Version of Reality
In this lesson, students will create an animated GIF that constructs their own personal version of reality. Students will begin by reading James Thurber's The Secret Life of Walter Mitty and compare and contrast it's themes with a YouTube video created in response to the short story becoming a film by using some of it's advertising budget on assisting those in need in the Philippines after a devastating tsunami.
Students will create an animated digital collage on how they feel about their own reality or problems, and in what ways do they deal with escapism by means of entertainment or recreation, or as an "escape" from the perceived unpleasant or banal aspects of our daily life.
Lesson Created By: JoshDrews!
Lesson Partners: ABC (Arts in Basic Curriculum)
Essential Question
How does one perceive their own reality? Where you want to go? Where you can't go? Or some place you have been? How much of your reality is rooted in daydreams?
How can we create a work of art that captures our own version of reality?
Grade(s):
- 9
Subject(s):
Recommended Technology:
Adobe PhotoShop (intermediate use)
YouTube
Other Instructional Materials or Notes:
Lesson Progression
How does one perceive their own reality? How can we create a work of art that captures our own version of reality?
Where you want to go? Where you can't go? Or some place you have been?
How much of your reality is rooted in daydreams?
Begin by reading James Thurber's The Secret Life of Walter Mitty.
(It is attached in resources)
Discuss with the students:
How does this story make you feel about your own reality or problems? In what ways do we now deal with escapism by means of entertainment or recreation, as an "escape" from the perceived unpleasant or banal aspects of our daily life?
Then watch the video by filmmaker Casey Neistat in class.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jU7rhVub0rU
After watching it, have your students discuss:
Think to yourself how does your idea of escapism and crafting your own reality directly relate to others- specifically the children and residents of the Philippines?
Students will create a digital collage using your to convey your version of reality while utilizing composition, color, and textures.
1. Create a new Photoshop 9in (w) x 12in (h) document at 300 res.
2. a contour line drawing manipulated photo, or digitally painted version of yourself (must be a new photo, can come from your phone, and be from any age, etc)
3. must balance your photograph in the with an organic texture or pattern
4. use the rule of thirds for your overall composition
5. utilize negative space
6. all collage elements (photos/textures/patterns) must directly relate to your sense of identity or reality
7. Choose one object/window/square/etc to be "animated" in a looping .gif for the final product. Animation should serve a purpose and assist with conveying meaning.
Students turn in an animated GIF, and well as 2-3 sentences describing how the elements they chose in their animation convey their idea.
Teacher Notes
In the resoucces on the following page I have attached examples, as well as a video tutorial for creating simple GIF animations in Adobe PhotoShop.
The Secret Life of Walter Mitty
This is a pdf copy of The Secret Life of Walter Mitty
It is also available online at the New Yorker's website, found here:
https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/1939/03/18/the-secret-life-of-walter-james-thurber
Folder of Student Examples
This is a link to a Google Drive folder filled with student Version of Reality animated GIF examples
View ResourceWhat Would You Do With $25,000
Companion video to watch after reading the short story.
Created by YouTube filmmaker, Casey Neistat
Here are Casey's thoughts on the creation of this film:
the whole story; i often get solicitations for work, all kinds of companies, people, organizations etc asking if i would be interested in making a video for them. i was really concerned after the typhoon, as anyone with a heartbeat was. left with the frustration and guilt i often feel when i learn of other people suffering, a guilt for not being able to help more. i had made donations but it's hard to see or feel the effects of ones contributions. a few days later i was contacted by 20th Century Fox, they wanted to know if i could make a promotional film to get the word out about Ben Stiller's great new movie The Secret Life of Walter Mitty. Mitty is a movie about chasing a dream and they wanted me to make a movie about chasing a dream. I am a big dreamer but at that time only one thing came to mind; if i could do anything in the world right now what would it be? that's to help the victims of the typhoon. i, someone crassly, replied to 20th Century Fox that the only movie i wanted to make is one where i give away the budget to those in need. i still don't understand how or why but they agreed. i jumped on a plane with my best friend and fellow adventurer Oscar and we flew to Manila. there was little time to think or plan before we left, actually we did zero planning before we left. my original thought was that we'd connect with an NGO already in place, a non-profit that's already doing a lot of good, and i'd simply hand them a check. but that turned out complicated and it sort of felt like the non-profits we contacted did not want to link up with us. so on a whim we decided to launch our very own relief mission. it was complicated and at first improbable but with the help of an extremely loving group of locals, all who were total strangers, we were able to stretch the production budget really far. beyond the food distributed in the video we also worked with a local nurse and purchased a lot of medicine and medical supplies, as well as providing tools to village leaders to be shared within the village and aid in the rebuilding process.
Gif Animation Tutorial Part 1
This is part one of a tutorial I made that shows how to set up frame and begin animating in PhotoShop.
View ResourceGif Animation Tutorial Part 2
This is part two of a tutorial I made that shows how to set up frame and begin animating in PhotoShop.
View Resource