Xangsane
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The Collage Project: Helene’s Unique Vision
It's art time in class, and Mrs. Keller has a new project for the students. She gathers the kids around and explains that they’ll be making collages today. The theme, she says, is "What Inspires You." The students are free to choose any topic that they feel passionate about—nature, family, sports, or even their favorite hobbies. Mrs. Keller encourages them to be creative and to use a variety of materials, including magazines, printed images, and colored paper.Mrs. Keller: "Remember, this is your chance to show what truly inspires you. Don’t be afraid to think outside the box. You can use any materials we have here, or if you need to find something specific, you can use the computer to search for images."
The kids are excited and immediately start brainstorming ideas. Kristy decides she wants to make a collage about animals, featuring pictures of her favorite pets and wildlife. Daniel is going to focus on his love for soccer, cutting out images of famous players and soccer balls. Emilia and Aletta are both drawn to nature themes, planning to use pictures of flowers, trees, and sunsets to create their collages.
But Helene, as always, has something very different in mind.
As soon as Mrs. Keller gives the go-ahead, Helene’s mind races with ideas. She already knows exactly what inspires her: perfect faces, ideal bone structures, and flawless male models. She’s been obsessed with these ideals for weeks, and now she has the perfect opportunity to showcase her vision.
Helene's Collage: A Fashion Ad on Steroids
Helene heads straight to the stack of old magazines, flipping through them with purpose. She’s not interested in the typical images that most of the other kids are cutting out. Instead, she searches for pictures of male models—men who embody the perfection she’s been so fixated on.As she works, Helene finds images of men with sharp cheekbones, chiseled jaws, and athletic physiques. She tears out every picture that fits her criteria, her pile of images quickly growing. But she’s not satisfied with just these clippings. She needs something more to complete her collage.
Helene: "Mrs. Keller, can I use the computer to find some pictures?"
Mrs. Keller, who’s been helping another student with their collage, looks over and nods.
Mrs. Keller: "Of course, Helene. Just make sure you print out what you need quickly so others can have a turn too."
Helene hurries to the classroom computer, her fingers moving rapidly on the keyboard as she searches for exactly what she wants. She types in names she’s memorized—Tyson Beckford, David Gandy, Sean O’Pry—and finds high-resolution images of them in various poses. She’s particularly drawn to an iconic image of Tyson Beckford, shirtless and confident, that will serve as the centerpiece of her collage.
But Helene’s not done yet. As she continues searching, she comes across the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) logo, and without fully understanding its typical context, she decides it will add a bold, stylish touch to her collage. She prints it out, along with the model images, and heads back to her desk.
The Final Product: An Unexpected Result
As the other students are cutting out images of nature, sports, and pets, Helene meticulously arranges her collage. The centerpiece is the massive picture of Tyson Beckford, which she places right in the middle. Around it, she carefully positions the images of other nearly naked male models, each one chosen for their perfect faces and ideal bodies.Finally, she places the BBC logo prominently in the upper corner, thinking it adds an element of sophistication and a touch of the "global" appeal she associates with these images. Helene’s collage now resembles something akin to a high-fashion advertisement from the 1990s—a striking, bold, and somewhat disconcerting display of male beauty that stands in stark contrast to the other students’ projects.
The Class Reaction: Stunned Silence
As the students finish their collages, Mrs. Keller asks each of them to present their work and explain what inspired them. The kids are excited to share, and one by one, they hold up their collages. Kristy shows off her animal-themed collage, with pictures of cute puppies, kittens, and wild animals. The class "oohs" and "aahs" at the adorable images. Daniel proudly presents his soccer-themed collage, which features action shots of famous players and a huge soccer ball in the center. Emilia and Aletta present their nature collages, filled with vibrant colors and serene landscapes.Then it’s Helene’s turn.
She stands up confidently, holding her collage high for everyone to see. The room falls into an almost stunned silence as the students take in the image. Helene’s collage is a stark contrast to the others. It’s dominated by images of nearly naked men, all with impossibly perfect faces and bodies. The centerpiece, Tyson Beckford, is unmistakably striking, with the BBC logo hovering in the corner like a brand stamp.
Mrs. Keller’s mouth opens slightly in shock, but she quickly regains her composure, though it’s clear she wasn’t expecting anything like this.
Mrs. Keller: "Helene… could you tell us a little about your collage? What inspired you to create this?"
Helene beams with pride, oblivious to the growing discomfort in the room.
Helene: "These are the men who inspire me because they have the perfect bone structures and faces. I like how they look, and I want to make sure everyone knows what real perfection is. I put Tyson Beckford in the middle because he’s the best, and the BBC logo because it makes it look more official and cool."
The other kids exchange confused and bewildered glances. Tommy whispers to Daniel, "What’s BBC got to do with anything?" while Kristy frowns, unsure of what to make of Helene’s choice of images.
Mrs. Keller struggles to find the right words. She knows she needs to be supportive, but the collage is so unexpected, so unlike anything she’s seen in a classroom project, that she’s momentarily at a loss.
Mrs. Keller: "That’s… quite an interesting collage, Helene. It’s clear you put a lot of thought into it. Remember, everyone finds inspiration in different places, and it’s good that you’ve expressed what you’re passionate about."
She quickly moves on to the next student, hoping to ease the tension in the room. But the image of Helene’s collage lingers in everyone’s minds, a bizarre and unexpected manifestation of her fixation on physical perfection.
Aftermath: A Concerned Teacher
As the class moves on to their next activity, Mrs. Keller can’t help but feel a growing concern about Helene. This is the second time in as many days that Helene’s projects have been unusually fixated on appearance and idealized beauty, to the point of overshadowing the innocence and creativity she hopes to nurture in her students.Mrs. Keller decides that it’s time to have a conversation with Helene’s parents. She needs to understand where this fixation is coming from and whether Helene is being exposed to material that’s influencing her in ways that might not be appropriate for her age.
Meanwhile, Helene is content with her collage. To her, it’s a representation of everything she admires and aspires to. She doesn’t see anything wrong with it—in fact, she’s proud of her work and excited to share it with anyone who will listen.
As the rain continues to fall outside, the atmosphere in the classroom is tense, with Helene’s bold and unconventional collage leaving a lasting impression on everyone who saw it.
