Computers and Writing

“Ali’s version of cool teaches us that power comes from the images we create for ourselves, not from images created for us by outside entities” (Rice 77).

For Cool Project 2, we’re going to take the lessons learned from chapters six through nine and put them into practice in order to rewrite stereotypical images that mainstream society has constructed. Using the same techniques of appropriation, sampling, remix, and writing with words and images that culture has used to create identities for different groups, this project will take a lesson from African-American culture to make new forms of identity that work towards the creation of new myths in order to effectively rewrite and disrupt the myths about groups of people that exist.

You should ask what does culture tell us it means to be woman, man, black, white, poor, religious, atheist, gay, young, old, or part of another group. Find images, essays, videos, cartoons, songs, movies, news and magazine articles that support these stereotypes. In your groups work out how you want to rewrite these portrayels to create images that speak a new myth that works towards changing our consciousness about the way we view these stereotypes. In effect, your group’s goal will be to create better, more productive ways of viewing groups to counter the ones made by mainstream culture. Use whatever methods you need to, including writing, sampling, remix, and appropriation. You may work in a variety of media, so long as the project can be digitized and published online.

Each presentation will need to have a homepage that does four basic things. The homepage will be the launching point for the project.

• First, the homepage will need to have some kind of “look” rather than a blank page. Some minimal artistic design that uses chosen or made graphics would work well for this. There is no need to be overly elaborate with the design. You should also display the title of the project prominently.
• Second, the homepage will need to have a PROJECT STATEMENT that serves as an introduction to the project (two paragraphs or so). This statement should state a) the title for the project, b) that you are a collaborative group in a Computers and Writing class from UTA, c) all the names of the group members, d) why your group became interested in this issue, e) and what you hope the effect of the project will be on your audience.
• Third, it should have a DESIGN STATEMENT. This statement should explain a) the different media you used to realize your ideas (webpages, video, picture manipulation, writing, etc.), b) how the individual group members contributed to the project, c) why you think your method was the best way to express your group’s ideas, and d) any tips you can give your audience so they can have a successful experience viewing your project.
• Fourth, it should have a button or a link that says LAUNCH PROJECT that will take the audience into your virtual creation.

Samples for the statements above can be found by going to the online academic journal Vectors. For inspiration, take a look at how some of these projects were put together, but make sure to attend to the above guidelines when writing your statements.

Some tips: Make sure to test your projects before sending them to me. Your images as well as your writing should be clear and crisp. The message you are hoping to convey should come across easily and be understandable to a general audience who may know very little of the work you are engaged in. Your colors, navigation, aesthetics, and overall effect all help convey the level of professionalism and quality of your work.

The project is due by 11:59 p.m. Friday, October 28. The coordinator or recorder of your group should send me an email (leston@uta.edu) that with a link to the page. Just as before, everyone should include a link to the project from their projects page at their home websites.