Literature, Media, Art?
Focus Questions
- View and listen to the following pieces and decide if they are literature, media, art, then if they are children's literature, adolescent literature, adult literature, and then if you think it is quality?
- Jot down your rationale for your conclusions.
Example 1 - Trade books picture and print
We Are in a Book by Mo Willems
See preview at Amazon.com click on look inside for a preview...
Little Blue Truck by Alice Shertle Ill. Jill McElmurry
See preview at Amazon.com click on look inside for a preview...
The Gruffalo by Julia Donaldson, Ill. Axel Scheffler
See preview at Amazon.com click on look inside for a preview...
Example 2 - Street signs - stop and icy bridges
Example 3 - Large ads - make-up bill board and Wall in McDonalds
Example 4 - Lyrics - Breakaway and Second Chance
Breakaway Lyrics by M. Gerrard, A. Benante, & A. Lavigne
Second Chance Lyrics by Dave Richard Bassett and Brent Smith
Example 5 - Videos - Breakaway and Second Chance
Video - music by Kelly Clarkson
Video music by Shinedown
Example 6 - Commercial - Hyundai Sante Fe Super Bowl
Example 7 - Book with CD - Philadelphia Chickens
Book - Philadelphia Chickens by Jennifer Olson
Includes lyrics, CD with recordings, and song music - examples for Remarkable Cows
Example 8 - Stage dance to music of Cows
YouTube video with song and dance to Philadelphia Chickens Remarkable Cows
Example 9 - Book and video - Skeleton Creek
Multimedia book/ journal and video journal The Skeleton Creek: Ryan's Journal and Ghost in the Machine: Ryan's Journal
Example 10 - Poems
Poem - The Butterfly's Ball and the Grasshopper's Feast by William Roscoe (1807)
Example 11 - Audio books
Audio Book - The Golden Compass
Example 12 - Read alouds
Read alouds -
- The Last Basselope: One Ferocious Story by Berkeley Breathed
- The Cat on the Mat is Flat Written by Andy Griffiths, Illustrated by Terry Denton
- The Widow's Broom by Chris Van Allsburg, 1992
Example 13 - Tapestry
Tapestry - This page has several sites that have pictures of the Bayeux Tapestry
Example 14 - Painting
Art - Country School by Winslow Homer
Example 15 - Picture book
Picture book
The Arrival
see preview pages at Amazon.com
Conclusion
What is your definition for:
- Literature
- Media
- Children's literature
- Adolescent literature
- Quality literature
- Art
Use your definitions and describe with specific reasons how each example relates or doesn't relate to your definition.
The purpose of this activity is to explore the limits of what may or may not be considered as appropriate, necessary, or sufficient to be included in children's education so we make better decisions.
We can reason how three very different definitions of literature can make a significant difference for our children. Literature as:
- text that communicates.
- text and or images that together have a message for the reader.
- a piece of work created to communicate a story to a viewer or listener as a result of their transaction with the media.
How has this activity affected you and what changes do you see anticipate as a result. If you expect no changes, explain what is current and a rationale for it.
Additional references to explore can be found at teacher's tools.