Monday May 21 final project

Term 6 / Final Project: News Show
This assignment allows you to demonstrate your acquired knowledge of journalism. You will close with a 10 minute news broadcast. With a production team of no more than four students, you will divide yourselves into reporters, anchor person(s), weather forcaster, editorial director and editor. Folks may obviously take on more than one roll. Performances / projects will be performed on Wednesday May 30, Thursday May 31 and Friday June 1. Tuesday May 20- that's the day after the Memorial Day weekend is a practice or film time.


For each of the following segments of your news show, you must write out a detailed script. That means what you say on air is exactly what is written. By Thursday May 24, each person should submit his or her script(s) for the role within the news production. This is an individual writing grade.(Your last writing grade of the this marking period; so it is imperative that you get this in on time.) 


The first thing to do is to watch a news show, so you understand the format and expectations.  That's everyone! Go to this site and watch...fast forward, once you get the point. http://www.cbsnews.com/evening-news/full-episodes/?tag=rbHeader;categoryNav   Now get your group together.  If you are working solo, talk to me.

Specifics as to what you need.

1. opening (one person scripts this, but you can have two anchors.
2. news  (one person, one item of news. Plan on your visuals / back drop; clip to insert? Exactly what you plan to say must be in your script.)
3. interview (This should be no more than two minutes. Write out your
                            questions. Obviously, you must have an actual person to interview. It can be
                            anyone: fact or fiction.- think creatively)
4. commercial (15- 30 seconds only)
5.news   (one person scripts this. It should be someone other than 
            the individual who wrote the first news clip, although
            you can film / perform this as co anchors.)
6. weather- (have fun and be creative with this!- one person write it)
7. sports-  (one person sportscaster- any sport (s)- make it 
             interesting!
8.commercial- (15-30 seconds only)
9. editorial / feature-  this is a one minute opinion piece
10. closing- (one person scripts this, but you can have two anchors or 
             your whole news crew)

Again all scripts are due to me on THURSDAY MAY 24

Details:
You may present a live show or film your segments.
You may use the computer
News: prepare each story to be as visible as possible. Do-on-location filming and interviews to give the idea of what was happening. This involves determing all of he stories that will fill the broadcast.
Interview: Prepare questions  Make sure the setting is appropriate for the interview- especially audio for taping. Watch out for noisy backgrounds.
Weather: The person in charge must prepare a forecast that includes today's weather, as well as the next five days. Include graphics!
Sports: Include more than one and get footage / images of teams.
Editorial / Short Feature: The editorial can be the view of the station's management on an issue pertinent to the school or a more human-interest story. (you might try a point / counterpoint).

 PRACTICE ...REHEARSE...PRACTICE


FINAL EXAM INFORMATION
the final exam will take place on Thursday June 7 in class. It will consist of a group continental maps and an answer sheet numbered from 1-188. These will correspond to the numbers written on the maps. You will look at the map and fill in the corresponding country name. Note: if you need extra time for the exam, you may come after school that day.
By Thursday of this week I will give you numbered copies of these same maps for you to practice. (That gives you 2 weeks)You will have Tuesday and Wednesday June 5 and 6 to practice in class, as well as outside time, of course. What you practice is exactly what will be on the test.

Wednesday May 16 analyzing editorial cartoons

  Analyzing editorial cartoons.

  Last assignment before starting the final project on Monday.  Writing grade.

Due by Sunday night at midnight.  No work will be accepted after that time. That gives you three class days, which in itself should be enough, or time to look at basketball games and prom shoes in class and something to occupy yourself over the weekend.This also will allow those going on the senior trip enough time.  Please be mindful that this is a writing grade; that means its value goes in the 50% weight category.

Below you will find 10 editorial cartoons. Look them over and select five of them, analyzing each in a paragraph of a minimum of 100 words.  (That would be two typed pages double spaced; so it really is not much) Please use the following criteria. Begin with the topic, theme, any captions and historical connections you note. Next discuss the person, issue or situation being illustrated and any connection to current events. Look at the cartoon carefully and observe whether it is a realistic characterization, or a total fabrication and misrepresentation of the "facts". Is the artist depicting an assumed situation, a hypothetical construction for the purposes of a general commentary on current events? What does the artist attempt to communicate with her or his art? Finally, what does the cartoon mean to you personally?

cartoon 1

cartoon 2

cartoon 3

cartoon 4

cartoon 5

         

cartoon 6

cartoon 7

cartoon 8

cartoon 9

cartoon 10

Monday May 14 editorial cartoons day 2: historical perspectives

Parts of the following have been excerpted from the University of Virginia education program.

Please read the following and respond on a separate document (send or hand in) the questions that follow. This is to assure that you have actually read. There will be no further assessment. Your responses are due by the close of class on Tuesday.

I) A Brief History of Cartoons

Cartoons are for the most part composed of two elements: caricature, which parodies the individual, and allusion, which creates the situation or context into which the individual is placed. Caricature as a Western discipline goes back to Leonardo da Vinci's artistic explorations of "the ideal type of deformity"-- the grotesque-- which he used to better understand the concept of ideal beauty. Intended to be lighthearted satires, their caricaturas were, in essence, "counter-art. The sketch of "A Captain of Pope Urban VIII" is representative of the new genre in that it is a quick, impressionistic drawing that exaggerates prominent physical characteristics to humorous effect. At its best, it brings out the subject's inner self in a kind of physiognomical satire-- as the example presented here seems to be a comment on some facet of the Captain's masculinity. Caricaturas became popular with collectors, but they perceived the "fanciful exercises" as curiosities rather than viable artistic productions. They were not displayed publicly, and so one of the earliest modes of established graphic satire remained in the parlor and drawing room.

   While caricature originated around the Mediterranean, cartoons of a more editorial nature developed in a chillier climate. The Protestant Reformation began in Germany, and made extensive use of visual propaganda; the success of both Martin Luther's socio-religious reforms and the discipline of political cartooning depended on a level of civilization neither too primitive nor too advanced. A merchant class had emerged to occupy positions of leadership within the growing villages and towns, which meant that a core of people existed, who would respond to Luther's invectives and be economically capable of resisting the all-powerful Catholic Church. In regards to the physical requirements of graphic art, both woodcutting and metal engraving had become established trades, with many artists and draughtsmen sympathetic to the cause. Finally, the factor which probably influenced the rise of cartoons more than any other cultural condition was a high illiteracy rate. Luther recognized that the support of an increasingly more powerful middle class was crucial to the success of his reforms, but in order to lead a truly popular movement he would need the sheer weight of the peasantry's numbers. The distribution of simple broadsheet posters or illustrated pamphlets throughout population centers proved to be an effective strategy because the images would reach a large amount of people and enjoy the greatest possible amount of comprehension.

An excellent example of Luther's use of visual protest is found in two woodcuts from the pamphlet "Passional Christi und Antichristi", originally drawn by Lucas Cranach the Elder. These two images contrast the actions of Jesus with those of the Church hierarchy; the hegemony of religion at the time ensured that when someone drew a Biblical episode like that of Jesus driving the moneychangers out of the Temple, everyone would recognize it.

Benjamin Franklin's "Join or Die", which depicts a snake whose severed parts represent the Colonies, is acknowledged as the first political cartoon in America. The image had an explicitly political purpose from the start, as Franklin used it in support of his plan for an intercolonial association to deal with the Iroquois at the Albany Congress of 1754. It came to be published in "virtually every newspaper on the continent"' reasons for its widespread currency include its demagogic reference to an Indian threat, as well as its basis in the popular supersition that a dead snake would come back to life it the pieces were placed next to each other.

The Story of William "Marcy" Tweed and his bete noir Tom Nast is known to most students of American history, and familiar to every aficionado of the history of American political cartooning. This confrontation is credited by consensus with establishing once and forever a fledgling craft. . . as an enduring presence in American political culture. In its telling is shown the power of the giants of the genre to fuse creative caricature, clever situational transpositions, and honest indignation to arouse the populace and alter for the better the course of human events.

Undoubtedly, Nast was the greatest popular artist of the Civil War; Lincoln was frequently quoted as saying Nast was his best recruiting sergeant, and his scenes of once-thriving southern cities like Richmond did much to convey the magnitude of destruction to Northern audiences.

 (Does this remind you of any paintings?)

After Nast became the featured cartoonist at Harper's much of his art was focused on the local New York scene. The primary shortcoming of Nast's work overall is that the quality of his satire never matched the quality of his art.

Joseph Keppler became the most commercially and critically acclaimed cartoonist of the Gilded Age. Shortly after his arrival in America in 1867 Keppler "fell in with a distinguished crowd of journalists, writers, and artists"-- including a young reporter named Joseph Pulitzer. Keppler and his associates had established an important connection with the local populace, relying heavily on international affairs and German-ethnic comedy. Unlike Nast's coarse etchings, Keppler's cartoons reflected "a grace of artistic approach" derived from his exposure to popular Austro-German styles of the day.

Keppler held that unscrupulous lawyers only encourage frivolous lawsuits. The family is destroyed: babies are abandoned in their nest; mother and father are carried off in opposite directions, delivered into the clutches of their respective lawyers.

Keppler's views of the family and women's rights  were more traditional than progressive in this regard.

The success of a political cartoon rests in its ability "to influence public opinion through its use of widely and instantly understood symbols, slogans, referents, and allusions". "People cannot parody what is not familiar" to the audience; so the best cartoons incorporated popular amusements which emerged after the Civil War, as well as universally-recognized themes from the Bible, Shakespeare, and other "classic" sources.

President Chester A. Arthur

Cartoons concentrated on political activity, its artists tried to reflect facets of that environment's general atmosphere and distort them in such a way as to illuminate particular criticisms. For many years sports had been one of the favorite cartoon metaphors for politics. The detail from "The Political Handicap" is such an example, as its parody lies in the comparison of equestrian ability and effectiveness on the campaign trail. The image juxtaposes 1880 Republican presidential nominee James A. Garfield's confidence in the saddle with the indecisive Democrats, who had been unable to elect one of their own since James Buchanan in 1856.

Another trait of the political arena that held a great deal of weight with the masses was its emphasis on masculinity. One scholar of the era concisely describes the nature of gender identity in this regard:

Late nineteenth century election campaigns were public spectacles that ended for one side in triumph, for the other in humiliation. Men described these contests through metaphors of warfare and, almost as frequently, cock fighting and boxing. Victory validated manhood.

In Conclusion
The decades of the nineteenth century after the Civil War, there emerged a political cultural rife with corruption and so provided the cartoonist with a fertile environment for spectacle and humor.

Please respond to the following questions, as pertains to the above material. These are due at the end of class on Tuesday.
1 What are the two elements that make up a cartoon?
2. What was the purpose of Da Vinci's "Ideal of Deformity"?
3. What was the purpose of the original caricaturas?
4. Why were caricatures an effective way for Martin Luther to communicate his message?
5. Take a look at Cranach's caricature. (look, carefully)  Why in particular would have the populace related to this image?
6. What was the original purpose of Franklin's cartoon?
7. How was it later adapted?
8. What three elements made Thomas Nast's work so effective?
9. Why did Lincoln find Nast's cartoons an effective tool for his political agenda?
10. In a minimum of 25 words, explain the message in Nast's "Emancipation"?
11. What are some of the images Keppler uses to how lawyers are corrupt?
12. Discuss some of the problems with female emancipation, according to Keppler's view.
13. What type of people running for office when Chester A. Arthur was president?
14. Look at the Garfield comic. What type of animal are democratics riding on and what is the message being conveyed?

Friday May 11 editorial cartoons

We are going to examine the art and nature of  cartoons, their role as a persuasive medium which is used to comment on and critique public affairs, public institutions, public issues, public policies, and public personalities (both nationally and internationally, locally, regionally, and at the state levels). 


To begin, please watch the following documentary produced by the US government in 1942. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V2i5RZLQ3xg   


Keep these ideas in mind, as you watch the film, after which open a word document and respond to the following question in a minimum of 100 words.


1. Incorporating your knowledge of US history, what is the purpose of the film? Make sure to reference specific scenes or techniques. 

·        

Thursday May 10 alternative news

As I told you previously, I am obviously not in school today. SO...to make it productive and fun (I hope) read the following. 


DUE AT THE CLOSE OF CLASS TODAY: We have looked at mainstream news sources this year, but there are what are referred to as alternative sources. As with all news, one must bring a critically thinking mind and an awareness of sponsorship.  
1. Take a look at the link below. You will find a list of alternative news sites. 
2. Browse through the list and choose three alternative sites to explore.
3. On a word document write down your three choices
4. Beside each list at least one of the sponsoring advertisers.
5. Beside each write a minimum of 25 words of what political / social / economic perspective is being represented by this particular news source. This can be ascertained by looking over the headlines and lead sentences of an article.


Here's the link for the list of alternative news sources:http://www.world-newspapers.com/alternative-news.html


Please send along.

Friday May 4 Second Review

The second review is your choice. It may be of a film, a theatre production (Hairspray?), music or dance performance or a restaurant.
THIS IS DUE NEXT WEDNESDAY, MAY 9 by midnight. There will probably be only 3 or 4 grades this marking period, so it is important to get all your work in on time.  Length: minimum 400 words
Below you will find the criteria for writing different types of reviews.

How to write a restaurant review: 


Offer Some Background – Be sure to offer as much information about the restaurant you are reviewing as possible, including location, phone number, type of cuisine, hours, etc. On many restaurant review websites you must add the restaurant to the site database (if it is not already there) and fill in any information the site asks for (like whether or not the restaurant serves alcoholic beverages or takes reservations). If another user posted inaccurate information – such as the wrong hours – change the information yourself or inform the website directly.

Give Both Pros and Cons – Maybe the food was less than stellar but was the service unparalleled? If your restaurant experience was riddled with both pros and cons, make sure you list both to provide readers with an accurate, well-rounded review.

Name Specific Entrees – Most restaurant-goers will appreciate specific recommendations and whether or not you loved or hated the food. Listing specifically what you ordered will help validate your opinions. Some review websites even have a spot where you can list exactly what dishes you ordered.

Evaluate the Entire Experience - While the food is obviously the main attraction of any restaurant, there are other factors that can greatly influence the overall dining experience including ambiance, décor and service are important to note. For example, how quickly did you receive your food and was the server attentive to your needs? Did the décor enhance or distract from the overall ambiance of the restaurant? Be specific as possible about the details of the restaurant.

Use Descriptive Adjectives – To really spice up your review (no pun intended), use descriptive adjectives. For example, instead of simply saying that the grilled chicken you ordered was “bad,” tell why it was bad; was it dry, bland, too salty, etc? Rest assured, you can never provide too much detail in a restaurant review.

Let Your Personality Shine Through – No one wants to read a boring, dull review of anything, let alone a restaurant. Furthermore, there is no added value or insight to your review if you simply copy what someone else has already written. Make your review highly personal and unique to you, using your own “voice;” readers will be much more interested and find your review helpful if it is genuine

How to write a theatre or concert review:


1. Your review should be  consistently clear, readable and interesting. Ultimately, your review should generate popularity and profitability.
Note: Music-loving freelancers who have built solid readership and suitable publication experience have discovered that they may earn free media passes to concerts. In other cases, concert reviewers can count concert tickets as tax-deductible business expenses, if they have written and published concert reviews for payment.
Many concert reviewers point out that they have even been invited backstage to meet and interact with well-known musicians.
PRACTICAL STUFF
Here's a practical guide to writing a review of a live concert.

1) Writing Concert Reviews: Choose the concert you plan to attend and review.
To start, most concert reviewers choose to specialize, focusing on their own particular musical tastes. For example, if you simply love the symphony, you might begin attending orchestral concerts and publishing concert reviews on such performances. If you prefer hip hop, rap or rock music, attend a performance.

2) Writing Concert Reviews: Attend the program, and watch carefully.
Take notes, if possible. Be advised that recording devices (such as video cameras and audio recorders) are not allowed in most concerts.
Make a list of songs or musical numbers performed during the concert. (Often, concert reviewers may obtain set lists before concerts.) Jot down impressions, specific performance details and any surprises that may occur during the concert. These notes will prove essential when it comes time to write the review.
 Focus on your  subject as much as possible, not any perceived "star" quality. Remember: real journalists aim at writing the news, not to becoming the news.
3) Writing Concert Reviews: Include essential elements in your concert review.
    Be sure to include the name of the musical act (or acts) in your concert review. Mention orchestral conductors, soloists and other key players by name.
       Briefly outline the musical genre, and point out why this concert may have been notable. (as with the film review, you should have done some background reading.) For example, was this a reunion concert of previous musical colleagues or a benefit concert for a certain charitable cause? Was the concert part of a major musical event, such as a music festival, or simply a local band performing in a street fair?
The best concert reviews evaluate both content and performances, describing the songs and overall quality of the performance in specifics and overall. Concert ratings may include musical specifics, as well as technical quality (sound, staging, pyrotechnics, props and other details).
Although a concert review focuses primarily upon the performance, an adept concert reviewer may also comment on the audience. Was it a full house with standing room only or a sparsely attended event? Did the audience seem enthusiastic and involved or disappointed and disinterested?
No concert review is complete without an accurate description of the concert venue and the concert date. If the concert is part of a series or ongoing run, the concert review should mention the remaining dates and times. If the performers will take the same act on the road to other cities, a comprehensive concert reviewer will cite the remaining tour stops and dates.
4. Writing Concert Reviews: Edit your concert review carefully

Monday April 30 review project- notes

While everyone's film review notes are due by 3:00 tomorrow, some students sent theirs along early. You will find below an example. These notes, however, do not give enough information to write the review, which is due by 3:00 Thursday. (my grades are due Friday remember.) Read over these notes and see my comments, so as to understand how they need to be expanded. Remember that the person reading your review is depending upon your eyes to bring the film alive.

Notes: Urban Legend (1998)

Title: Urban Legend (1998) Notes

Director- Jamie Blanks (what else has he done)

Written by- Silvio Horta ( other work?)

Stars- Jared Leto, Alicia Witt, Rebecca Gayheart, Michael Rosenbaum, and Loretta Devine (background on these actors)

Setting- Remote New England Campus (how is the remoteness achieved? types of buildings? landscaping?)

Genre- Horror, Thriller, Suspense 

- Very ominous music to start off (instruments? start off where? describe the setting against which is plays. analogous to what?)

- Great camera angles to create suspense (wide angle, close up? on what or who?)

- Cliché scary old guy at gas station (describe him...time of day)

- Trilling 1st death...even though axe killer not very scary (how dies?)

- Very old campus to give it scary feel (doesn' t that fil it with the setting?)

- Nice job of introducing characters in the beginning so you can get an opinion about them before they die (how exactly are they introduced?)

- Guy takes girl to woods...very scary (how is she enticed into the woods?)

- Makes girl kill friend... Very creative death (how? why?)

- The movie makes you hate the girl's roommate (why?)

- They do a great job of create camera angles that create suspense (?)

- Music is all kind of cliché (good)

- The way the roommate died is very unrealistic….clever but very unrealistic (explain)

- Usually the protagonists throughout horror movies are the killers so I predict the journalist is the killer (good)

- Someone is framing the professor (good- expand the plot info)

- I wonder what the Stanley hall massacre is? 

- The rain is very cliché throughout the movie (good)

-Very creative way to kill off the dean (good- explain)

-Security guard seems to be the only innocent one (how is this integrated into the plot?)

- Killing a dog was taking it too far (why?)

- The killer seems to be killing everybody quicker…it seems as though they’re trying to (talk about pacing and how it works in the film.) rush to the end of the movie by killing everyone off

- The feminine way the killer waves at the main character foreshadows (good- use the literary terms )the killer being her best friend (

- The rain is OVERUSED in this movie (good)

- Very good thriller...keeps you guessing who is the killer (good- why?)

- Seem unnecessary to kill the janitor 

- Old decrepit abandoned house seems too cliché

- I knew her friend was the killer :) (how?- put don't give that away in the review)

- The back-story of the killer seems like a good enough reason for the killing

- Killer is not a very good actor... Does not play villain well (why?)

- The security guard seems like the only honorable character

- Were did the journalist come from...didn't make sense (good point to include in review)

- Didn’t see the killer still being alive in the car (good)

- Great ending to the movie with killer still being alive

- Overall great storyline kept me guessing the entire movie (what exactly worked for you in the film?