Framed by a critical multimodal literacy framework (Cappello et al., 2019), validation theory (Rendon, 1994), and othering (Bhabha, 1990), our work explores the power of visual representations of marginalized bodies in sacred and public spaces, centering diversely presenting bodies as sites of reverence and resistance. Drawing from personal experiences of navigating various social contexts (school, work, and home), we visually reflect on the tensions between joy and shame, visibility and erasure, sacredness and stigma, and connect our experiences to our indigenous ancestors. Through musically enhanced self-inquiry (Ramirez, 2024) we produce visual multimodalities (MM) to demonstrate (1) power in self-reflexive practices that communicate self love and celebration, (2) understanding of bodily worth and sacredness and (3) how MM can help shape our perceptions and attitudes toward diverse bodies. We encourage educators and students to engage in visual MM to foster meaningful dynamics in and beyond the classroom.
Saturday November 1, 2025 12:00pm - 12:25pm MDT TBA
