ENG 151 Siyang Zhou 2010-2011 Drafty Draft
Multimodal Assignment
Artificial Sensation: Vision Remix of Moments in The Picture of Dorian Gray
Directions:
Compose a short video as a remade scene selected from The Picture of Dorian Gray. The moment does not need to be long, and it cab be as instantaneous as a glance at “the gleam of the honey-sweet and honey-colored blossoms of laburnum” as portrayed in the opening scene of the novel. Your goal is to re-present the aura of the depicted/perceived scene with corresponding lens of vision, using materials in your daily life. Present your vision remix in about 5 to 10 minutes with the help of PowerPoint.
To start the presentation, you will need to explain or analyze the rhetorical as well as the scenic work of the chosen moment. You can look at diction, angels of vision, the scenic aura, and the implied messages etc. to explain the work of the message. In the second stage of the presentation, you will need to unfold your own visualization of the scene, the picture “seen” through your mind to the class. Illustrate to the class the visual feature of the moment (via writing, speaking, or other similar sample video clips) and how it works to deliver certain message or intention of the author. For example, the opening scene cited above may be characterized and represented by an extreme close-up lens on the flower. Based on the depiction of the scene in your imagination, make a vision remix in which you are able to employ the same lens of vision in viewing certain object, and in a way, remake the scene in real life. The remade scene will be more meaningful if you build the context for the representation. In other words, your vision remix should have certain prelude consisted of images, video, music, written words, and/or voice-over (narration) that can help to clarify your motive and goal. After the presentation, there will be a peer review section in which the rest of the class will evaluate the effectiveness of the use of the specific lens and the remade scene.
Tools Required:
PowerPoint,
Audio and/or video recorder
Other Basic information:
- The presentation needs to be at least 5 minutes long, including your exposition of the video.
- Your project is due on *****. This will give you at least two weeks to make the PowerPoint and the video.
- The project counts for 20% of your final grade for this course.
Your presentation should have the following components:
- A title for your vision remix
- The quotation from the selected scene
- Analysis of the lens of vision assisted by your speech or a piece of written analysis or a record of your oral interpretation
- Analysis of the implied message of the selected scene and/or its significance.
- Explanations of the intended visual effects (which is similar to that of the selected scene from the novel) and the implied messaged of your vision remix.
- A brief illustration of the process of your vision remix
- Any type of focusing lens in the video, some narration/voice-over, some digitized images.
- Any other information that you would like the class know for the peer review.
- A Credit page that include correct citations for any video clips, images, music, or texts that you use.
The project should play out the affordances of PowerPoint and video recorder for effective rhetorical re-embodiment. It should be carefully designed and is able to convey certain content/message/meaning.
If you don’t have access to PowerPoint or audio and video recorder, you can borrow one from the Alden library. Feel free to come and talk with me about any of your problems and difficulties in getting the equipments as well.
Place to Start with:
As photographers uses focusing lens exclusively in strengthening certain scenes or images for various purposes, it will be helpful to decide which type of focusing lens you want to use to re-present the chosen scene from the novel. The following several types may offer you some categories of focusing lenses. Explore the visual and the rhetorical effects of each kind, and choose one for your remix.
1) Close-up lens with a still background but moving images or objects
2) Close-up lens with a moving background but still objects
3) Moving/shaking close-up lens with a still background and image
4) Focusing lens
5) Long focusing lens
6) Close-up lens with moving images
7) Basic zoom-in or zoom-out on certain image
Siyang,
ReplyDeleteThis is intriguing and original. 'I'm drawn to this idea of the lens as rhetorical element and how this assignment will make students think about the ways angle of vision / focus / gaze, etc play into the subjectivities of compositions and effect content.
I think a more discursive introduction (for students) to this idea (how the composer's lens influences the audience's perception of image/video, how it works rhetorically) might be helpful as a way to introduce the assignment. This might be a good place for a few examples and short analyses of different techniques as well.
I also wonder if you may want to further define terms like "scenic aura" and "affordance"? This is something that can be done in the 151 class, of course, but it might give your other audience (792) a fuller picture of the assignment.
Interesting work!
What type of editing software will they be using? Is there any available software in Ellis or must they find their own programs?
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