1. 1984–Back to the novel. Read and annotate Chapters 3-6 of Part II. Keep the following in mind for annotating:
Additionally, you are expected to annotate as or after you read each night. This is mandatory. You will learn how to provide some focus to your annotations. Ultimately, focused annotating prepares you for your reading responses and your formal essays. To annotate is to supply with critical or explanatory notes:
- Identifying lines that resonate with you, confuse you, or make you want to know more
- Asking questions of general thematic/philosophical value
- Tracking the development of a theme that may connect to one or more of the philosophical readings or other fiction.
** Merely underlining or highlighting the text will earn you a D, at best.
2. Art as Social/Political/Economic/Environmental Commentary
On 11/7 we will brainstorm issues/subjects for our Art as Social… Commentary Projects.
George Orwell uses the novel as a means to communicate his critical view of political and social paradigms of the mid 20th Century. As I am sure you are aware, he felt strongly about his critique of totalitarianism in general and Stalin’s Soviet Union in particular.
Now it is your turn to use art as a form of commentary. First things first, choose a subject that you feel strongly about, something in which you can invest your time, thought, emotion, and creative juices. Your only limit here is your imagination! Your art should have consciousness and purpose as you create awareness. It should be genuine. Ultimately, I expect that you will elevate and catalyze a dialogue relevant to your subject.
After selecting your subject, you must Research! You are expected to research your subject accumulating 3 sources further informing your understanding of the subject. Understanding that the sources and précis are to work in concert solidifying your knowledge on the subject, thoughtfully choose your sources and choose sources from legitimate web sites (avoid wiki links, joe schmoe’s blog, joe schmoe and his cronie’s website, etc.). You are then expected to write a precis for each source. Print out and read the precis expectations. You should have the precis printout in your binder as with all printouts. Let me stress, read the precis guidelines very closely. Further, the sources should ultimately help to give form to your creative project. At the end, you will submit your research with the creative project. As I stressed in class, choose a subject you genuinely care about.
Folks, this is not some casual art assignment that can be done in your journal consisting of a couple of stick figures. If you do this you will receive no credit for the assignment. In grading the visual bit I am expecting to see the product of deep thought (thematic understanding), extraordinary effort, and creative effort.
The following will be considered when assessing these:
- Project’s visual impact (The visual should be aesthetically pleasing…more simply, it should look amazing)
- The project should be informed by your research. It should reflect knowledge and understanding.
- Project is thoughtful (The visual should be so thoughtfully and carefully created so as to carry your commentary/message.)
- Project is well-designed/executed
- Project reflects exceptional effort.
VERY IMPORTANT: The visual alone should communicate the commentary/message. You should not have to rely on words! This is not to say that you cannot have language woven into the visual.
I expect your very best creative work here. Know your creative strengths and weaknesses. If you are not a “natural” artist, improvise… Don’t be afraid to think outside of the box. No excuses for mediocrity on this assignment. Peace.