What’s Your Meaning of Life?

This assignment is focused around photography and how it is used in Journalism. We used four different camera techniques for this project which include lighting, aperture, shutter speed, and the rule of thirds. The rule of thirds can either make or break a picture, depending on how visually appealing it is and how you’re trying to focus or center you subject. Through these photos and the interview we are having with this person, we are answering the question, “What’s the meaning of life”. Through this interview, my friend answers the question along with other ideas about his meaning of life.

Chicago's Youth: The Eccentric Party Scene

In Journalism, we were asked to write a story about something happening locally. I wrote an article about rave culture in Chicago and how it has evolved overtime. I decided to write this because I have a lot of friends that go to these events and dj at raves. I also am really into how rave culture began. I love the style a lot of ravers had in the 90s and I noticed that overtime the culture has shifted. Raving basically began in Chicago and I wanted to write this to show people that it isn’t dead in the place where it was born. I also wanted to inform people about Chicago’s youth and how they connect with people in different communities. Learning about Chicago’s gay club scene in the 80s really inspired me to write this and talk about the change in the culture. I interviewed a lot of people who attended raves both young and old. I not only got a lot of different perspectives about raves, but I got a chance to ask some questions about a culture I’ve never really immersed myself in. Although, I’ve always been into the rave scene, I’ve never actually attended many raves. I was just close to people who did. Writing this really opened up my eyes about Chicago youth and how the culture here is different than any other city in the world.

Long but Never Forgotten

In my Policy class, unit 2 we focused mostly on wars and the different things people experienced through these wars. We discussed the Vietnam War and the memorial built in Washington, DC to recognize the deaths of thousands of veterans. Through this unit, we also discussed the powers of the Executive Branch and observed what policy is when it comes to court and a criminal case. In one Field Experience, we watched a murder case in court. I found the language that was used very interesting as well as how the evidence was revealed in the court room. Recently, we visited a Veterans art museum. The museum is filled with art only from veterans. Through their work, they demonstrate the different traumas they experienced and how their life story relates to their war experience. The art shows that they are also more than their experiences as veterans, they are artists. 

“Heavy Weight” by William Myles

This is a painting I saw at the museum that really stuck out to me. The painting not only shows a black soldier but the issues the soldier may have faced as a black man before war. Next to him shows the KKK, a man getting arrested, and people who may be protesters wearing a “No War” shirt. People were very against the Vietnam war at the time and often protested about it so their voices were heard. These people were mostly liberals and hippies around the 60s and 70s. They also were very outspoken about the lives of black people in America. I chose this photo because it reminded me of Truman’s policy that abolished discrimination towards people of any race and religion in the US Armed forces. That led to abolish the segregation in the services. The painting also represents so much more about the black soldier than just the time he spent in war. It represents the injustices of a black man in America.

Declaring a ScreenWriting course

This declaration written for my Argument course goes through reasons as to why Screenwriting should be taught as an independent study in GCE. As a student in GCE, I have the right to speak up about what I want from the school to help me grow artistically and academically. In this Argument course we have been studying The Declaration of Independence and how inductive and deductive reasoning is used in Arguments. For this argument, I have to use either inductive or deductive reasoning as well. Since GCE is independently motivated, allowing us to explore our interests and take risks through real world education, students should be able to take an independent study on the art of Screenwriting. Although the course Ollywood was already taught at GCE, Screenwriting is a different learning experience and dives into the study of writing movies and telling a story. My unalienable rights as a student in GCE it to be taught in a way that will help me grow and prosper in the real world. I discuss my reasons in a podcast where I give 5 different premises (accidentally leaving out one) as to why Screenwriting should be taught as an independent study. Below, I stated the 6 different premises supporting the guiding question, How does screenwriting contribute to real world education and benefit me as an artistically challenged student in GCE?

Follow the premises below as I discuss each reason.




The purpose of school and learning is to acquire the knowledge you need to become successful and make money in your later years, moving into adulthood and the adult world. It also gives people the chance to learn about who they are as a person and what careers may interest them in the near future.

(1:57) P1: Students in GCE should expect to be taught differently than the average school.
Here, when learning about Humanities we explore many topics and subjects within the subject itself. Screenwriting isn't just about writing a movie, it's storytelling, it's dialogue. It is not far from what kids already learn in a Humanities class.

(2:23) P2: It improves story telling.
Many kids in school need to use storytelling all throughout their lives. It shows creativity in your writing. Good storytelling is the key to becoming a better writer. This is of course is essential when you're applying to colleges. Colleges want to hear YOUR story. This can prepare a lot of students for this as well as for exam prompts, job interviews, etc.

(2:26) P3: Writing and reading stories can help with anxiety and stress.
According to the University of Rochester, keeping a journal and writing down your thoughts can help manage your mental health. Writing or reading stories is also shown to help anxiety and stress. Students don’t have to journal about personal things but they can be story ideas for screenplays, or short stories. In my opinion, writing of any form whether it’s journaling or storytelling can help you collect your thoughts and bring out the creativity inside. Students doing this once a day can help refocus them because school IS Stressful.

(2:54) P4: Students have the freedom to express themselves.
I read an article in the NY times about how teachers in some schools do not allow kids to express themselves through their writing. I’ve noticed this in school, myself. Whenever writing about a topic that is unique or personal, teachers would try too hard to make it academic focused. Creativity is not looked at as a good thing in school sometimes. Teachers don’t understand. Writing and reading screenplays can be a way for students to disconnect themselves from the real world and channel in with the things that they really feel. If kids have to read books in school that already have violence or explicit language, why are we not able to write and read movies about a world we identify with?

(3:03) P5: It would be just as beneficial to read a full screenplay in class, than to watch a movie.
When students are reading screenplays rather than watching the actual movie, this allows them to break down dialogue which can improve reading and writing. This could also help language as well because there are a number of screenplays that use different kinds of language and I'm not just talking about foreign movies. English language comes in several different forms and It’s a different experience when you're reading the actual screenplay.

P6: It gives students room for career choices.
A screenwriting class can change a kid's life. Just as much as a science, math, or basic English
class can change a student's life. School is an opportunity to explore the future career choices you have. There are people who love movies. And there are people who love writing. Screenwriting is a mixture of the two. They’ll have that prior knowledge before going to college if they do want to go for art. It just gives kids more options , rather than narrowing them down to careers like a scientist, lawyer, doctor, and so on.

In conclusion, reading and writing screenplays should be taught as an Independent Study to give students the room for self expression and opportunity to improve writing skills, especially through storytelling.


Sources:


“7 Reasons Why Studying Screenwriting Can Make You A Better Novelist.” Bang2Write, 1 Dec. 2016, www.bang2write.com/2013/08/7-reasons-why-studying-screenwriting-can-make-you-a-better-novelist-by-max-kinnings.html.

“How Reading Screenplays Will Improve Your Writing.” Creative Screenwriting, creativescreenwriting.com/screenplays/.

“Journaling for Mental Health.” Ice Packs vs. Warm Compresses For Pain - Health Encyclopedia - University of Rochester Medical Center, www.urmc.rochester.edu/encyclopedia/content.aspx?ContentID=4552&ContentTypeID=1.

KristinaAdamsAuthor. “How Writing Helps Me Through Depression.” The Writer's Cookbook, 16 Sept. 2017, www.writerscookbook.com/writing-through-depression/.

Proulx, Natalie. “Is School a Place for Self-Expression?” The New York Times, The New York Times, 24 Apr. 2018, www.nytimes.com/2018/04/24/learning/is-school-a-place-for-self-expression.html.

“The Declaration of Independence: Full Text.” Ushistory.org, Independence Hall Association, www.ushistory.org/Declaration/document/.