Catalyst by Dalziel + Scullion. (Photo credit: Hermés)
Module 1 essay prompt (Group(s) A, Fall 2012):
Due: 10/09/12 (electronically via email or posted to one of your eportfolios, with link sent to me)
Details: 1500 words (or so), with accompanying transmedia materials (see below)
Engagement, participation, interactivity— all are terms that represent ideologies of connectivity between artists and audiences, arts organizations and constituents. What are some values underlying these concepts? That is, what do “engagement” or “participation” or “interactivity” represent in terms of core, driving forces behind efforts to encourage art in/for communities?
Think of a specific project (single or multiple participants) or arts organization (focus on their mission or goals, as evidenced across programming) that you will briefly describe, and articulate three to five (3-5) primary values that drive or support connectivity in your example. Your essay should also critically analyze and discuss how these values intersect with ideals of connectivity (which will be specific to the example you are discussing). As a conclusion, suggest ways in which arts and culture workers/leaders might embed these values in future programming efforts. This conclusion will necessarily be speculative, so think creatively yet in a manner that emerges from the concrete examples and values you discuss in the bulk of the essay.
Illustrate your essay with transmedia examples (i.e. things that tell the story across a range of ‘media’); these may be embedded in your essay as links or actual media objects.
In choosing your example, feel free to draw on those explored in class, through comments on the Module 1 prompt, links posted to our course Diigo group, or one you come up with independently. Given the brevity of this assignment, your essay should clearly:
A. describe the example at hand by providing a brief ‘bio’ of the project or arts organization.
B. identify and describe the values you want to discuss
C. briefly discuss how these values intersect, inform, or otherwise entangle with those ideas of connectivity implied by the terms “engagement,” “participation,” and “interactivity” (or similar terms that your group emphasizes).
D. pose potential approaches to embedding these values in future arts programming. This part is speculative and needn’t be fully developed!
Be sure to draw on writings and other resources we have examined in class in order to contextualize and illustrate your comments. There is no set number of sources you should reference, and since this is an essay it should demonstrate a logical argument toward a goal that represents your group’s collective thinking; it needn’t be laden with outside citations, but should address relevant ones as needed.
Group Presentation:
Each group will lead a 30-minute presentation & discussion about their essay in class on 10/10/12. Successful and engaging presentations will be more than basic outlining and explanation of your essay’s argument, and will ideally involve an element of interactivity. Be creative, have fun, and try to enact a flavor for the example you discuss in the essay (to the extent possible!); do not feel pressured to have a ‘hi-tech’ presentation or activity. Feel free to run any ideas by me, and let me know what sort of media/tech you might be using as I will help coordinate that.
ESSAY RUBRIC: (20 points possible)
description of example = 5
identify & describe values= 5
briefly discuss how values intersect with ideas/ideologies of connectivity = 5
pose potential approach to embedding values in programing= 2.5
spelling/grammar = 2.5
TOTAL = 20
Here are some shots of the whiteboard that emerged during class discussion yesterday:
