**** At the beginning****

In a previous trip to Lebanon, I was amazed by the lebanese interiors, especially the staging of family framed pictures and object hanging on the wall. They seem to be arranged in a way that family stories are defined for a particular and chosen meaning : a family fresco announcing visitors the family status and it epic story through the generations, creating a family mythology.

I would like to go to Lebanon to work in a poetic and artistic way on this subject.

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® Karine Labrunie

*******The project******

Family structure is still being very present in the social and hierarchical relations of lebanese people, whereas it crumbles in our occidental culture. Lebanese family has an influence on each of his member; Each of them occupy a clearly defined place and they tend to have a structured and determined relation to one another due to specific upbringing and relayed family myths.

Each family creates and transmits it own myths. Family myths correspond to beliefs and hopes which are created and shared by all family members, they give a meaning to the shared actions, thoughts and emotions concerning themselves or their acquaintances. One of the goals of the myth is to turn a heritage - which can sometimes be too heavy to live with - into something acceptable and livable. If those myths are rarely formulated in an explicit way it doesn't mean that they have less impact, or that the strength of the obligations and repressive messages that they carry is less real.

Studying family structure is a way to observe the society in which it evolves, because the two are linked and influence each other.

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I want to work on the aspect of family fresco through the creation of a photographic and video installation of family mythology. I want to explore how a family deals with its image and history, internally and socially: how do family members transmit all the stories to the new generation and acquaintances, how do they manage to hide relatives or facts they are ashamed of.

A real immersion in lebanese family

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******Goal******

Creating photos and videos that would evoke family myths.

I want to recreate and imagine myth through the stories people will confide me, bringing forward the family structure as a guardian of myths and traditions . The purpose of the photos and videos is to recreate the family atmosphere, and analyze the myths which are hidden in our lives.

Like all my other work, the project will be created in relation to the other. My work will come from my encounters with the local people and the discovery of their worlds. Through my photographic and video work, I intend to analyze and question the myth-making processes each family develops.

I propose to meet different families and ask them about their personal history, what their parents and relatives used to tell them about the family history. I'll try to figure out which place they have in the family, what are the hidden stories.

******Result*****

Building an exhibition of all this work which will give the public a chance to enter a world that they are not familiar with. Allowing us to hold a mirror up to ourselves, reminding us of our own fragility.

This project calls into question the symbols chosen by the family to create the image it wishes to give of itself. Exploring the identity in a country like Lebanon is not only quite interesting, but it is also necessary since this identity is rather fragile and unstable. Family mythology focuses on this heritage which defines and influence lebanese people and beyond it, every one of us.

***********This project needs you to be realized ***************

And don't forget that the small brooks make the big rivers

Mythologies familiales - Regards sur le Liban