Social Political assignment progress.

A couple of my student's examples.

The Garbage King

I had the opportunity to be apart of the long, intensive, and amazing production of the Middle School's production of the Garbage King. The play is based on a book by Elizabeth Laird. The story takes place in Addis Ababa,  Ethiopia and focuses on two main characters who come from different backgrounds. Both boys meet each other while living on the street. 

From wikipedia:

It tells the story of Mamo and Dani. Mamo is from a very poor family where everyone has died except for him and his sister, Tiggist. Mamo is kidnapped by a slave trader who claims to be his Uncle Merga. "Merga" takes Mamo far from the city and sells him to a cruel farmer and his wife.

Dani comes from a rich and privileged family in a prosperous part of Addis Abbaba. His father, however, wants him to send him away to make him learn something useful and toughen up. Dani's mother is sick and flew to London, England, to receive better medical care. Dani runs away to escape his father. At the same time, Mamo escapes from the farmer and hitchhikes back to Addis Ababa, and hides in a graveyard where he meets Dani who is also hiding there. They form an unexpected alliance and together join a gang of beggar street boys. The gang members share a strict code of sharing whatever they obtain. Mamo becomes "the garbage king" because he is an expert at finding treasures in rubbish heaps. Dani writes stories which the others sell for money. Mamo tries to sell a story to a schoolteacher that turns out to be one of Dani's old teachers, Ato Mesfin. Ato Mesfin recognizes Dani's handwriting, and approaches Dani's father, Ato Paulos hoping for a reward.

Ato Mesfin and Ato Paulos learn of the boys' pitch to sell their stories by talking with homeless street people who know Dani. Eventually they find Dani and his gang, and Ato Paulos is angry that his son left a prosperous home to become a street beggar.

Dani returns home with his father once he hears his mother is recovering, and that she will soon return home. Mamo sets off to find his sister, and learns she now lives with a new husband. When they reunite, Tiggist is happy to have her younger brother back, although she is ashamed of what he has become (a beggar). The two boys remain friends and provide food and new clothes for their old gang members.

Kudos to everyone involved in pulling off this production. 

My tasks were making the poster and building gigantic piles of garbage. 

The Garbage piles at opening. The heave rains days prior made them sink, I was a little disappointed.

The man in red, Adreas, was the brainchild for the heaps of garbage. His daughter also helped for her CAS reflections. 

Social Political Art Assignment

Social and Political Issues in Art: inspired by Sara Gant, NC

Per our discussion and slide show of the images below during class, I would like to remind you that no matter what position you take on an issue, there will always be a counter point.  

Assignment:
Social/Political painting.

Objective:
You will choose an issue/cause you care deeply about. This issue should be something that is a concern in your society or elsewhere in the world. Here is a partial list of some of the issues you might want to consider: environment, racism, gender issues, child labor, domestic violence, discrimination, religious views, war, social-economic class, poverty, bullying, mental health, animal rights, etc. What issues do you CARE about? Have you been affected by an issue or know a family member or a friend who has? How did it affect them?

Project Description:
Your image may be subtle or obvious. Think about what point of view you want to depict (An animal being experimented on, for example, if you are for animal rights.) You project will be image based minus text.

Starting:
Spend time researching the issue you have chosen to speak about. Use your sketchbook to jot down images, quotes, or words that relate to you idea. You can borrow ideas from other images to help you develop your initial ideas, BUT YOUR PROJECT SHOULD BE YOUR OWN. Your sketches should be a visual record of the research and documentation that you have done.

Post Project Writing Assignment:
Write about your image. Answer a number of following questions in 2-3 paragraphs.
What is the reasoning for choosing your topic?
Why do you feel the way you do?
What are your arguments for or against your topic?
What or who has influenced your decisions and opinions about your topic?
What is the opposition to your issue?
How would/do you interact with someone who has an opposing view?
Can you see the opposition's point of view?
Is your artwork intended to offend?
Who would be offended?
Does an artist have a right to offend?
Critique your project: 
Are you effective in getting your point across? How?
Is there a focal point (center of interest)?
How do you effectively use the Principles of Design?

Additional Resources: The Graphic Imperative  PostersPropaganda Posters Justseeds.org

You Can Click on Image to enlarge.