Dinner & A Movie Assignment Guidelines

Assignment:

Utilize elements and principles to produce a small-scale installation inspired by a movie of your choice. The installation will take the form of a dinner setting for one. Strive for innovation. The dinner setting is a basic format intended to be adapted and interpreted. Final solution exists in an aerial photograph of the installation. 

Important - You are not directly illustrating the movie with three-dimensional objects. You are analyzing the elements and principles of a particular art form (film) to produce a personal artwork that suggests the content and meaning of chosen movie. Your goal is not to have viewer recognize the chosen movie. Your goal is to make an artwork that invites the viewer to consider and investigate ideas. Remember, the viewer may not have seen the movie you chose. The viewer perceives artwork based on their own experiences. 

Also Important  - Final solution in the form of a photograph. Image must be presented in person on the due date for work to be considered turned in on time. Those who do not present images in person will receive a late grade for this assignment.  

Objective:

• Recognize elements and principles as well as content and meaning in an existing art form (chosen movie). Use this info to develop a personal idea. 
• Apply elements and principles in three-dimension to achieve a final solution that exists as a digital image. 

Materials:

Items from nature and/or your home and/or any other material you deem necessary. 

Inspiration:

See right column for "Dinner & A Movie Inspiration" and "Dinner & A Movie Color Palette". Right column usually does not appear if you are viewing this blog on a phone. Scroll to bottom of page and click on "Web Version". 

Student Examples:

See right column for "Dinner & A Movie Student Examples". Right column usually does not appear if you are viewing this blog on a phone. Scroll to bottom of page and click on "Web Version". 

Guidelines:

·      The movie is a starting point for content. For examples, if the movie includes ideas/characters related to science, your dinner setting can take on a “scientific theme” while utilizing the elements and principles you observed in the movie.

·      Avoid clichés. Avoid predictable solutions. 

·      Do not simply "illustrate" the content of the movie with objects. 

The installation will take the form of a dinner table setting for one person and must include at least six (6) objects. 

·      The dinner setting arrangement serves as a foundation. You do not have to use traditional objects. If you do use traditional objects it is because these objects visually communicate your idea AND the objects are used with innovation. You want the installation to tell a story – a story that the viewer has to mentally investigate. Consider, table setting designs vary among cultures - how can you use cultural information to communicate your idea. 

·      The installation will occupy a surface area that measures approximately 24” x 20”.  

·      The final solution will be photographed from above, aerial view. Crop in tightly so only the installation occupies the picture plane. 

·      Use objects that you have at home and/or from nature. Use with innovation. 

·      You have the option to alter objects – paint, break, break and reassemble, stitch, wrap with string. You can also manipulate food items. 

• You may digitally enhance final photo. 

Ideas For The Surface:

·      The surface is the area where the dinner setting will be placed and photographed. The surface area is a significant component of the final solution. 

·      Set up outside – In the grass, a pile of leaves, concrete, picnic table. Note – could be difficult to photograph with shadows from the sun. 

·      Set up inside – Since the entire surface will not be included in the photograph, you have many options. Look for surfaces in your home that can support your idea or create your own surface. Look in your closet – can patterns on clothes support your idea? If so you can spread out a garment and use as “tablecloth”. Or maybe you can weave together ties or belts? 

·      Adapt items from outside – Weave/stack sticks. Weave palm fronds. Create a bed of flowers. Make sure no bugs on items before bringing inside. Sticks have many options. For instance, what if you peeled the bark and sanded? Tie or wrap the sticks with another material? Or you can paint the sticks.

Step 1, Top of the creative funnel cloud. 

• Select two movies. 
• Complete Concept Development Packet (word and PDF document sent to students via email). 
• When completing packet, push beyond predictable solutions. For instance, if you wish to communicate a feeling of sadness, what color/textures/shapes can communicate this emotion? Perhaps you select white/smooth/organic. These descriptions can then lead to an idea of a white, rounded cup/mug, placed on its side with a spilled liquid or paper cut to resemble a spill or objects arranged to suggest a spill.  

Step 2, Moving down the creative funnel cloud, still near top.

• Bring completed Concept Development Packet to class and brainstorm/share ideas with classmates. 

Step 3, Middle of creative funnel cloud. 

• Review ideas, consolidate, expand.
• Decide which movie you want to use as inspiration.
• Gather materials needed.

Step 4, Near the bottom of creative funnel cloud. 

• Begin assembling, try out several ideas. 

Step 5, Moving closer to the bottom of creative funnel cloud. 

• Photograph various solutions.
• Post all ideas on your blog. Share these images with the class to gain feedback. 

Step 6, Bottom of creative funnel cloud. 

• Select one image as the final solution. 
• Optional - Detail images. This may be necessary for some of you. See me if you are not sure. 
• Place this image on your blog to present to the class on due date. 
• Include title of your artwork and name of movie.
• Take notes when presenting. Use this information to write an artist statement. Artist statement due when final completion of blog due (final exam day and time). Post artist statement by this day/time in order to receive credit. 

Post the following information on your blog in the order listed below:

• One image of final solution, aerial view, directly above the installation. 
• Make sure image is cropped tight. 
• Do not include information outside the surface area.

• Title your work. 
• Place title underneath the image. Do not use title of the movie. 
• Underneath the title address the materials. Use this language, "Various objects and materials". 
• Place this info underneath the materials, "Inspired by the movie (insert title of movie and date movie was released). 
• Place title of your work and movie in Italics. 

• An artist statement. 
• DO NOT INCLUDE THE TITLE OF OF THE MOVIE. 
• DO NOT BEGIN WITH "THE ASSIGNMENT WAS..."
• Write about the work you made. Discuss the overall meaning of the work. Examples; "This image explores ideas about...."; "The photograph conveys emotions related to isolation.", "The image is a social commentary on political issues in contemporary culture. Topics such as...."
• Writing should be free of spelling and grammar errors. Use capitalization. 
• Writing should be efficient - do not ramble. Do not submit the first statement you write. Take time to review and edit your writing at least twice. 
• Review statements in "Dinner and A Movie Student Work". A few statements are included with the work, so make sure you scroll through to look at all posts.