5.3 Take-aways (Section II Readings)

1. "Remixing is evident in every domain of cultural practice..." (Lankshear & Knobel, p. 97)

Like Picasso once said, "good artists borrow, great artists steal."  The same idea applies to the evolution of the art world.  Certain inspirations stick with artists who recycle an idea to give it new context and new life.  The idea of remixing is more visible than ever before thanks to the accessibility and immediacy of handheld technologies.  Images and sounds are shared on a macro-scale through public platforms making EVERYTHING available to everyone!  The game has changed - students construct meaning in a new way - cherry picking relevant information from a bounty of sources.  They rely heavily on visual culture to convey and make meaning.  This new literacy requires new methods of teaching in schools.  It is crucial that teachers stay abreast of new technologies in order to  effectively communicate with students.      

2. Peppler explains the impact of visual culture on teenagers today.  Photography is a preference for teens.  They communicate through images and sounds.  Instagram stories and Snapchats serve as visual updates, replacing the need for written messages.  This promotes visual learning.  The ability to "read" an image becomes more in depth.  Art teachers can use the dominance of visual culture and social media to their advantage.  Teachers must take on the challenge of searching for discussion worthy artworks and then challenge students to unpack the meanings behind them.  

  

3. In the realm of digital storytelling, students can easily get carried away with all the bells and whistles.  As a teacher, it is important to emphasize a less is more approach when it comes to digital storytelling.  I think we saw this first hand when presenting our digital photography storybooks in class- the most successful stories were those that embraced simplicity.  My own digital photo story got carried away with additions of text and photoshop fixes which distracted viewers from making any inferences of their own. Stephanie’s, “Trashy Little Love Story,” on the other hand is a prime example of less is more.  Viewers enjoy a quirky story that allows them to make their own meaningful connections to the work.  

The chances of overworking a piece increase when it comes to making a movie.  Therefore, teachers applying these lessons have to be thoughtful in their instruction- making sure to provide individual feedback.  Teachers should also be aware of the different processes that each student or group may be going through.