Design your own CD Cover

I hope Chelsea doesn’t mind, but this post is definitely inspired by an activity she led with her girls at Verdun Elementary last week (I wish I had pictures!)

Why?

Today’s world is all about representation: what your clothes say about you, what your job says about you, what your Facebook says about you, etc etc! Kids are constantly flashed with images of pop culture. They can associate a picture of Rihanna with fashion, singing, dancing, beauty/sexiness and stardom in seconds…but if you show them a picture of Stephen Harper, well, don’t wait too long for that response. It’s important that these limited representations don’t get absorbed unconsciously and without reflection.

This activity combines art with media literacy and identity development. 

Step 1
Take a look at popular or interesting CD covers. How is the artist representing himself/herself? For example, take this CD cover for Selena Gomez. What do you think she is saying about herself?

Things you could point out include:
1. Her band is called “Selena Gomez and the Scene” but only SHE is on the cover. Thus, she is the star. She is in the spotlight. She is most important. She is independent.

2. She is dressed as a Flapper! Flappers are from the 1920s and they were young women who rebelled against tradition by having short hair, short dresses and learning new dances (etc). Why do you think she is dressed as a flapper? Maybe she is showing her rebelliousness.

3. What colours are used? Are they masculine or feminine?

4. Does the cover look childish/cartoonish or mature?

So, after reflecting, how do you think Selena Gomez is representing herself?

Step 2
Display different CDs. You can look at how different artists represent themselves, but you can also show different styles of art.
For example..

1. Green Day’s Dookie displays cartoon/caricature art

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

2. Pink Floyd’s Dark Side of the Moon uses geometric shapes.

3. One Direction uses photography and self portrait to really show their personalities.

Step 3

Create your own CD Cover! Students can choose their artist name, their CD name and art style. Guide them as they determine what images/colours/texts represent who they are and who they want to be or what kind of music they like.

Materials include markers/crayons/pencils/etc, paper, scissors. You can even use magazines and glue, pastels, construction paper, etc etc. Be creative!

 

Girls and Media

“8 is the peak age for girl’s leadership ambitions”

Let’s change that. Here at Homework Zone, we want to break down all barriers to success. But sometimes, those barriers are hidden inside where no one can see. Let’s bring them out into the open.

Talk to your girls! Ask questions! What/who inspires them…and what does inspire even mean?

And what about YOU? What aspirations do YOU have?

It’s time to get real!

My Best Friend, the Superstar

 

In this activity, children will look at what makes a person valuable. They will compare their own values and needs with what the media/society deems important, flashy and sellable.

The activity begins enticingly: students will create the IDEAL superstar. Using paper, crayons, markers, magazines, etc, students in small groups will brainstorm all of the best attributes in making a celebrity. You can expect your students to emphasize good looks, fashion, singing/dancing ability, fitness, money, etc. Let their imaginations run wild. It is your choice whether your students simply brainstorm with words/images or they draw the celebrity him/herself (perhaps they draw a magazine cover).

Then, the students are given a new task: create the IDEAL best friend. Using the same materials, students in the same small groups will brainstorm all of the best attributes of a best friend. The intention is to focus on internal values, so it may be up to you to focus the discussion. Some topics/values may include: trustworthy, funny, kind, caring, fun, sharing, etc. Again, students may simply brainstorm OR draw the best friend him/herself.

To end the activity, lead a short discussion (or, perhaps, ask these questions throughout the activity):

1. What values are mainly about the kind of person someone is?
2. What person has more of these values: the superstar or the best friend?
3. What made you choose the values/attributes that you did for the superstar?…the best friend?
4. What is the difference between beauty on the inside and beauty on the outside? Which is more important? Which can you see in a magazine?
5. Who would you prefer to have in your life?
6. Any questions you deem important.

Mommy, Am I FAT?

Inner-city school or not, girls are facing poor self-image earlier and earlier. They hear from their mothers, their teachers. They see pictures on magazines, they watch movies.

At 6 years old, a girl knows that it’s best to be skinny. A girl hates her FAT before she has even begun to develop.

Think about the young girls you are working with. Are they obsessed with prettiness and body image? What do they tend to talk about in conversation?

But, equally importantly, what ideas are YOU bringing to the homework table?

Juice Box TV

 

Kids are immersed in Pop Culture. You can’t help that. But, you can think about what values are being portrayed, what language is being used.

Of course, these kids are not going to be happy if you slide a Wiggles CD into the player… and who knows if they’ve even heard of the Beatles?

So here’s one option:

JUICE BOX TV

It’s a playlist of Top 40 music videos that have been approved by parent boards. It features artists like Selena Gomez, Justin Beiber, One Direction, Cody Simpson, Thesekidswearcrowns, etc.

Of course, you can’t please everybody with you music selection (I’ll let you estimate how many groans follow the first beats of “baby, baby, baby, nooooo”), but this is a good option to keep in mind if you want to bring music into an activity or look at music videos without resorting to Youtube (which has NO censorship whatsoever).