This term we have been studying how the medium (or tool) affects how we interact with the world around us. Or, to put it in familiar terms, how the medium is the message.
For example, someone who owns a car will interact with distance much differently than a person who has only feet to travel with. The medium of the car sends the message that distance is unimportant, thus a car owner would tend to travel much more frequently, and much longer distances, than the person without a car. While a car owner in Lyman would think of a trip to Salt Lake City as a one-day affair, the walker would see such a trip as a major undertaking. The car owner would perceive the world as a much smaller place than the walker.
A much more comprehensive explanation of “The Medium is the Message” can be found at the following links:
Introduction
Application
Images vs. Text
Analogue vs. Abstract
I’m going to offer you a number of approaches to the project for this unit. Read through them and decide which one would be most interesting to pursue.
1. Go through recent findings in the scientific world, or technological products in the early stages of development. Using Postman’s metaphor of the drop of red dye to guide your thoughts, come up with possible futures where this product or finding has permeated and changed the culture of America. Choose the scenario that most excites your imagination. Write a short story (3000 words at least), complete with a plot and character arcs, showing how the product or finding affects the culture. Or you can go into the past. Find a medium that significantly affected history. What would happen if that medium never arrived? Or what might have happened if another medium came in its place? For example if electric cars had gained ascendancy instead of gasoline powered cars? Some good writers to read on this subject would be Ray Bradbury and Phillip K. Dick.
2. Find a work of art that has been rendered into more than one medium. For example, a book that has been made into a movie, or a movie into a book. Or a piece of music that has been rendered into a dance (anyone here remember the Boot Scootin’ Boogie?). Or a book into a graphic novel. Write a paper analyzing how the difference in medium affected the work of art. What aspects of the original were enhanced by the change in medium? Which parts were diminished? How did the meaning of the original change? What new meanings were added when the medium changed? What meanings were subtracted? How did the work of art benefit from the change? How did it suffer? The analysis should be about 1000 words.
3. Find a work of art and translate it into another medium. For example, translate a painting into a short story, or a piece of music into a dance, or a poem into a drawing. Write a short paper (700 words) talking about the process of translation. Are you pleased with the translation? What qualities of the original piece were enhanced through your work? What parts diminished?
4. The classroom is a medium. The assignment is a medium. The quiz is a medium. The grade is a medium. Each of them sends a different message about what learning is. Some of these mediums help learning, and some of them inhibit learning. Many of them do both. Develop an English class that would cater to your particular learning style. What would actually be important to learn in your class? How would you define learning? How would you set up the classroom? Would you even have a classroom? How would you present information to the students? Would you have assignments? What would they be like? How would you test what the students have learned? Write a paper of about 1000 words describing your class and how your particular design would enhance learning.
Deadlines and point values:
May 6: You have chosen your project. 10 pts
May 9: You email me an outline of your project. 10 pts
May 16: You have emailed your first draft to me. 10 pts
May 21: You have emailed your second draft to me. 10 pts
May 28: You have emailed your final draft to me. 10 pts
There will be a 50-point worth ethic grade.
The final draft of your final project is worth 100 points.
Total points: 200
Since the PAWS test took up so much of our term, your performance on this project will constitute the majority of your grade.
We will be working on these projects during class time. Thus, I will always be available to assist you. Make sure you pick something you’ll enjoy doing. If you have an idea for an alternate project make sure you pitch it to me by May 6.
