Darth Vader and editing

Context -- I was adding some ringtones to my phone from Cellfish and came across a really funny video. It is Darth Vader pranking one of the officers. It is an obvious editing job, but the result is funny. He opens some pod that he has been flying in and the officer begins to tell him some new. Before the officer is through, Vader closes the pod and then opens it again. Every time the officer begins to talk, he closes the pod. Here is the link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5blbv4WFriM

How would I use it -- I don't know that this has any instructional value beyond seeing how video can be re-edited for humorous (or non-humorous) effect. I have been trying to explain to my students that editing is really where the film is made. Since our discussion this week on editing in Sharon's class, I understand better how it works.

Photo Essay -- Teachers at Work

AHa

Context. Amy and Sharon have gotten me interested in music videos again. So I have spent about 2 hours looking at videos on iTunes and Limewire. I tried to find the one we watched again in class last week, and it took me over an hour to remember who it was (Phil Vassar, "This is My Life"). While I was looking, I found one of my absolute favorites -- "Take On Me" by AHa. I love the love story they develop and the intersection of animation and live action. I am always so sad for the girl that gets shoved back to life only to read the comic and see the boy get hit with the wrench and then struggle to get through to life again. It's hard to describe, but if you are familiar with the video, you understand.

How I would use this -- I guess I could use this video as an intro to comics. It would be an interesting study of special effects and editing as well. The plot might be used to show exposition, inciting moment, rising action, climax and resolution.

DDR

Context -- I finally got DDR for my birthday! I have wanted this game since I first played in last May. I know I am old, but it was a fun way to exercise. My kids got it for me. I guess that's ironic. They had to purchase a PS2 so I could play it. This is my first foray into "gameland" but I don't think it will be the last. I played Rock Band last night and may get it for my husband's birthday so I can play it too. We really had fun as a family. I am happy to see the popularity of this type of game. The Wii has many more physically active games that my stepson played and they can actually help you to play better tennis and golf. I have been really concerned about the effects of video violence on my children, but luckily their desire to WOW was short-lived and they are more interested in rockin' out to the oldies.
How I would use it -- I have no idea!

Daria Fizz-Ed

One of my students brought in an episode from Daria, a show I have never heard of. We had been reading articles about advertising and one talked about a school district in San Diego that was sponsored by Coke to the tune of a million dollars. The problem was that they had to sell a certain quota of the drinks to get the money. Eventually they were allowing students to drink Coke in the classrooms to reach their quota. "Fizz Ed is a parody of this story.

Sponsorship is a delicate issue. Schools are underfunded, and I think it is appropriate for private industries to help financially, but where do we draw the line? Ads at games and in student newpapers? Vending machines? Logos on football uniforms? Timpview, by virtue of being state champs two years in a row will be sponsored by Underarmor which means logos on all football uniforms. Will Timpview eventually call their football stadium Nuskin Field?

How would I use it -- Obviously, I would use it the next time I teach about corporate sponsorship, along with pictures of about every sports arena in the US. I remember the good old days when the Fiesta Bowl was just the Fiesta Bowl and not the Doritos Bowl (or the AT&T Bowl, or the Chik-fil-a Bowl, or the Outback Bowl).

Comics in the Classroom

Context -- I am having my students read a graphic novel for the first time. I chose Persepolis because it's non-fiction (we don't read much of that), it's world literature (Iranian) and it's well-written. I am really excited to teach this book because the movie is out, but not in Utah, which will really create interest for my students.

To prepare them for reading a graphic novel, I had them learn to "read" an image, then to "read" a comic. To really understand comics, they are creating one based on a short story. I have been having them storyboard their stories before really creating the final draft and several websites have been helpful. To show the layout, and to look at a cool technology, I took them to Duke Universtiy Law School's site www.duke.law.edu/cspd/comics.

Today when I logged onto the computer at school I saw an article in NYT about the movie Persepolis that contained a video about storyboarding the movie. It was perfect for my lesson today!
How would I use it -- I already did, as you read in the above. I will probably have the students see the movie as well and write a review. I could use it as an example of adaptation (ala Buckingham) and have them write about that as well.