Today's Class- Today we began the first individually graded project of the semester, our 2D Final. The topic is narrative, defined as telling a story. Through much of human history, literacy was not a given, and books were expensive, so much information was transmitted by images- individuals who could not read could interpret a picture, assuming they understood the symbolic nature of the things being shown. I showed half a dozen slides, all items with clear narrative content, explaining the stories. Early ones were heavy on mythology and medieval symbolism. while the later ones were more likely to be understood by the students in class.
I also returned papers that had been turned in last week, along with my evaluations and instructions on how to improve them before turning in the final version. Some people who did not have them last week turned them in today.
How to make this up- The inspiration for this project was Art Spiegelman's 1980's comic strip MAUS. The story went back and forth between two stories, both based on the author's father; first as a young man growing up Jewish in Poland in the early 20th century and having some success before being sent (along with his wife) to a concentration camp, second in the 1970's, where the elder man is now living in America, a somewhat cantankerous widower, causing numerous problems for everyone in his life. What made the strip different was that all the characters are depicted as animals- Jewish people (of all nationalities) are shown as mice, Nazi soldiers as cats, American soldiers (who eventually liberate the camps) as dogs- classic cartoon hierarchy of violence.
Your assignment is to create your own autobiographical and symbolic comic strip. It should tell a true story from your past, an event that may be serious or inconsequential, takes place quickly or over a long period of time, whatever you want. The comic strip should fill two pages in your 18"x24" pad and occupy 12 panels. They can be 6 identical panels per page, or any size or shape you like. I suggest drawing them in pencil first. but in the final version, they will be in full color using your pastels. One character will be you, and any others represent other people in the story. The characters should be portrayed as symbolic- either related to the story itself (like Spiegelman's violent conflicts) or just personal symbols that you associate with the involved persons. The characters can be just objects, or personified with faces, arms and legs, whatever you find easier to tell the story. Lettering may be done with the same pastels, or you may use pen/pencil/marker to have the words be more legible. If you wish to outline the shapes before coloring you may do so. Pages may be organized vertically or horizontally. We are following standard comic book rules, so you may have dialog balloons, thought balloons, caption boxes, sound effects, as you want. Below are some student examples from previous semesters to demonstrate the idea:
Homework- This individually graded art project will be due at the beginning of class on November 22, 2019. They will be collected and returned graded the next time we meet after that.
During class next week I will have the materials and tools to print your collagraph plates- the cardboard thing. They are a portfolio exercise and will be graded as part of that, but it you want my help to print it, have it in class finished for 11/15/19.
Most students have turned in the rough draft of the museum assignment. If you still haven't, I suggest you do so as soon as possible. It is a graded assignment, so the longer you delay, the more point you lose. Plus, the less time you will have to make the improvements that will give you a better grade on the final museum paper, due by the last class meeting.
For next class November 15, 2019- Work will continue on the comic strip project. No new slides or lesson, so you may start working on it as soon as you are ready. Bring your 18" x 24" pad (which probably has what you have done so far), pencils and eraser, and set of pastels. Once everyone is going on that, I'll invite students to come one at a time to a print station in the room and print your cardboard plate prints. I'll provide the ink and tools for that, you will provide the paper- a half sheet from your big pad will be fine. Bring the completed cardboard plate.
I will return any museum papers in my current possession, and collect any new ones that arrive.
