My idea would be to take a play text and use the students to research/discuss in detail, using Buckingham’s 4 areas of media analysis. This would work well as part of an advanced directing unit I think. I had the idea that it might be a good idea, instead of just using a typical Shakespeare text (although that could still work), to use something political, or something that had an impact on people, changed their minds. The first text that came to my head was Waiting for Godot by Samuel Beckett and the prisoners of the San Quentin jail. This was the first place that this play was truly successful.
The students would read the script (and if possible, seeing a rendition of it might be good as well), then analyze it via the four media literacy areas – Production, Language, Representation, Audiences. This would help them to become very familiar with the script, but also to dig deeper and understand what the script is really trying to say, what the playwright intended it to say, and what audiences (either intended or not) are likely to get from it.
They could then turn this technique on other texts (though starting with something that was impactful to a specific audience will help them get the gist of it first I think), and create the proper meanings that they want to for their plays by attracting the right people for their audiences by advertising properly, and crafting a product for the audiences that they have, typically their neighbors.
5 comments:
Way to go with your idea. I would definitely let them see a rendition of the play if you are analyzing Waiting.
What if you had a middle school class? Would you still do this play?
Way to go Heather! I think your idea is fabulous, but I was wondering, what about more detail? How exactly would they use those four areas to analyze a text? Those areas are huge...what specific part would you focus on? Are there any specific questions you would ask? Also, depending on how you structure it, how long would this activity take? In short, I think your ideais fabulous, I was just hoping for a bit more detail.
Way to go!
I think this is a powerful idea; I especially love that you've chosen a specific audience for a specific piece at a specific moment in time. What a great way to help students see how all these elements come together --
Way to go!
I think this is a powerful idea; I especially love that you've chosen a specific audience for a specific piece at a specific moment in time. What a great way to help students see how all these elements come together --
Way to go!
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