Exhibit Signage Assignment

From our discussion in today's class, come up with an appropriate (and catchy) title for last week's in-class assignment. I am being elusive in not mentioning the activity by name, for fear that any suggestion of what we did last week will alter your choice of words when titling the exhibit. Then--after considering everything you did, you read, and you wrote--clearly state the objective of this assignment in as few 'choice' words as possible. (It's up to you to define what I mean by 'few'. If you can't say it in less than 100 words...fine. If six is too many, so be it.)

To help you out, here is how dictionary.com defines 'objective', when used in this context:

-something that one's efforts or actions are intended to attain or accomplish;
purpose; goal; target: the objective of a military attack; the objective of a
fund-raising drive.


As always, do your writing in the comment section of this blog.

ALSO, for tomorrow, bring all your media surveys to class.

Thank you.

Mr. Hoban

p.s. From today's screening of the documentary Hi-8 1/2, many of you asked me about one of the student movies highlighted in the doc. If you're interested (and you have an hour and fifteen minutes to spare) you can watch the entire movie Prank online (in 8 parts). Here's Part One, below. This is not, I repeat, NOT required viewing.

"Prank" Part 1 of 8 from Marty Hoban on Vimeo.

Respond To This Fictional Scenario:

One fine day in Paris, France modern artist Stephen J. Shanabrook is walking along the Seine River for inspiration when he comes upon the great (and long dead!) 20th Century artist Pablo Picasso sipping on an espresso at an outdoor cafe. Picasso invites Shanabrook to join him and the two have a conversation about their art. Picasso knows nothing about Shanabrook. But Shanabrook knows everything about Picasso. What did they talk about before the conversation was abruptly ended by Picasso who pushed away from the table in anger and stormed off, calling Shanabrook a cheat and a thief?

[Please write your story in the comment window. Grading for your version of the story will be based on factual points you researched about both gentlemen, as well as on imagination/ creativity. Your posts must have original content in them and may not use any material from previous posts to this blog entry!!

-Mr. Hoban]

But What Is His Profile Really Saying??

STEPHEN J SHANABROOK works in a disparity, a space of unexpected associations, altered perception and exsquisite entropy. In all his undertakings, there is the process of evisceration and a search within process for a different aspect of beauty. Abstracted upon the experience of daily reality, his inveterate and mysterious works leave one with an intensely evocative, sometimes disquieting, yet ultimately peaceful sensibility.

Homework: Bring to class as many "large canvases" of the human face as reproduced in current periodicals (ie magazines). If you want to try your hand at practicing some more on the fine art of folding, ala Mr. Shanabrook, please feel free and bring in those samples of your work as well.

-Mr. Hoban

Survey Says...

So? What do your surveys say? I wonder.

Please bring your media survey questionaires to class on Monday, March 22 as we return to school after a nice long spring break! Can't wait to get back into the swing of things! (I'm sure you all feel the same way!)

Anybody like to share (in a comment to this post) what you did over spring break?

See you Monday.

-Mr. Hoban

A Photo Spread of Student Work

Spring Break's Got A Hold On Me

Dear Students:

Just like you during the school year, I am slacking now. I promised to get 'reviews' of your project work up on the blog by now...so sorry, but the weather's too nice!!

Anyway, I'll do it piecemeal over the next two week. Here is a video of one of the most kinetic pieces created in the class. Enjoy.

-Mr. Hoban

I Am But Mad North-Northwest!!

It's been a mad crazy week leading up to The Hun School's spring break! Whew. Lots of last minute student work always makes for a frenetic, fast-paced finish. While the students completed all of their assignments (to be highlighted in my next blog post), I played hookie during one 6th period class to help out Mr. Tim Pitts with a special presentation/lecture on one of my all-time favorite topics: Mr. Alfred Hitchcock. Mr. Pitts's American Art History class had just watched North By Northwest (my top Hitch flic, as many former video students can attest to.) He asked for an assist, so I brought along an old powerpoint presentation on the 'Master of Suspense' as well as two pre-cinematic devices to mix up the movie magic moments.

Hitchcock Pop Up Book from Marty Hoban on Vimeo.

This is a pop-up book called "Alfred Hitchcock: The Master of Suspense" featuring climactic scenes from his cinematic work that literally jump off the page!!

Unfortunately this book does not feature my most favorite of Hitchcock scenes, so we need to resort to another pre-cinema distribution method: the flipbook. Enjoy!

North By Northwest Flipbook from Marty Hoban on Vimeo.

Run, Roger Run!!