Multiliteracies in ELA Classrooms

1 response so far ↓

• TMD // Jul 17th 2013 at 9:34 am

  Dear Cat, Christa, and Chris,

  I thoroughly enjoyed your representation of a casting call for Baggage. The mixed-mode approach, with applications projected on screen during the enactment of the adjudication was highly effective, and your dramatization was humorous and engaging. It seems what is most interesting about assigning media projects in which a wide range of acceptable forms might be submitted (along with avoiding stringency in assessment rubrics) is observing the extent to which hybridity and mashup become prominent — more so than might be the case in assigning a fairly directed multimodal project, such as a movie trailer or a Prezi (although such assignments may be useful in other ways).

  A bit of an aside: As I believe I may have noted in class, your performance reminded me of a production of Measure for Measure I viewed in L.A. several years ago (perhaps 1996), in which the Friar was characterized as a television evangelist, delivering his lines at times on stage and at times from about five large television sets fixed above and at the back of the stage. As well, thinking of appropriation and hybridity common in contemporary multimedia forms, the line “The game’s afoot!” (actually from the Henry plays) was also delivered in this production of Measure for Measure by a character using a flip cell phone, presumably in the context of a game on a golf course. Fidelity to the dramatic text was certainly not the aim of the director — yet it was one of the most engaging and memorable live performances of Shakespeare I have ever witnessed. A key pleasure in dramatic performance is, it seems, the way in which different interpretations and treatments of particular scenes and lines enrich and expand our understandings, which, I suppose, is why audiences return to view plays and other forms of artistic performances (e.g., musical concerts) treating works they’ve seen enacted multiple times. I think this is an important point for ELA teachers to contemplate.

  Your written materials are excellent. The rubric is useful, although I wonder if it would be worthwhile including some assessment of process. Finally, you observe, “This activity is meant to get students engaging with Shakespeare’s work in a creative, yet purposeful way.” I think there’s no question that such an activity would be productive in this regard.

  Thanks for your creative efforts and for an excellent contribution to class. I look forward to the sequel!

  Best regards,

  Teresa

You must log in to post a comment.