Assignment Overview (updated 9/25/14)

In this assignment we will complete an analysis of a remix movie trailer or literal trailer in terms of the theories on remix introduced in our readings. The remix will be of your own choosing (and are not limited to the sites linked-to above, though remixes deconstructed in class cannot be used) though BW must approve it. Remixes that remix video so the characters are singing songs, such as Star Wars Call Me Maybe, cannot be used because, though fun, they typically are not employing theories and practices that we’re reading about. The goals of the assignment are to:

• become comfortable applying the main theories and practices relating to remix in our readings (such as, intertextuality, juxtaposition, and montage)
• consider how those practices affect meaning
• consider how the modes of audio and video affect meaning
• consider how the order of clips in a video affects meaning based on where the clips appear
• think critically about how a video remix borrows from or remediates practices previously associated with writing alphabetic text
• become familiar with screen shot software and Prezi presentation software

Assignment Specifics

The analysis will be presented in the form of a timeline. Because videos are measured in increments of TIME we’ll be using the metaphor of the timeline throughout the semester. Each project must include the following:

• A title, your name, and date
• the original movie trailer (not the movie) including the date, director, and URL to it on the web
• the remix trailer that will be analyzed, including the date, creator, and URL to it on the web
• your reflection about the assignment
• a horizontal timeline axis that has the units of time labeled in 10 second increments
• call-outs that contain the following:
  • a screenshot of the moment to be analyzed
  • a brief title of the moment
  • the minute and second of the moment in the remix
  • a 140-character description of the moment with the heading “Description”
  • a 250 – 300 word analysis of the moment that is detailed and succinct
• there should be 6 call-outs in total, each of which covers one of the following (in any order):
  • intertextuality
  • juxtaposition
  • montage
  • gesture
  • genre closure
  • soundtrack
    • please write analysis: intertextuality or analysis: closure at the top of the analysis to help identify it for BW.
• Update: For your final draft, be sure to cite readings in each analysis. Doing so will allow you to compose a more nuanced and engaging analysis. Also make sure you have a meaningful title on the Prezi screen.

Reflection assignment
In 400 – 500 words, I’d like you to make the case for why composing with video and studying video remix compositions is valuable for writers. When doing so, reference at least 3 readings as well as what you have accomplished in your remix analysis. Look to ideas on literacy, copyright, comics, and others to help you. You do not need a thesis and do not need a works cited list. Try to use a range of texts. The goal here is for me to more fully understand how you understand the readings we have completed, how you understand their value to writing, and how you see some of that value in the work you have completed.

Compose your reflection in Word or other composing space, save it as a PDF file, and upload it to your Prezi.

Sample Assignment

You may use the below Prezi as a sample for how to put organize the project.

A Sample Theoretical Analysis of the Remix “Shining” on Prezi You are free to create your own similar layout or you may use my sample as a template. To use my sample, go to A Sample Theoretical Analysis of the Remix “Shining” and click on the Make a Copy button just to the bottom left of the Prezi:

If you are not yet logged in, you will be asked to. Then, the Prezi should appear in your account. Rename it and then you can edit out what I have included and add your own stuff.

How to Turn in Your Work

Rough Draft Tweet a link to your rough draft with the hashtags #wrtf14 and #remixrd

Final Draft Create a blog post on the course blog in which you briefly introduce your remix (around 100 – 150 words) and add a link to your Prezi  or use http://wordprezi.appspot.com/ to create the code necessary to be able to embed the Prezi in your post. If you are just linking to your Prezi, take a screen shot of a meaningful part of your Prezi and include that in your post.

Assessment and Due Dates

Your project will be assessed in terms of the quality of your theoretical analysis and your reflection statement.

9/19: tweet a link to the remix you’d like to analyze with the title of the remix and the hashtags #wrtf14 and #remixchoice

9/25: rough draft due in Prezi by start of class (do not include reflection at this time): tweet a link to your rough draft with the hashtags #wrtf14 and #remixrd

10/2 10/7: final draft (including reflection) due by 11:00pm
To submit, create a blog post on the course blog (with a meaningful title) in which you briefly introduce your remix (around 100 – 150 words) and add a link to your Prezi  or use http://wordprezi.appspot.com/ to create the code necessary to be able to embed the Prezi in your post. If you are just linking to your Prezi, take a screen shot of a meaningful part of your Prezi and include that in your post. Be sure to link to the public version of your Prezi; that is, before you copy the URL, Exit the Edit mode and then copy the URL.