Homework #6

From what we had explored so far, I became ever more interested in the aspect of storytelling. Telling stories is an ultimate human endeavor that just happens naturally. Whether it be a digital storytelling, or a paper/traditional oral storytelling, the concept of storytelling could be taught and investigated for the purposes of learning about everything that we can learn about the world. 

To tell my story is my goal as an artist. There are many media to express this wish, but for this assignment, I decided to make little thumbnail digital sketches to keep them as reference for my work on canvas, photography, or video in the future. The depth of using this digital painting as a medium, I believe, comes from the ability to conjure ideas more so than the execution. Execution is important, of course. However, I was interested in exploring the possibilities of using the technology to tell stories that really matter to me as an individual. 

The theme is specifically on the self-- identity. Identities are fluid, and within fluidity, we run things according to the rules that we set for ourselves. To try to express this notion of interchangeable identities, I made a storyboard draft, which includes sketches that could fit within the storyboard. 

Specifically, I used the Autodesk SketchBook Pro for Galaxy to create a story about this girl-- me. The following are the sketches, which are arranged in order.

Sample lesson on digital storytelling: creating a narrative self-portrait for middle school students (20 8th graders). Adolescents go through a secondary sensory-motor phase to re-interpret their changing selves in the world; creating self-portrait comic strips would create a meaningful opportunity for students to explore how they would like to present themselves and further explore what they are like as human beings. 

Time needed: 4 class periods (40 minutes each)

Materials: photo of self, computer/ iPad, printer

Goal: Students create a one page comic by inserting the self, or an alter-ego using one of the apps listed here (http://www.teachthought.com/apps-2/11-storyboarding-apps-organize-inspire-young-writers/). The final two class periods will consist of printing their works on a 11 x 17 poster paper, and sharing their outcomes with their classmates.

The images below are from the Storyboard Studio app (https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.brakefield.storyboard&hl=en), which I found gave most freedom in drawing.

Through this activity, students will learn that the self can be re-presented in many ways, selected actions and emotions can be captured in a drawing to tell stories, and spaces can be explored in different perspectives.