Blog #1: Rhetorical Analysis of Digital Shakespeare Archives
Write a 500+ word blog entry that analyzes the rhetoric and design choices of an online Shakespeare performance archive found at the end of the Belmont Folger Shakespeare Grant. In analyzing the archive, be sure to use the terms for analysis we have discussed such as audience, purpose, author, genre, or context. You should also consider if there are parts of the archive’s design that would be useful for us when putting together our own performance archive. What about the approach the creators of the archive took to their website seems to work for the archive and what doesn’t work? Why? What should we take away from that for our archive? You must include one image in your blog post and link to the archive you analyzed. Once everyone has posted their blog on Thursday, you must read and comment on at least two of your peers' blogs to thoughtfully consider and respond to their perspective.
Due by class on Thursday, September 15th
Two comments due by class on Tuesday, September 20th
Blog #2: Shakespeare Performance Archive Logo and Site Layout
For your second blog post, you will individually envision and create a logo (Photoshop) and site layout (InDesign) for your group's section of the Nashville Shakespeare Performance Archive. Your final proposed site mockup should include one sample web page with your logo and should be posted to your blog site as a jpg file. In addition to the site mockup, you should include a 300+ word blog entry that explains your logo and site layout within the context of the Nashville, Shakespeare, Belmont, and global audiences that will likely access the site. Remember, a design justification is more than an analysis; it is a chance to argue to your classmates, Dr. Yeo's Shakespeare class, and other stakeholders why your site design is the preferred version. Be sure to explicitly use the design terms (contrast, repetition, alignment, and proximity) to justify every element of the site. Logos and site design will be evaluated based on specificity and visual appeal.
Due at the end of class on Tuesday, November 1st
Thursday, November 3rd we will vote on the best logos and designs
Blog #3: Solving Digital Communication Problems
With the shifting context of digital texts, communication and understanding have become more and more difficult. Consider the multiple examples of miscommunication and internet shaming in Jon Ronson's book So You've Been Publicly Shamed. With the potential for communication failures in our Nashville Shakespeare Project, select your own example of digital communication breakdown (youtube comments, facebook posts, viral misunderstood Tweet shaming, etc.) and use your newfound skills of rhetorical analysis to analyze why this breakdown happened. In other words, you must use terms such as audience, genre, author, context, and purpose explicitly to explore the communication breakdown. Then, provide a thoughtful solution to this problem. How can communication be restored to this situation? Can it be? You should also make reference to our text So You've Been Publicly Shamed to explain how the situation you examined is similar or different to at least one case study we've discussed this semester. This blog is a 500+ word entry that includes at least one image (possibly a screenshot of what you are analyzing). Once everyone has posted their blog on Thursday, you must read and comment on at least two of your peers' blogs to thoughtfully consider and respond to their perspective.
Due by class on Thursday, November 17th
Two comments due by class on Tuesday, November 22nd