2063 Exhibit

Pop Culture Experts: Your work is nearly done, but there I have one final mission for you. Each future generation of Pop Culture Experts will be continuing your work and traveling back in time 50 years to gather and archive pop culture artifacts. Eventually, however, we will be transitioning our methods and will no longer be traveling back in time. Instead, Pop Culture Experts will be creating time capsules for future generations to open. With that in mind, your task is to create a time capsule of pop culture artifacts from the year 2013 that will be opened in 2063 and placed in an exhibit similar to the one you are currently working on. Here are the details:

-Your time capsule must contain 10 different artifacts.
-Along with each artifact you need a description/summary that explains what exactly the artifact is. Keep in mind how much pop culture evolves--we have no idea what pop culture will look like 50 years from now, so we need to make sure that the Pop Culture Experts who are opening the time capsules know what they are looking at.
-Each artifact needs a rationale that explains why you chose to include the artifact in your time capsule. Why is it an important artifact from the year 2013?
-You need to put some kind of physical representation of the artifact. If it's a song, you may include the lyrics, a CD with the song on it, etc.
-Your time capsule can take any form you'd like it to--shoebox, lunchbox, poster, etc. The choice is yours.

Your final mission is due on Friday, June 14th at 7:45am. Please be prepared to present your time capsule to your fellow Pop Culture Experts.

Welcome Back!

I'm glad to see that everyone survived the time travel. Now that we are back in 2013 with our artifacts, we need to analyze them before they can be added to the museum's archives. For this purpose, I have asked some of your past colleagues to join us.

Around the room are 4 different stations with artifacts at each. At each station you will be asked to analyze the artifact in a variety of ways.

Station 1: Music
"Sugar Shack" by Jimmy Gilmer and The Fireballs (Lyrics)

Station 2: Film
The Birds Trailer and Poster

Station 3: Television
Bonanza Clip #1, Clip #2, and Title Sequence 

Station 4: Advertisements
Pepsi, Coca-Cola, and Chanel

Once you have made it through all 4 stations, I would like you to write instructions to help future pop culture experts find and analyze artifacts. Some questions you might consider answering are: What are types of artifacts should one look for? How does one determine whether an artifact is an example of pop culture? When analyzing an artifact, what elements should be considered? How does pop culture change over time?

 

 

Going Back in Time

Hello, folks. We have traveled back in our time machines to the year 1963. You are a group of Pop Culture Scientists who are currently curating an exhibition of popular culture artifacts to be displayed at our national museum. Luckily, we were able to bring our laptops and other technological devices with us on this journey. Using your knowledge of pop culture, please find five examples of pop culture from any of the following categories.

Advertisements (commercials, magazine ads, radio ads, etc.)
Music
Film (movie posters, trailers, etc.)
Television
Magazines
Video Games
If you have an additional category you would like to include, please have it approved by me first.


Create a blog post with the five artifacts that you believe should be included in our national exhibition. You must explain why you believe each item deserves to be a pop culture artifact from the year 1963.

May 29, 2013

1. Last three shot list presentations (Chris, Omar, and Paige)
2. Finish watching Big Fish (~15 minutes)
3. Tim Burton Style Analysis


Paragraph 1: Summary of scene from Big Fish.
Paragraph 2: Analysis of Tim Burton's style in Big Fish. Use your cinematic techniques and the effects of the technique to help you analyze his style.
Paragraph 3: Summary of your second Tim Burton scene.
Paragraph 4: Analysis of Tim Burton's style in your second scene. Use your cinematic techniques and the effects of the technique to help you analyze his style.
Paragraph 5: Compare and contrast Tim Burton's style between the two movies.


Here's an example analysis from Edward Scissorhands:

In Edward Scissorhands, Tim Burton uses long shot (cinematic technique) in order to show the vulnerability of characters (purpose). For example, when Peg is upstairs in the castle, the long shot makes her look small so that the viewer worries about her safety (evidence to support topic). 

May 16, 2013

Tim Burton Research: Due Monday, May 20th!

Using this site, read two articles about Tim Burton, then answer the questions below in a blog post. Please link to the two articles you read. You may have to do some additional research to answer them.

1. Who is Tim Burton? (4-5 sentences)
2. What films has he directed? (list)
3. How would you describe Tim Burton's style as a director? (4-5 sentences)
4. What from Tim Burton's personal life, if anything, has influenced his stylistic choices? (4-5 sentences)

May 10, 2013

Today we:
-took the cinematic techniques quiz
-continued working on our 60-second shot lists (ignore the analysis column, we'll work on this later)

Your shot lists are due on Tuesday. You will be presenting them in class for a speaking grade. Choose 5 shots from your trailer to present. If you are working with a partner you EACH need to present 5 different shots.

Those of you who were not here today will need to make up the cinematic techniques quiz next week.

Cinematic Techniques Presentations

Today you are presenting your cinematic techniques presentations to the class.

You have 20 minutes at the beginning of class to finish them and prepare what you are going to say. Make sure you have met all of the requirements (listed below). Please send me a copy of your presentation if you have not done so already.

Requirements (to MEET the standard)
-5 different techniques
-3 examples of each technique (photo, video, etc.)
-definitions for each technique
-the effect of each technique (what is the effect/purpose of _________)

While each group presents you will be taking notes using the handout I have emailed to you. Be prepared for a quiz next class.

Movie Trailer Homework due on Friday the 26th of April

NPR Trailer Article

Please complete a blog post where you analyze TWO movie trailers of your choice. Choose trailers that are really different from one another.

Here is a great list to start with.

50 Greatest Movie Trailers (according to IFC.com)

1. Post the trailers to your blog.

2. Analyze/Identify/Discuss the following for EACH of the trailers:

Genre:

Narrative:

Location:

Characters:

Voice Over:

Theme(s):

Pacing/Mood:

On-screen Graphics:

Music and other sound effects:

How does the trailer begin?

How does the trailer end?

Was it effectively edited?

April 9

Archetypes from films:

• pair up
• finish
• discuss

Movie Poster Analysis

Cliche Posters

Rad Posters

How to Analyze?

Analysis 1

Analysis 2

Homework for Thursday:

Read the poster analysis pieces to become familiar with the process.

Choose two or three posters that you think you can analyze. On Thursday you will select a final one to analyze, so make sure your choices are strong. The goal is to have zero homework over break (unless you're leaving early for Puerto Rico). 

April 5th: Loose Ends

Today we're going to wrap up some loose ends (our AFI quotable quotes handout) AND start looking at some new "stuff." Remixing, archetypes, movie posters, and movie trailers are some things I'd like to look at. I'd like to do some basic analysis as well, but I'm not sure how "into" that you'll all be.
Anyway, start thinking about a film you'd like to make (Don't worry, you're not going to make it). I've got an idea for movie pitches, trailers, scenes, posters, and maybe even soundtracks (if you're into it).

Anyway, today we're going to do the following:
1. Discuss quotable quotes handout
2. Discuss blog posts
3. Discuss archetypes

April 3rd

Today we're going to go back to remixing (a bit). This time instead of discussing music, we're moving on to film. Now, I'll readily admit that for the past four years I've been kind of "out of the loop" when it comes to film. Cable lines have been ripped out the quaint hamlet of Temple (seriously, I think they made more money on the scrap or reusing the line somewhere else), and at our house we have too many trees for Dish or Direct. Because of this we used to rent films or get them via Netflix on an almost daily basis.  Then high-speed internet came to town (finally) and we "cheaped out" and got lazy. Now we watch whatever is available on Netflix instant (some great shows, but not many new films) and rent movies infrequently. My point is that you'll be bringing a lot to the table that might be completely foreign to me. Bear with me. I'll do the best that I can.




Everything is a Remix Part 2 from Kirby Ferguson on Vimeo.


Here is another one. It's not better than the first, but if you're into The Matrix, then it will be right up your alley.





Everything Is A Remix: THE MATRIX from robgwilson.com on Vimeo.

Your homework is to do one of the following and post it to your blog:
1. Reflect on what we just watched. It needs to be interesting, lengthy, and include an image/video clip/something.
2. Discuss a film that you think is a remix (in some or many ways). Remember that remix doesn't mean bad.

April 1st

Today you talked about the film you felt belonged in AFI's top 100 films of all time.
You also presented three memorable quotations from three different films.
If you didn't get any of it posted to your blog, then please do so.
You don't have any "extra" homework for Wednesday (an early release day). On Wednesday we'll finish presenting information (if there is any to present) and move on to our next topic.
Happy April Fool's day!

March 28th

Today you presented your ice cream flavors and soda pop art. Great job!  The next time we meet you have a blog entry due. It should only take you a few minutes, but you're helping frame our class.

1. Write a blog utilizing the AFI list of top 100 films. What movie should be included in the list? Why?

2. Find three quotable quotations from three different films. List the quotations in your blog.

March 26th and March 28th

Why do I remember this film from my childhood? I have no idea. I don't love baseball. I especially didn't like it when I was a kid. Normally lines from films (at least from my childhood) that pop into my head come from films like The Goonies or Ferris Bueller's Day Off, but not this one. And this one pops
up often.


  

Anyway, these presentations we're doing are taking, well, forever. We've got to do something else. Something fun that is kind of silly but not a waste of time. You need another project type grade this quarter. This will be it. Here are a couple of ideas for you. We're going to start shifting from music to television/film pretty soon.

APPROPRIATE REFERENCES ONLY PLEASE!

Think about things from your childhood or shows/musicians/something related to pop culture that you are/were obsessed with and create a Ben and Jerry's flavor (make sure you create the image/packaging) AND look at the first image and come up with two "pop art" (or as someone from Maine might say "soda art") inspired pieces.

 

Fake Ben and Jerry's Flavors (Pop Culture References Galore)

Right now my son loves Spiderman. A few months ago he was into My Little Pony, but only because of "Rainbow Dash" (he insists RD is a boy). The Big Bang Theory is pretty awesome to him as is Olivia Wilde. He keeps talking about the "gorgeous" lady on the magazine. Anyway, some of these are pretty easy to work with, but others would be a bit confusing or more difficult. Spiderman is easy because he's more ubiquitous than Rainbow Dash. The Big Bang Theory characters might be fun to work with, but Olivia Wilde? She would be much more difficult to portray on a pop can OR as a flavor of ice cream.

Concerts (First, Favorite, None)

Who
Where
Today we're talking about concerts/live music. This is about as far from remixing as you can get, which is the point. Here are the questions we generated in class. You can ask more. I'd love actually love to see/hear more questions, but it's more important to get solid information and/or a really good story. Next week (after remixing) legends and generations.

Outside/inside
When?
With whom?
How old?
Chairs?
best/worst parts?
opening act?
planned?
funny story?
favorite song/moment?
crowd?
time of year?
where were you?
what did you wear?
did you buy anything?


Who would you like to see?
Why haven't you gone?
Who would you go with?
Why?
Where would you want to sit?
What do you think it would be like?

Thursday March 7th

Today we worked on our remix projects.
They are due on Friday the 15th.
You'll have a tiny bit of time in class to work on them after today, but don't count on getting it all done in class.

Remix Soundtrack to Your Life Questions

What was the first song you ever bought?
What song always gets you dancing?
What song takes you back to your childhood?
What is your perfect love song?
What song would you want at your funeral?
Time for an encore. One last song that makes you, you.

Soundcloud...NIN (Head Like a Hole) and Call Me Maybe...yes I just said that...

March 5, 2013 Remixing

And More...
Quotations and Kleon
Brilliant Remixing Quotations

And More...




And a few more... movies this time...






Sounds Like

Cover Songs March 1st

We're going to start having conversations about sampling songs (and remixes) next week. Today we're going to look at cover songs. You'll have time to post in class, but you need to do a bit of reflection/analysis here as well.

Directions:

1. Find a cover song that is truly similar to the original and post it and the original on your blog. Analyze the effectiveness of the cover.
2. Find a cover song that is completely different from the original and post it and the original on your blog. Contrast the pieces. Are they effective? In what way(s)? What is the purpose of each? What is the tone?

February 25th

You don't have homework for the 27th, but LOTS of you have makeup work to do. Please make sure you email me and/or come to see me about your owed work. You only have until the 29th to do this work (unless you have extenuating circumstances).

Today we did the following:

1. Listened to Break Up Song (This American Life) and had a brief discussion about interesting details in the piece.

2. Posted our love song playlists. 

• go to grooveshark playlist
• in the upper right corner click on share
• click on embed and copy the html
• go to blogger
• create a new post (with a title)
• click on html (upper left hand corner next to the word compose)
• paste the html from groovshark into the box
• click save
• click publish

3. Printed reasons for song selections and handed them in to Mrs. Sheldon. Please hand these in ASAP. 

4. Discussed the song selections and themes.

Video Killed the Radio Star

You should have a video posted to your blog for a discussion on Thursday the 14th. Here is mine.

Love Songs (or not)

Your assignment is to create a love song playlist on grooveshark. We'll work on posting them to your blogs (like this) on the day we return to class. While this technically concerns love songs, you can really look at it as any kind of love. Love, crush, I used to love you (but now I don't), I still love you (but you don't love me back), et cetera. Please make sure the content is appropriate.

You should have the following:
1. A minimum of 10 songs
2. A purpose for each song (why did you select it)
3. Why are the songs in the order they are in?

February 4th through February 8th

Do Superbowl Ads Really Work?

January 25, 2013

Today we created blogs for class and discussed (briefly) the pop culture landscape surveys we completed in class on Wednesday.
Your homework is to ask those survey questions to an adult.
Make sure you complete the form via google drive.

Pop Culture Wordle Day One

These wordles are from the pop culture landscape questions on our first day of class.

Pop Culture Landscape Mrs.Sheldon's class

1.What do you notice about this Wordle?
2. Which words are the biggest?
3. Which words are the smallest?
4. Why are certain words even here (Hunger--I know why, but it's an easy example)?

Look at the image below. This is from a different section of the course. Note similarities and differences.

Pop Culture Landscape Mr. Tierney's Class