Topic 1:
As we have discussed plagiarism and copyright, we have looked at several remixes like the Gang Fight remix of "Friday," and Colbert's cover of the same song. Then, of course, there are the auto-tune remixes done by the Gregory Brothers like "Backin' up."
For this blog post, think of another such remix that you enjoy and have the group discuss how the remix works (what they actually did to remix the piece) and why it works (why does it appeak to an audience). What is the significance of such parodies? Do they do serious work? Your group will look even more impressive if you can relate your analysis to our discussions of plagiarism and copyright.
Topic 2:
This topic will be much more difficult than topic 1, because it will require you to 1) have a good working relationship with your group because you will need to 2) do outside work, and 3) you will need some basic computer literacy.
Your assignment for topic two is to create a video blog in which your group will perform a "mixup" of your own. You might construct a parodic music video, or a short sketch in which you will adapt another work (song, story, speech, advertisement, etc.) into a new work of your own. There should be a rhetorical purpose. What comment on the original work are you trying to make by doing this one?
You will need to have at least an outline to turn in by the end of class, then you may have the weekend to work on and edit your video, but it must be completed and uploaded onto your blog on Monday.
Showing posts with label culture. Show all posts
Showing posts with label culture. Show all posts
Thursday, April 7, 2011
Thursday, February 10, 2011
Blog Post Ideas for 2/11
Blog Project 1
You have read Paulo Freire's "The Importance of the Act of Reading" and Peggy McIntosh's "White Privilege: Unpacking the Invisible Knapsack," and you have watched "Brazil in Black and White." Each of these suggests that many of the advantages that allow many of us to pursue an education, career opportunities, and so on, and which we see as natural elements of a meritocracy are in fact bestowed on us, not through our merits, but through our membership in particular exclusive groups.
The McIntosh piece and the film both point to race as one of these "invisible knapsacks." What others do you see and what evidence do you see of the existence of these knapsacks? How do these give privilege? What parts of this knapsack should be rights for all and which should we try to abolish as oppressive?
Blog Project 2
Having just experience two substantial snow events back to back, we have all probably been watching a lot of weather lately. So, find one or two news stories, news advertisements, or other weather related media and perform a rhetorical analysis on it. What are the ad's explicit and implicit messages? How do the news outlets you are looking at talk about weather and why do you think they talk in these ways? Did your example attempt to name the weather phenomenon? If so, what effect did this have?
In short, what arguments do these supposedly objective news stories make?
You have read Paulo Freire's "The Importance of the Act of Reading" and Peggy McIntosh's "White Privilege: Unpacking the Invisible Knapsack," and you have watched "Brazil in Black and White." Each of these suggests that many of the advantages that allow many of us to pursue an education, career opportunities, and so on, and which we see as natural elements of a meritocracy are in fact bestowed on us, not through our merits, but through our membership in particular exclusive groups.
The McIntosh piece and the film both point to race as one of these "invisible knapsacks." What others do you see and what evidence do you see of the existence of these knapsacks? How do these give privilege? What parts of this knapsack should be rights for all and which should we try to abolish as oppressive?
Blog Project 2
Having just experience two substantial snow events back to back, we have all probably been watching a lot of weather lately. So, find one or two news stories, news advertisements, or other weather related media and perform a rhetorical analysis on it. What are the ad's explicit and implicit messages? How do the news outlets you are looking at talk about weather and why do you think they talk in these ways? Did your example attempt to name the weather phenomenon? If so, what effect did this have?
In short, what arguments do these supposedly objective news stories make?
Thursday, January 27, 2011
Duchamp: Post Modern Forerunner; Practical Jokester
This blog is an example of Topic 1 for 1/28.
In 1917, while in New York, French artist Marcel Duchamp bought a urinal from an iron works company, signed it "R. Mutt" and called it "Fountain." The piece (if indeed it is one) has been considered a practical joke, but has also been taken quite seriously. Duchamp added the piece to his collection of found art objects which he had titled "Readymades." In 1915, Duchamp began displaying every day objects in artful ways in order to critique the adoration of art and the artist. Though there is as much playfulness in his movement as there is philosophy, his concept of found art, and his statements behind it pre-figured important post-modern ideas, a few decades before post-modernism became all the rage in Europe.
With his found art movement, Duchamp intended to question what defines art. Where does craftsmanship or utility end and where does art begin? What makes one piece of white earthenware featuring graceful geometric curves art, and what makes another a urinal?
Duchamp, who was critical of artist worship, played with the notion that by signing something and putting it in a gallery, one elevates it as art. This is particularly true if the signature is that of a well-respected artist. In fact, what allowed many 20th century artists to experiment with deconstructive styles was that they were already accomplished artists. Picasso's cubism might never have been accepted if not for his more traditional early work, his almost Classical Rose Period, and the aesthetically pleasing Blue Period. But, because he was who he was, he was able to experiment. People would expect the sometimes childish looking work of cubism because it had his name on it.
Duchamp seemed to recognize this ability, and he purposefully questioned this by simply signing every day objects, and placing them in galleries, knowing that folks would therefore call this work art.
This suggests then that the label "art" is arbitrary. The fact that "Fountain" was critically received as art (it was, in fact, named the most influential art work of the 20th century in 2004), suggests this. It's acclaim clearly had nothing to do with the graceful, arching lines of the urinal, or the pure white color, or the perfect classical geometry of its shape. If this were so, it would have been the original craftsman who made the first of these who would deserve credit as "artist." Instead, Duchamp signed a pseudonym on it, included it in a gallery show, and it was art, simply because the right person (Duchamp) put it in the right place (a gallery).
This attack on the arbitrary nature of art is decidedly post-modern. Duchamp questions to what extent art is art because it has some intrinsic quality, or to what extent is art art simply because someone decided that it was. In this way Duchamp is, in 1917, already doing what post-modern thought would do just after World War II, decades later.
In 1917, while in New York, French artist Marcel Duchamp bought a urinal from an iron works company, signed it "R. Mutt" and called it "Fountain." The piece (if indeed it is one) has been considered a practical joke, but has also been taken quite seriously. Duchamp added the piece to his collection of found art objects which he had titled "Readymades." In 1915, Duchamp began displaying every day objects in artful ways in order to critique the adoration of art and the artist. Though there is as much playfulness in his movement as there is philosophy, his concept of found art, and his statements behind it pre-figured important post-modern ideas, a few decades before post-modernism became all the rage in Europe. With his found art movement, Duchamp intended to question what defines art. Where does craftsmanship or utility end and where does art begin? What makes one piece of white earthenware featuring graceful geometric curves art, and what makes another a urinal?
Duchamp, who was critical of artist worship, played with the notion that by signing something and putting it in a gallery, one elevates it as art. This is particularly true if the signature is that of a well-respected artist. In fact, what allowed many 20th century artists to experiment with deconstructive styles was that they were already accomplished artists. Picasso's cubism might never have been accepted if not for his more traditional early work, his almost Classical Rose Period, and the aesthetically pleasing Blue Period. But, because he was who he was, he was able to experiment. People would expect the sometimes childish looking work of cubism because it had his name on it.
Duchamp seemed to recognize this ability, and he purposefully questioned this by simply signing every day objects, and placing them in galleries, knowing that folks would therefore call this work art.
This suggests then that the label "art" is arbitrary. The fact that "Fountain" was critically received as art (it was, in fact, named the most influential art work of the 20th century in 2004), suggests this. It's acclaim clearly had nothing to do with the graceful, arching lines of the urinal, or the pure white color, or the perfect classical geometry of its shape. If this were so, it would have been the original craftsman who made the first of these who would deserve credit as "artist." Instead, Duchamp signed a pseudonym on it, included it in a gallery show, and it was art, simply because the right person (Duchamp) put it in the right place (a gallery).
This attack on the arbitrary nature of art is decidedly post-modern. Duchamp questions to what extent art is art because it has some intrinsic quality, or to what extent is art art simply because someone decided that it was. In this way Duchamp is, in 1917, already doing what post-modern thought would do just after World War II, decades later.
Possible Topics for 1/28
Choose one topic as a group and write your blog post on that topic.
Topic 1 involves the analytic moves you have been using in Paper 1, in which you have connected a song to culture. This assignment, should you choose it, is to find another work of art (painting, photograph, poem, song, sculpture, play, etc.) and discuss how this work of art is a reaction to culture.
You are making the same analytic moves you made in paper 1, but you will have less space to make your argument. Come prepared with an idea of a work of art already in mind.
Topic 2 will prepare you for the next paper, where you will compare the arguments of two different essays, both dealing with literacy and multiculturalism.
In this topic, each member should share, in a paragaph or two, your own literacy narrative. What are your memories of learning to read? You should probably label each person's story seperately. Then, write a paragraph or two discussing what similarities there are between your stories and what differences there are if they seem significant. Do these similarities suggest any important lessons on literacy?
Topic 1 involves the analytic moves you have been using in Paper 1, in which you have connected a song to culture. This assignment, should you choose it, is to find another work of art (painting, photograph, poem, song, sculpture, play, etc.) and discuss how this work of art is a reaction to culture.
You are making the same analytic moves you made in paper 1, but you will have less space to make your argument. Come prepared with an idea of a work of art already in mind.
Topic 2 will prepare you for the next paper, where you will compare the arguments of two different essays, both dealing with literacy and multiculturalism.
In this topic, each member should share, in a paragaph or two, your own literacy narrative. What are your memories of learning to read? You should probably label each person's story seperately. Then, write a paragraph or two discussing what similarities there are between your stories and what differences there are if they seem significant. Do these similarities suggest any important lessons on literacy?
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