Witch hunts

13 01 2023

Final project: 

Write an article to present the work of a political artist who used her or his art to denounce a witch hunt. Explain the artwork and the message behind it.

Lead-in: “To what extent is fear part of America’s heritage?” Watch the clip and do these EXERCISES.  

1. Click on the pick to learn more about the ‘We the People’ campaign.

2. What is street art for? Learn more about Shepard Fairey

3. Watch the video and take the QUIZ.

4. Take the QUIZ. What is the link between the posters by Fairey and this video? Read more HERE.

5. Learn more about the “second red scare” and then take the QUIZ

6. Do you know how to spot a witch? Build up your vocabulary HERE.

7. Here’s another street artist’s contribution against scapegoating. Read more HERE.

8. Click below to practise your grammar skills. More exercises HERE.




World in Crisis

9 12 2022

YOUR TASK: Write a cli-fi story. Find out more HERE.

1. How does the song illustrate climate change?

2. Can you sum up the story this trailer tells? Read more HERE.

3. What are the main elements of Cli-Fi? Read more HERE.

4. Can  a dystopian blockbuster movie mobilize people to act on climate change? Find out MORE

5. How can cli-fi help raise awareness about environmental issues? Read more HERE




A more inclusive Britain?

19 10 2022

Final Project: For South Asian Heritage Month you take part in a Radio / TV Talk Show about South Asian integration in the UK today as compared with the 1970s. Read more HERE.

1. Watch the short film. What do you think the director is trying to say? Find an interesting review HERE.

2. Bake Off Winner Rahul bakes ginger caramel cupcakes. Learn more about him HERE.

3. Selector Radio broadcasts the best UK music and emerging talent.




The heart asks pleasure first

13 04 2022

1. What elements make the story feel somewhat Gothic?  

2. How do fairy tale and Gothic elements ‘haunt the edges’ of the novel?

3. What are the ingredients of the genre?

 




How to change people’s minds

11 04 2022

Your task: Convince your headmaster to allow the screening of a trial movie or series.

1. Watch this trial movie online.

2. How can one man, ‘alone against all,’ win?

3. Has prison become a normal life event for some people in America? Read more HERE.

4. How do you define justice? 

 




What makes a modern TV hero?

19 03 2022

Final task: choose one option HERE

1. What do you learn about Birmingham, the Peaky Blinders and Tommy?

2. Can you draw a portrait of Tommy Shelby? Read more HERE  

3. How well does the song render the figure of Tommy Shelby and the feel of the show? Find the lyrics HERE 




Screen Tourism

19 03 2022

1. What is screen tourism? Why is it important?

2. Why is Game of Throne the best thing ever to come to Ireland? Read more HERE

3. Click on the pic to find out about the impact of screen tourism in Britain’s second city. Study the text and fill in a MIND MAP

  

4. Complete your mind map with general info about Birmingham and its best tourist sites. Learn more about the Brummie ACCENT.




Playing with stereotypes

13 03 2022

Your final task: Create a vlog on the power of art.

1. Show that the poster uses both cliches and contrast to create humour and raise expectations.  

2. Pick out some of the arguments and language used in the trailer to ‘sell’ the movie. 

3. Click on the pic to find out more on the ‘Hays Code.” And HERE to read even more. 

4. Censorship in movies: what role did the church play? 




The magic circle

4 02 2022

Your project: make a presentation on an artwork that portrays “female power”.

1. Who shares the blame for Witch Hunts? Take the QUIZ.

2. What happened to Mary Webster in Puritan Hadley Massachusetts in 1684? 

3. What purpose does this ‘ceremony’ really serve? Read more HERE.

4. Analyse the objects of ‘power’. What is the message here? (click to enlarge the pic) 




The artificial woman

17 01 2022

1. Do you know the story of Pygmalion who fell in love with his ivory statue Galatea? Read more HERE.

2. Listen to this song and your offsprings might well be spared… Read more HERE.

3. Is Samantha the perfect ‘woman’? Read more HERE.  

4. A timeline on US feminism you can complete and expand.