A Medium of Moments

https://youtu.be/TGfAVG-VDww

After thinking about the example that was given in the article that we read about dancing in different places, I decided that for this assignment, I would create a medium out of moments.

I came up with this idea by pretending that Ms. Cage was asking me certain questions such as:

            -What do you like to do//see?

-What kind of medium would explain who you are?

With those types of questions in mind, I decided to use Snapchat to create one second photos of moments of my weekend. For one, I enjoy taking pictures and remembering past moments/memories. I also struggle at times with living in the moment and enjoying the journey; therefore, I felt that this would be a good way to help me not only focus on noticing moments around me to take a picture of it, but to also just enjoy this little moment as well. Although you can have a picture last up to ten seconds on your Snapchat story, I decided to only use one second photos to symbolize that moments are fleeting and can disappear if not documented, or held onto as a strong memory. I sometimes don’t even realize how I’m in college, back from my mission, and married, when I still think it’s my senior year of 2012. Time is precious and this project helped me see that if we don’t appreciate the time that we are given, and make the most of it, it will disappear—just like our Snap stories.

Here is a link to my creation of "Ode to an Orange." I decided to make a poem and upload it to Vimeo. (I tried to make it come up in a better way to show it on this blog, but the best that it would allow me to do was copy the link to my public account.)https://vimeo.com/200621321

Here are the lyrics:

When I think of a time that makes me all warm inside

I think of those cold, North Dakota winters of the 40s.

I dream of my mother, my brother, and our plans to break

Break down in an illness, all for the very thing that we desired most of all:

An orange.

When the stores began to sell them, I would finally smell Christmas in the air.

That delightful springtime acidity that ripped my very mouth to shreds

The present that made my Christmas stocking complete.

As a young child, I explored the world of oranges

I came to understand their different uses and operations

Their scent that not only developed a smile on my face when opened, but

One that also invaded our home when set on our stove top.

Its spray that dazzled my eyes like fireworks when tore into,

But also, when lit with a match.

Motherly love came from their perfect snack sizes bites.

The many ways to open an orange is unique, fair, and simply divine.

A button of green at the tippity top can be bitten off, fall on the ground,

And remain like a rain drop.

…Though biting the peel far too much can lead to lips of bitter oil and rough

Defeated front teeth.

Nails can come in handy—for with fingers things can get ripped apart.

Father was my hero.

He could create a beautiful ribbon out of an orange peel, all from one simple tear.

Through the peeling of an orange I learned that you must work for that which you want.

Oranges can be eaten in slices,

Or whole.

Sucked upon.

With sticky fingers

Juice a’ flying in each direction

Sinuses opening

And life being shown and smelt again.

Orange.

The word that has no other name to be rhythmed with.

A color and a fruit.

A happy memory.

This is my ode to all the delicious

I think this assignment would work great in the classroom! I loved the idea of having the class read something as a whole, but then being able to have everyone put their own comfortable twist on the story and make it come alive in their own eyes. I also think that it would be important to remind the class--especially at the beginning of the semester (or year) of how important each person is and that we are all unique and important in our own way--reminding the students that the way that they decide to display their work can be completely opposite of their neighbors. For me, taking one day out a lesson plan to teach these teenagers of their worth would probably be far more important and life-lasting than just another lecture. And from this simple discussion of worth, I believe that it would help each student be more capable and confident in their abilities, not only for their assignments but for the rest of their lives.

                  

Another way this assignment could be used in my classroom would be by putting students into groups, showing one another their own personal project, and then using their personal assignment as a way to brainstorm for a bigger project on the same topic/novel. I also liked that you gave us a few days to come up with our own ideas, rather than only a few minutes to create our own personal vision. I think this assignment could get done over a Thursday-weekend time frame.