I achieved my dream on my own in a foreign country. But as many people say, you cannot achieve anything unless you go for it. The fact that I had taken part in almost every championship with both national team of Argentina and Barcelona and I have won many trophies and medals doesn’t mean anything to me, as I try day by day to improve myself. My personal opinion is that trial is never enough and skills always improve and develop! As for football, it’s my whole life and I am completely dedicated to it, at least this period of my life!!!  (STAMOS PETROULIAS FROM ATHENS ,GREECE!!!!)

 

I was born on June 24, 1987, in Rosario, Argentina.  I started playing soccer as a young kid firsty in local club.Then Newell's Old Boys, a Rosario-based club.  That was amazing. Soccer was my hobby and I know that  is big part of me .When I was 11 , I  was diagnosed with by doctors GHD . That information changed my live.  I with my parents moved to Brasil because of  contract which included paying for my  treatment. I made a lot of sacrifices by leaving Argentina. But everything I did, I did for football, to achieve my dream. That’s why I didn’t go out partying, or do a lot of other things. I started playing  professionally  in soccer in Spanish Loeague. When I was 16 I was given my first appearance in the 2004/05 season . The best thing was that I scored a league goal. At the moment I felt that was my road of my life. Every year was better more  goals and more satissfaction from my work. I’m proud of myself because I am still in form and beat records. I have changed nothing, my style of play is still that of a child.

( by Justyna from Poland)

 

Hello! I am Lionel Messi but everybody call me Leo. I was born 24 June 1987 in Rosario. My mum and father are normal people. Our family never was wealthy, we lived poorly. When I was a few years, I started my adventure with football. Everything went ahead, I developed my skills and every day I gave full measure. However life isn’t light and at the age of 11, I was diagnosed with a growth hormone deficiency. I was frightened. I asked: “why me?”. After short time I realized that the disease shows me and other people that I can go through the worst. The motivation is the most important. If you want to be a big sportsman, you can’t tell that you can’t make it. You can’t have excuses. You must know that you will be the best. With this thinking I became the one of the best players in football. But I never said that I am the best, because I am aiming at this all the time. FC Barcelona, my club render that I am content with my life. Of course, I don’t neglect my private life. I and my girl Antonella, who I know from childhood, have a son and we are a happy family.
By Magdalena Wal, Poland

I was born with the name Luis Lionel Andres Messi on June 24,1987 in Rosario, Argentina. From an early age, I played soccer with my 2 brothers and friends but soon I was diagnosed by doctors as suffering from a hormone deficiency that restricted my growth. My parents decided on a costly treatment but it soon proved impossible to pay. So we moved to Spain and joined Barcelona which had offered to cover my medical bills. I have become a very good player and I was often compared with Diego Maradona, another famous Argentinean footballer. I got my first ‘Fifa world player of the year’ in 2009. I was also named the FIFA Ballon d'Or winner for the fourth time in January 2013. I led team Argentina to the finals of the 2014 World Cup. Although my team lost to Germany, I was named best player of the tournament.I became the commercial face of soccer with sponsors of Adidas, Pepsi, EA sports and Turkish airlines. I have signed an extension with Barcelona for $21 million per year through 2018.I have always found ways to help people in need so UNICEF named me a good will ambassador. I have a son named Thiago. (By John P. from Greece)

 

3. Patti Smith

I was born on the 30th of December 1946 in Chicago. I spent all my childhood in New Jersey, raising by parents, Beverly and Grant. My mother kept an eagle eye on me, educating  in faith of Jehovah's Witness . As I was a rebel, I left this organized religion, because of the filling of confining.  My attitude to this situation is perfect encapsulated by words which are the part of my song “Gloria”: Jesus died for somebody’s sins, but not mine.”  I attended some schools, but finally I decided to go to New York. This was the beginning of something new. I started creating poems – the debute volume „Seventh Heaven” in 1972.Then in 1974 I returned on the scene, because as I said "Art totally freed me". In 1975 I released  album “Horses” which connected punk rock music and the poetry. Before the next album was shown, I’d got involved with Fred Smith. In 1980 I split up with the concerts for the next 17 years,  devoting myself to domestic life and raising two children. From 1989 it was the worst part of my life  - lots of different accidents have happened, like the death of my husband. After four decades, I find my continued motivation to write and make music in the unfairly shortened lives of my loved ones and the needs of my children. "The people I lost all believed in me and my children needed me, so that's a lot of reasons to continue, let alone that life is great." ( by Natalia from Poland)

4. Salvador Dali

  I was born on 11 May,1904 in Figueres of Spain. My parents were Salvador Dali(father) and Donia Felipa Domenec (mother).My family were wealthy.My father was a lawyer but he didn't seem to be particularly happy with my drawing skills. When I was 14 years old, my first drawings were exhibited at the folk Theater in Figueres.Three years later I began to study in the Arts Academy in Madrid.In 1920s,I went to Paris and I began interacting with artists such as Picasso,Magritte and Mirό.Their influence led me to my first surrealist phase.In 1921 I lost my mother from cancer while after her death,my father got married to her sister,which I didn't approve at all. Perhaps I was best known for my 1931 painting The Persistence of Memory,which was showing melting clocks in a desert setting.In 1934 I got married to Gala,and remarried the same woman twice because I believed that our love should be refresh. The rise of the fascist leader Francisco Franco in Spain led to explusion of the Surrealist movement but that didn't stop me from painting.I occasionally had been characterized as I didn't have  any political views as I was both an anarchist and a monarchist.My motto all my life was:If you think all the time:'I am a genius', you will eventually become a genius!  (by Fenia from Greece) 


I'm Salvador Dalí . I was born in May 1904. I'm a Spanish artist. I invented my own paranoid-critical method. From childhood I was interested in art and I took drawing lessons. After a few years I started to exhibit my paintings. In 1921 I began studying in Royal Academy of Art in Madrid. In 1928 I moved to Paris and this year I painted my first professional image ''Honey is sweeter than blood". A year later I had met Helena Diakonova called Gala who become my inspiration and muse and two years later we got married. I have become famous for my work, a lot of people ordered my portraits and paintings. I designed for a variety of famous people and I've been an actor too. I think the best of my paintings are "Persistence of memory" painted in 1931 during holidays with my wife. The second could be "Burning giraffe" made 6 years later. "Dream Caused by the Flight of a Bee around a pomegranate, a second before awakening" is the most intriguing and puzzling picture of my work. I am proud of achievements of my life. I think it's exciting to share my feelings transferred in paper with others .On the 10 June 1982 Gala, the love of my life, died . In May of 1983 I painted my last picture "Dovetail". (By Dominika from Poland)

 

By the first years of my age, I remember myself trying to make the difference. Ι still do this, successfully. It's nothing contrived or manufactured. I know, I am a controversial and eccentric figure, but inwardly, I really like it. Surrealism for me is a box full of my own expectations and my own reflections and , of course, hallucinations. It's my recourse away from people's dullness and boredom. It's my world and you sure claim it is a little weird. Even so, comparing me with a madman, there is only one difference: the madman thinks that he is sane, I know I am mad. I systematically create confusion, it sets my creativity free. But, you should know, everything that is contradictory creates life. On account of this, there are times that I find my paintings absolutely fabulous and  I'm going to die from an overdose of satisfaction. I have heard so many times people telling me " You do drugs " and the only answer I can hit back is " I don't do drugs, I AM DRUGS ". It's so simple, isn't it?   (by Athina G, from Greece) 

Hello everyone , the name my parents gave me is Salvador but I would prefer people to call me with my last name which is Dali. I am Spanish, born in Figueres on Μay 11 , 1904 one day that my parents definitely still remember as their great son was born. You know, I discovered from a small age that I am really talented and my parents supported me a lot too.Soon, I left for Paris and there I made some new friends, Picasso ,Magritte and Miro and I have to admit that they influenced me pretty much .You may be complexed about my arts but it is not too difficult for you to accept that I am not drawing boring and banal scenes but  I am trying to illustrate my dreams in my art. I love dreams. I love them so much that if you give me two hours  a day of activity I will take the other twenty-two in dreams. Dreams can travel me through my childhood. Uh, I wasn’t  a good student and I also remember that I often expressed my anger towards  my parents and my classmates. That’s why, they were unable to understand my intelligence. I have to say that I am ambitious too , because  as I think , intelligence without ambition is a bird without wings and I am an enormous bird with very large wings. Through my adventurous and exciting life, I became a famous artist and my paintings  cost a fortune, I was really in love with my wife Gala and I still stay crazy for her. What a life !   (by Markos P. from Greece)

  My name is Salvador Felipe Jacinto Dalí y Domenech, but everybody knows me as Salvador Dalí. I was born on 11^th May, 1904, in Figueres, Catalonia. From an early age, my parents have encouraged me to take up painting, as they have recognized my immense artistic talent. Especially my mother has supported strongly my effort and so, her death, when I was 16 years old, really shook me and, generally, stigmatize my childhood. Regarding my artistic path, I have studied at an Academy of Art, in Madrid. After my graduation, I went to Paris and began interacting with artists, such as Picasso, which led to my first Surrealist phase. What is more, it seems to me that I am perhaps best known for my painting “The Persistence of Memory”. Although surreal art was a priority in my life, my wife occupied, and still occupies, an enormous part of my soul. Her name was Elena Dmitrievna Diakonova, but she was also known as "Gala", and, from the first time I met her, I was sure that she belongs to me. Gala wasn’t a simple woman for me. She was my passion, my muse, my inspiration. She was the cause of my being, my spring and the sun, which lit up my life. The loss of her was a heavy blow for me and yet I can’t realize her absence.Many people regard me as a very demented and strange person, others as really intelligent. I don’t know if they are right. Maybe yes, maybe no. There is only a thing that I’m sure about it: "In this period of my life, I need to be alone, far away from everyone and everything."   (by Helen Fragkaki from Greece)

 

  For the photo-portraits of 5.Frida Kahlo, 6.Coco Chanel, 7.Alfred Hitchcok, 8.J.K. Rowling, pupil administrators are requested to write their stories on Module 6, page 2.