Identity - Martin Parr

This ready-to-use lesson helps students explore the concept of identity in visual art through the work of Martin Parr, focusing on two photographs from his Last Resort series (early 1980s). Parr’s images capture British working-class holiday culture, offering a powerful lens to discuss class, leisure, and social identity.

Students will learn to:

Break down what they see in an artwork — subject, composition.
Analyse how formal visual elements communicate meaning.
Interpret social and cultural cues to understand an artist’s message.

The lesson pack includes:

• A PowerPoint presentation that leads students step-by-step through analysing the photographs.
• A key-words handout to build visual-art vocabulary (e.g. concept, context, composition etc).
• A worksheet for pair or independent work, prompting students to apply analytical skills.
• A plenary activity to check understanding and consolidate learning.

Suitable for secondary students studying photography, art, or social history, this resource scaffolds visual literacy and critical thinking through real-life documentary photography.