A reminder girls that in the folder on Blackboard that is entitled The Devil Wears Prada, there is a PDF file of the booklet on film techniques that I handed out yesterday. There is also a copy of the PowerPoint presentation relating to film techniques that we worked through yesterday.
Lizzie and Maddy, you will both need to look through these as you progress through Mean Girls.
Friday, July 30, 2010
Film techniques and character development
This weekend, you are to complete a paragraph that answers the following question:
How do film techniques help to develop the audience's understanding of Andy?
You should think about the things that we looked at and discussed in class.
You should also spend the weekend following up any missed or incomplete work.
Lizzie and Maddy, you need to do the same task but looking at the character of Cady.
Lizzie and Maddy, you need to do the same task but looking at the character of Cady.
Wednesday, July 28, 2010
Reading Reminder
Given that we do not have a set novel for English this term, there is an expectation that you are continuing your wider reading program. Whilst in the library today, I would like you to look for a novel that you can be reading. By next week, I am expecting that you will have posted a reading reflection for your chosen book. Aim to choose a novel that will be both entertaining and challenging.
Femininity in the past
Under the folder in Blackboard that deals with 'Early Women's Magazines" there is an item named the "Women's Home Medical Journal". This item has several jpg files that you can access that have been scanned directly from this magazine.
Your task is to open up the third image - which is an advertisement for a weight loss supplement - and analyse the way femininity is presented through this advertisement.
In your analysis you are aiming to demonstrate how femininity is represented by considering the images, the word choices and the social values, attitudes and beliefs that are being demonstrated. Remember, femininity is a social construct that is developed by a society's values, attitudes, beliefs, etc.
You need to publish your finished answer - in the form of a paragraph - on your blog.
Your task is to open up the third image - which is an advertisement for a weight loss supplement - and analyse the way femininity is presented through this advertisement.
In your analysis you are aiming to demonstrate how femininity is represented by considering the images, the word choices and the social values, attitudes and beliefs that are being demonstrated. Remember, femininity is a social construct that is developed by a society's values, attitudes, beliefs, etc.
You need to publish your finished answer - in the form of a paragraph - on your blog.
Friday, July 23, 2010
EMPATHY Exercises
Following on from our viewing of the film, The Deveil Wears Prada and also the talk from our guest speaker, Scott Darlow, I thought it may be beneficial to revisit the idea of empathy.
In order to gain a greater understanding of what drives particular characters and to therefore explore the way women are represented, you need to choose two of the following scenarios and write a diary entry from that character's perspective:
1. Imagine you are Emily and you have just found out that Andy is going to Paris instead of you.
2. Imagine you are Andy and you have just found out that you are going to Paris instead of Emily. You haven't told her yet.
3. Imagine you are Miranda, you have just sent the fax to the editor of The New York Post (the newspaper that Andy has an interview with at the end of the film) telling him that he would be an "idiot" if he did not hire Andy.
Please write your diary entries in your Blog.
P.S. Lizzie and Maddy, you need to do the same task but your choices are as follows:
1. Imagine you are Cady and you have just added the comment in the "Burnbook" about your Math teacher. How do you feel?
2. Imagine you are Regina and you have just found out that Cady has been playing tricks on you. How do you feel?
3. Imagine you are Janis and you have just found out that Cady lied to you about going away for the weekend with her parents?
In order to gain a greater understanding of what drives particular characters and to therefore explore the way women are represented, you need to choose two of the following scenarios and write a diary entry from that character's perspective:
1. Imagine you are Emily and you have just found out that Andy is going to Paris instead of you.
2. Imagine you are Andy and you have just found out that you are going to Paris instead of Emily. You haven't told her yet.
3. Imagine you are Miranda, you have just sent the fax to the editor of The New York Post (the newspaper that Andy has an interview with at the end of the film) telling him that he would be an "idiot" if he did not hire Andy.
Please write your diary entries in your Blog.
P.S. Lizzie and Maddy, you need to do the same task but your choices are as follows:
1. Imagine you are Cady and you have just added the comment in the "Burnbook" about your Math teacher. How do you feel?
2. Imagine you are Regina and you have just found out that Cady has been playing tricks on you. How do you feel?
3. Imagine you are Janis and you have just found out that Cady lied to you about going away for the weekend with her parents?
Monday, July 19, 2010
23 Ways to Fake Your Weight
In Blackboard, under the folder "Contemporary Representations of Women" there is an article that has been scanned from Cosmopolitan called "23 Ways to Fake Your Weight".
Your homework is to read the article and write a paragraph that explores the way women are represented in this article.
Remember to include a topic sentence, use evidence and explore your answer in detail.
This is due by Thursday morning.
Women in "Gold Digger"
Based on our discussion of Kanye West's song "Gold Digger" in class on Friday morning, you need to write a paragraph that answers the following question:
How are women represented in this song, consider both the lyrics and the film clip?
Tuesday, July 13, 2010
Media Montage
With a partner, put together a PowerPoint presentation that demonstrates how you believe women are generally presented in the media.
In your presentation, combine pictures, words, phrases and, if possible, sound and video to help put your case across.
You and your partner will be presenting your PowerPoint to the class and explaining why you made certain choices.
The aim is to make your presentation as detailed as possible. You should also aim to provide specific insight as to how you personally view the way women are treated/represented by the media.
As you progress through your PowerPoint, you may wish to include representations throughout history (not just contemporary media). You should also try to broaden your focus and include representations that are not just taken from the gossip columns. Look at the news, books, film, the music industry, the business world, etc.
Once you are happy with your PowerPoint, the two of you should write a brief overview that you can deliver to the class, explaining what the focus of your presentation is and why you selected certain images, etc and what representation you believe they display. While we often aren't able to provide personal opinions in English tasks, this is one ocassion where you are able to express how you feel personally about what is being depicted. You may also like to develop some questions for your audience that encourage them to think about specific images, etc that you have included in your presentation.
Image taken from: http://api.ning.com/files/RvNMbea-tXnlase3mQ6hytQcAaKm1nXXe7kDygDOA*hSHlN8E8VFXeGDAbJQdv-dPR7OLOKL0i2oJDgEescY797Ui4lhaDPL/NewMedia.jpg on 14/07/10
Interestingly, when I did a Google images search on "women in the media" this was the second image to appear!
P.S. Please remember to 'Follow' our class blog so that I can provide you all with publishing privileges :)