Proposal Thought Process:

For my final project, I was interested in analyzing and making a creative version of a passport. My original thought was to look into how passports might be representative of identity, but they also are much more than that. Yes, passports are Identity Documents, but they are symbols of power, freedom, and much more. In order to discover more about passports, I came up with several questions I would look into.

How do passports serve as both modes of freedom and limitations? What changed these perspectives based on the accessibility of passports and the rights and restrictions of foreign travel, specifically in the United States? Why do passports represent these juxtaposing principles?

How does the passport serve to free its holders? 

How does the passport serve to restrict its holders?

What historical events have caused/influenced the accessibility of passports?
Who has the right to a passport and how has that changed over time?

Thesis: The United States passport is a booklet that serves as a symbol of great power and freedom, giving foreign immunity and national protection to its holders. Like any other book, it has a history of social, political, and economic affairs and, without human influence, would otherwise cease to exist. However, this booklet has also served as a symbol of restriction and control, limiting who has access to foreign travel and which countries one may visit. Having a passport in any country comes with its privileges as well as disadvantages, which is what makes this a book worthy of close-reading.

Creative Project:

Make a “universal passport.”

Examine components and how they pertain to the holders, nation of origin, and their implications. I will be using similar materials to create my own version of a universal passport that tries to challenge the implications of the U.S. passport.