Gregor's Room, Assignment Guidelines

Assignment:

• Using only white copy paper, no tape or glue, design and construct a collection of paper sculptures that visually narrate your perception of the short story The Metamorphosis. 
• Perception is a way of regarding, understanding, or interpreting something; a mental impression
• All sculptures must have height, width and depth. Do not construct flat pieces that only have a front and back. Must have depth. 

Objective:

• Provide students with the experience of extracting design elements and principles such as line, color, texture, shape, scale, space, pattern, focal point, balance and repetition from the written word.
• Challenge students to analyze the content and meaning of a story, translating their perceptions to an artwork of their own that visually communicates content and meaning.  
• Challenge construction skills through the use of minimal materials and the process of transformed plane.

Materials:

• White copy paper. Do not use card stock. 
• Winsor and Newton eight color ink set
• Winsor and Newton white ink
• Scissors
• Cut matt
• Exacto knife
• Brushes
• Optional - colored pencils, black or colored ink pens, graphite pencils

Student Examples (Completed Work). 

Link below. 

• https://foundations3ddesign.blogspot.com/search/label/Gregor%27s%20Room%20Student%20Work

Student Examples (In-Process). 

Link below. 

• https://foundations3ddesign.blogspot.com/search/label/Gregor%27s%20Room%20Student%20Work%20In-Process

Inspiration Artists. Link below. 

• https://foundations3ddesign.blogspot.com/search/label/Gregor%27s%20Room%20Inspiration%20Artists

Guidelines:

• Miniature Paper Sculptures
• The sculptures will visually communicate your perception of the setting presented in The Metamorphosis.
• You have freedom how to interpret each sculpture. 
• For example, you do not have to produce a traditional bed or piece of furniture. 

• Constructing the Paper Sculptures
• Use white copy paper. Do not use card stock. 
• Do not use tape, glue or any other form of adhesive. 
• You may use water to deconstruct paper and activate glue embedded in paper.
• Option to make paper pulp and "form" wet pulp into shapes. Do not add glue. Rely on the glue in the paper that activates when made into pulp. 
• Do not use origami. 
• The sculptures must be sturdy and stable.

• Color
• Use ink for color. Do not use paint. 
• Option to include minimal use of colored pencils, tech pens/sharpies. 
• White Ink
• If white is part of your design, must ink the white copy paper with white ink to reflect light for dimension. Consider slightly tinting the white ink. 

• Size
• The largest size is a sheet of copy of paper, 8.5" x 11". 
• The bed should be no smaller than half a sheet of copy paper. 4.25" x 5.5". 
• All forms are to be three-dimensional - have height, width and depth. 
• Example, a mattress has six sides (planes).

• Below is a list of the sculptures. Total 8 sculptures. 
• Gregor. 
• You choose how to represent the character Gregor. 
• Do not represent in the form of a bug. 
• A piece of furniture. 
• Your choice. 
• A bed (six components)
• Must contain the following:
• Mattress
• Box Spring 
• Bed Frame
• Headboard. 
• Be careful here - do not use one sheet of paper to make a headboard. Make a shape with height, width and depth or use multiple shapes. 
• At least one pillow
• At least one blanket
• All six components do not have to attach. 
• You can choose to replace an item below with an additional piece of furniture or a wall. 

Step 1:

Homework

• Print out the short story The Metamorphosis. 
• Go to this link: https://web.english.upenn.edu/~cavitch/pdf-library/Kafka_Metamorphosis.pdf
• Read and make notes in the margins. Bring printed copy with notes and answers to below questions to class. 
• Answer the questions below. 
• How do you perceive the story? 
• Perception is a way of regarding, understanding, or interpreting something; a mental impression. 
• What do you think is the meaning of the story? 
• What descriptions/ideas/meaning resonates with you? 
• How do you visualize the story?
• What colors, shapes, textures, patterns, use of space, implied lines, scale do you associate with the story?
• Go to link below to see examples of elements and principles: http://foundations3ddesign.blogspot.com/search/label/Elements%20and%20Principles%20Visual%20Examples 

Step 2:

• Bring your printed copy of the story and notes to class for discussion. 
• Be prepared to take further notes as we will discuss the reading and ideas for the visual work. 
• Be prepared to verbally share your answers to the above questions. 

Step 3:

• Begin constructing your ideas, working toward a final solution. Sketches are optional. 
• Keep in mind, this construction process is new to you so your first attempts may be learning experiences and not suitable for a final solution. This is okay, don't get frustrated. Learn from results, keep moving forward. 
• Refer to the above "Guidelines" section to make sure you are constructing the items required. 
• Remember to take in-process pics as you are working. 

Franz Kafka

1883 - 1924, Austria

The Metamorphosis, first published in 1915. As with all of Kafka's works, The Metamorphosis is open to a wide range of interpretations. Most obvious are themes relating to society's treatment of those who are different, the loneliness of isolation, and the absurdity of the human condition.

Evaluation Criteria: 

• Refer to the document in File Section in Canvas entitled "Evaluation Criteria". The document has the evaluation criteria for all assignments.

What do I post on my blog?

• Refer to document in File Section in Canvas entitled "Blog Guidelines and Checklist". 
• The document includes guidelines and checklist and due dates.
• Late work not accepted for blog posts.