The following is the full assignment for your final.

Click here to read the original essay by Margaret Atwood. 

Hello Martians

Allegory: a story, poem, or picture that can be interpreted to reveal a hidden meaning, typically a moral or political one.

Margaret Atwood uses three literary texts to describe America to the Martians.  These texts are all from the same time period and all have the same overall comment about the U.S. right now: that it is contradictory, even puritanical and at times hypocritical.

How does America appear to you?  If beings from another planet landed in your backyard, how would you describe America to them?  What is the overall concept that you would present?  What work of literature, art, music, film, or television would you use to represent this idea?

Part I: Planning

1.     Figure out how you would represent your idea of America – this concept should be boiled down to one word, but then must be explained in your written piece. (Remember, you can be positive if you’d like.)

2.     Choose three artistic pieces that exemplify your conception of America.

3.     Explain exactly how these three artistic pieces represent your idea of America.

Part II: Writing

1.     Start with aliens landing in your yard.  They want to know about America.

2.     Tell them what others might think of the U.S., especially in light of current and historical events.

3.     Use your three artistic pieces to explain what America really is – at least in your opinion.

a.      You must explain each work of art separately.

b.     You must relate each work of art to a current idea that supports your concept of America.

c.      Be specific.  Your reader needs to understand what you are asserting.

4.     Include the aliens’ reactions.  Include humor or misunderstanding.

5.     Do the aliens accept your view?  Do they fully understand?

Part III: Visual

            Directions and explanations are forthcoming.

Part III: Visual

You will create a visual representation of your Martian essay/story/poem.  Each group member must create his/her own visual representation that the group will then assemble as a complete work.  Look to Maira Kalman’s work on the New York Times website, and her work in And the Pursuit of Happiness for inspiration.

Requirements:

·       Show your essay/story/poem through text, photos, pictures, and drawings.

·       Incorporate aspects from the works of art you chose into your depiction – quotations from movies, songs, T.V. shows, or literature; stills from movies or T.V. shows; images of the visual art.

·       Take your own photos to represent ideas in your essay/story/poem

·       Use “found” images from the Internet or magazines

Your finished project must include:

·       Five images – at least three with accompanying text

·       200 words (separate from the image text) – at least 125 must be words from your essay.

·       Your entire essay must be expressed in the final project.  I should be able to read blog and read your essay and get the same idea from both.