Choose Your Own Pop Culture Project
Please choose any of the following projects (note: some are group projects).
Common Elements of the projects:
A. All projects should have a Works Cited page. This is a requirement, as the project encourages and requires additional sources, books, interviews, materials, etc. Check out the link to MLA format on the link page to your right.
B. All projects should have a: treatment, outline, or 1-2 page proposal. This proposal should outline the following: 1. what do I want to do? (an explanation of the project as you imagine it) 2. Why do I want to do it? (your reasoning and interest in the topic) and 3. What is it going to include or cover? (No, you can't just wing this at the last minute.)
C. Individual projects will have individual requirements. See below.
1. SPEECH & PERFORMANCE: Write a 5-7 minute speech (with visual aides...flyer, brochure, pamphlet--at least one is required). Your speech may be: persuasive, informational, or entertainment (comedy/stand-up, etc.) but it should research contemporary American culture, fads, counter-culture, etc. Your task will have a lot to do with what kind of speech you choose. The speech should be researched, written (typed out), transferred to note cards and rehearsed. No credit will be given if the performer does not deliver the speech live as a performer.
2. FILM: Write a 3-7 minute film involving either a fictional/satirical or otherwise creative response to something inherently pop cultural. The film can be a documentary (review last year and the types), or a narrative. Genre is up to you. The film must be accompanied by a film script and the film should be filmed with an actual camera and edited using appropriate film making software. You may work with other students on the project, but each member of the film must have a distinct role or roles (stated clearly in the titles or credits), assist with the completion of the film project, and include a 1-2 page personal review of the film making process.
3. JOURNAL/MAGAZINE: Write a 8-16 page magazine. Articles can include advertisements (real objects or fake ones), art (photography), columns, or reviews. Material or content should discuss some specific or focused area of popular culture. You may work with other students on this project, but each contributor should have a distinct role or roles (stated clearly in the table of contents), assist with the completion and layout of the project, and include a 1-2 page personal review of putting together a literary or popular cultural magazine. The final magazine should be printed and bound (see me for more details).
4. GRAPHIC NOVEL: Write and draw a graphic novel or comic book (8-16 pages). You may work with ONE partner to complete the project if you wish. Usually a person would divide the writing and the drawing, but students should work together if working in a group and divide tasks any way their talent lies. Inking and layout are required, as well as a comic book/graphic novel script (see me for more details). The final issue should be bound. Color is optional.
5. TELEVISION SHOW: Working with a group (producer, director, writer(s), and actors, pitch and create the pilot episode of a new sitcom or teen drama involving contemporary issues and popular cultural events. Tone and genre is up to you. Your project should include a completed television script for a 22-minute episode. You are required to shoot and edit at least one act of the television program.
6. DON'T SEE IT HERE? ASK. You are free to propose a suitable alternative of equal complexity and scope. From MUSICALS to PERFORMANCE ART & POETRY, to NOVEL writing, to PLAY PRODUCTION/READING, ROLE PLAYING SCENARIO, or any other popular cultural project you can dream up. Projects require the details above and I will work with you to set up appropriate materials. NOTE: Some projects may not work or may be too time consuming for certain students. Your proposal may be rejected if it is not well thought out or if time would never permit its completion.
Due by the end of the marking period.
Common Elements of the projects:
A. All projects should have a Works Cited page. This is a requirement, as the project encourages and requires additional sources, books, interviews, materials, etc. Check out the link to MLA format on the link page to your right.
B. All projects should have a: treatment, outline, or 1-2 page proposal. This proposal should outline the following: 1. what do I want to do? (an explanation of the project as you imagine it) 2. Why do I want to do it? (your reasoning and interest in the topic) and 3. What is it going to include or cover? (No, you can't just wing this at the last minute.)
C. Individual projects will have individual requirements. See below.
1. SPEECH & PERFORMANCE: Write a 5-7 minute speech (with visual aides...flyer, brochure, pamphlet--at least one is required). Your speech may be: persuasive, informational, or entertainment (comedy/stand-up, etc.) but it should research contemporary American culture, fads, counter-culture, etc. Your task will have a lot to do with what kind of speech you choose. The speech should be researched, written (typed out), transferred to note cards and rehearsed. No credit will be given if the performer does not deliver the speech live as a performer.
2. FILM: Write a 3-7 minute film involving either a fictional/satirical or otherwise creative response to something inherently pop cultural. The film can be a documentary (review last year and the types), or a narrative. Genre is up to you. The film must be accompanied by a film script and the film should be filmed with an actual camera and edited using appropriate film making software. You may work with other students on the project, but each member of the film must have a distinct role or roles (stated clearly in the titles or credits), assist with the completion of the film project, and include a 1-2 page personal review of the film making process.
3. JOURNAL/MAGAZINE: Write a 8-16 page magazine. Articles can include advertisements (real objects or fake ones), art (photography), columns, or reviews. Material or content should discuss some specific or focused area of popular culture. You may work with other students on this project, but each contributor should have a distinct role or roles (stated clearly in the table of contents), assist with the completion and layout of the project, and include a 1-2 page personal review of putting together a literary or popular cultural magazine. The final magazine should be printed and bound (see me for more details).
4. GRAPHIC NOVEL: Write and draw a graphic novel or comic book (8-16 pages). You may work with ONE partner to complete the project if you wish. Usually a person would divide the writing and the drawing, but students should work together if working in a group and divide tasks any way their talent lies. Inking and layout are required, as well as a comic book/graphic novel script (see me for more details). The final issue should be bound. Color is optional.
5. TELEVISION SHOW: Working with a group (producer, director, writer(s), and actors, pitch and create the pilot episode of a new sitcom or teen drama involving contemporary issues and popular cultural events. Tone and genre is up to you. Your project should include a completed television script for a 22-minute episode. You are required to shoot and edit at least one act of the television program.
6. DON'T SEE IT HERE? ASK. You are free to propose a suitable alternative of equal complexity and scope. From MUSICALS to PERFORMANCE ART & POETRY, to NOVEL writing, to PLAY PRODUCTION/READING, ROLE PLAYING SCENARIO, or any other popular cultural project you can dream up. Projects require the details above and I will work with you to set up appropriate materials. NOTE: Some projects may not work or may be too time consuming for certain students. Your proposal may be rejected if it is not well thought out or if time would never permit its completion.
Due by the end of the marking period.
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