Interested topics- Whiteness as race/Normative body and power 420 Final Assessment Video project guidelines and assessment ideas...

Interested topics- Whiteness as race/Normative body and power

420 Final Assessment

Video project guidelines and assessment ideas

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1. Definition of digital ethnography:

“Digital ethnography can be understood as a method for representing real-life cultures through

storytelling in online media.” (Digital Ethnography - University of Texas Press

utpress.utexas.edu/index.php/books/unddig)

2. Description of assignment task

• Purpose: to identify significant curriculum themes provided in KIN 420 and demonstrate

your understanding of this content in a visual format. Strive to achieve either a broad

comprehensive coverage of the course objectives OR select one particular theory or

theme and demonstrate a deeper understanding (beyond what was covered in class).

• To do this, first establish the following:

o What is your goal? What essential message do you want to get out there?

o Who is your target audience - design the message so they will listen.

o Choose details that are all consistent with your main message, are

academically sound and those which will engage your target audience

o Start with an eye-catching, image that links to your video: pick something

shocking, funny, sad, weird, cute, edgy, outside the box; something that

people will feel the urge to investigate further and share. Remember to

consider your target audience in picking this.

o Appeal to emotions, as well as stats, facts and reason

o Write/speak simply, sparsely, succinctly. Use as few characters as possible.

o Close with a call to action: what do you hope to accomplish by creating this

video?

o Do not speak in the first person unless it is a narrative piece.

o Be very cautious of simply sharing your opinions or stating what is already

obvious. It is essential that you go beyond providing proof of what already exists

or providing simplistic utopian solutions. Unpack, Deconstruct, Problematize !!!

3. Assignment Logistics

• Submit a 5 minute digital video with the following characteristics:

• Moving film

• Tightly Edited

• Spoken word only if it's an example to highlight a visual point

• Main impact is thru visual artifacts- not a spoken presentation

• No power points with voice overs

• Entertaining

• Visually appealing

• Challenges how people see the current state of social justice structures

• Represents the information that is provided in the course content

• Tells the story of the social structures that create inequality in S/R/L

• Conveys a focused purpose

• Is aesthetically engaging

• Is free of mechanical errors in technology

• A strong academically sound message must be there; flashy presentation won't save you.

• The combination of multimedia elements with words and ideas takes communication and

persuasion to a very high level, superior to what could be accomplished with either alone.

The mixture brings about synergy and dramatic effects which reach the intended audience

with style, pizzazz and elegance.

• Conveys a passionate idea

• Evokes emotion

• Supply any and all resources you use in a reference section at the end of your production.

Make it easy for the viewer to find the resources you use in your video.

Tips for Effectiveness –

Make effective use of many of the following principles of film effectiveness:

• Photography (shot, focus, frame, angle, movement, space, sets, lighting, color)

• Sound (music, dialogue, silence, language, synchronicity sound effects)

• Editing (order, transition, cuts, duration, rhythm, continuity, disjuncture,

montage, motifs)

• Narration (story/plot, dramatic appeal, motivation, logic, closure, point of view)

• Other (self-reference, realism/representation, art, politics, values/ideology,

historical context)

If you tell a great story, kick off with a bang, build an emotional roller coaster, ensure your

content is academically sound and engages the audience, you will clearly convey your message.