Thursday, June 4, 2015

Final Class

Your presentations were amazing. I thoroughly enjoyed watching

  • the prince recgonize his love only by her shoes
  • a lazy, lounging Cinderella
  • a Cinderella who consistently made bad choices
  • an ambitous and manipulative Cinderella
  • and a Cinderella who was first harmed by love at first sight, and then used it against the prince

All very smart and very entertaining. You are a creative and critical group. I'm very proud of you and proud of the work you have done this semester.

Your last task: submit your final portfolio with all the revisions.
1) Create a Google Doc with a link that you share with me (please let me edit).
2) post your link as a RESPONSE to THIS POST (include your name)
3) also post this link on your own blog
by June 12.

Congratulations on completing your freshman year at WKU!

Friday, May 29, 2015

Friday, 5/29 - Final Portfolio and Project 4

Final Portfolio
We have discussed the Final Portfolio and the Self Evaluation previously, but we reviewed them again today. Specifically, we focused on formatting the Final Portfolio, what it should look like and how to do this.
Please use the Final Portfolio Template (available in the links to the right). We discussed formatting as well as inserting bookmarks and hyperlinks.

Project 4
We started with group updates, each group explaining
1) what element of the Cinderella story they are satirizing
2) how they are satirizing it
- 3 examples (increasing in ridiculousness) usually work best.

You will need to transition between these examples in a way that lets the audience understand the when, where, and what of that particular section.

For example, if Example 1 is 2015 at WKU and Example 2 is in 2020 in Kean USA, then you could transition in a few ways:
1) have a narrator who explains this transition
2) use the PPT to show a) a different background setting and b) text that explains the time difference
3) use character action and dialogue to inform the audience of the changes
Use the simplest transition possible.

You should also know by this point how your skit will

  • break the fourth wall
  • challenge traditional gender roles
While you don't have deadlines on Tuesday, you do have a lot of things to work on:
- Final Portfolio
     - 4th drafts (optional) 
     - self evaluation
- Project 4: script and production
(actors should have their lines memorized)

Monday, May 25, 2015

Project 4: Gender and Character Development

Finally, we talked about using characters who challenge traditional gender roles. We examined the progression of gay men in television and film, starting with Sean Hays' character, Jack on "Will and Grace" and moving toward Willem Defoe's character on The Boondock Saints.




The character Jack does not fit into the role of traditional masculinity, which makes him a laughable character. This is one way to challenge heteronormativity, but it is not very kind because this is not a very humanized character.

Watch as Willem Defoe's character performs the role of traditional masculinity.


Now watch as that traditional role is challenged.

By contrast, Willem Defoe's character is an alpha male, or a figure that performs all the roles of the traditionally masucline, with the exception of being gay. This is a character the audience is supposed to admire and respect and his homosexuality--although it is hidden/closeted--does not detract from this image.

Please find your own brief examples of characters that challenge gender roles and post the links as comments here.



Group Work for Project 4 (and assignment for Friday - post on your group Google Doc):

1) Challenging Gender: your skit must have at least one character that challenges gender roles

- Develop the characters
- How many? What are their roles? How do they push the plot forward?
- Which character will challenge traditional gender roles? In what way?

2) How will you break the 4th Wall?

Work on Script



Thursday, May 21, 2015

Working On Project 4

Project 4 requires you to write and perform a skit satirizing one element of the Cinderella story.

We have focused on satire.

Now I'd like to focus on some other elements of the assignment.

We determined the difference between a Skit and a Play.
A play is focused on the narrative arc (rising action, conflict, and resolution), while a skit is more of a single, sustained joke that establishes expectations, then disrupts those expectations.

We defined the Fourth Wall as the invisible "wall" between an actor and her audience. So "breaking the fourth wall" means to interaction with the audience.

I asked you to study this a bit more and explain it using this Prezi on "Breaking the 4th Wall"

Assignment:
Determine the 1 element you will satirize.
Explain how you will satirize it.

Turn It In

Please submit 3.3 on Turnitin.com
the deadline is Friday by midnight

Our class ID is 10020939
Our password is 123456

Monday, May 18, 2015

Working on Project 3

Given your anxiety over Project 3, we extended the deadline and worked on it some more in class. Please see the Google Doc of arguments.
Please also use the following outline.
The new 3.3 is due on Friday. (If Friday is too soon for you, please see me for an extension SOON.)

I. Introduction
Define your Terms: Establish the most important value
-          Marriage?
-          Readership?
-          Story
Explain how it works.
-          The purpose of Marriage—or—Marriage should work like this
-          The purpose of Reading—or—Readers should work like this
-          The purpose of the story—or—The story should work like this.
II. Argument One
Use evidence to prove your point your point.
-          Here is how this works in Cinderella
-          Quote from a source
Example:
In “Cinderella,” the characters do not marry for love; they marry for social and economic stability.
Young says, “Blah blah blah” and I agree
Explain: (how does this support your argument)?
Sample explanation:
                Marriage should be accomplished for love, not economic or social gain. Therefore, “Cinderella” perverts the use of marriage, representing it in a negative way.
I agree with Young because…
III. Argument Two
                Support with evidence (examples and/or sources).
You may have a 3rd argument. But you do not have to.
IV. Rebuttal:
Some might say that _____, but I say ______.
V. Conclusion

Remind us of what you just told us. Remind us why you’re right.

Thursday, May 7, 2015

Satire Continued

  1. 1)      What, in your own words, is a parody? (It’s ok to look at definitions, but please paraphrase using your own words.)
  2. 2)      What is the conflict between Eisner and Katzenberg? (Summarize. Use your own words.)
  3. 3)      How did Katzenberg get revenge?
  4. 4)      What precautions did Katzenberg take in order to avoid charges of plagiarism?*
  5. 5)      The article provides an example of parody in Shrek. What was this example and how does it fit the definition?

In the comment section below, write the names of your group members.
And also write the element that you will satirize.