Preserving Culture through the Lens | Amar Ramesh | TEDxYouth@JPGlobalSchool | Summary and Q&A

TL;DR

A photographer documents and shares stories of forgotten temples, untold stories, and endangered art forms to preserve India's rich cultural heritage.

Key Insights

• 🖤 The lack of promotion and knowledge about India's cultural heritage inspired the photographer to document and share stories about ancient temples and untold stories.
• ✊ The media has the power to amplify these stories and raise awareness globally, showcasing the importance of preserving cultural heritage.
• ❣️ Disappearing art forms, such as mat weaving and carpet making, can be preserved through documentation, education, and innovative design interventions.

Transcript

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Questions & Answers

Q: What inspired the photographer to start documenting the stories of temples and untold stories?

The photographer was fascinated by how the US promotes its culture and realized that India lacks such promotion. He wanted to visually showcase the stories behind temples and the untold stories he came across during his travels.

Q: How did the power of media make an impact on the photographer's work?

The photographer experienced the power of media when one of his documentaries about a man feeding parrots gained international attention. This made him realize the influence he had and motivated him to tell more stories and raise awareness about lesser-known individuals and their work.

Q: How does the photographer seek to preserve disappearing art forms?

The photographer documents the entire process of art forms, such as mat weaving and carpet making, and aims to create educational material through photos and videos. He encourages designers and students to innovate and find new uses for these art forms, preserving them through modern design and interventions.

Q: Why does the photographer believe it is important to preserve India's cultural heritage?

The photographer believes that cultural preservation is not just a choice but a responsibility. He emphasizes the need to learn from and innovate on traditional art forms, as they hold a wealth of knowledge and can inspire new ideas in various fields.

Summary & Key Takeaways

• The photographer, who grew up in Tamil Nadu, noticed the lack of promotion and knowledge about India's rich cultural heritage and decided to document and share stories about ancient temples.

• He realized the power of media in showcasing untold stories, and started documenting the work of heroes and traditions that are often unknown even within the same state.

• The photographer also focuses on preserving disappearing art forms, such as traditional mat weaving and carpet making, by documenting the process and encouraging designers and students to innovate and bring pride back to these crafts.