Gabriela Rodríguez Bissio, Cecilia Fernández Pena, Natalia Correa http://transmedialiteracy.upf.edu/en/didactic-card/looking-hidden-character
Part 1 / Topic 3
DIY "Spring"
At which point a book becomes something else? How do film adaptations, street art and rap songs relate to literature? How can we analyze these texts and what can we learn about literature from them?
What's next?
In the previous part, we explored the complexity and diversity of the transmedia universe of Spring. The good thing about transmedia universes is that anyone can contribute to them. In this part, we propose that you put your creativity into use by making your own DIY-version of Spring.
Useful skills for reading, writing, and analyzing artistic texts can be developed in places other than school. Interaction with literature and films can take different forms: From simply reading books and watching films, to making mash-ups and podcasting, to creating memes and parodies. Traditional media consumers have turned into prosumers, or participatory creators, who interpret and transform already-existing texts and share their creations on the Internet. Apart from being a form of art in itself, prosuming helps to maintain the relevance of different texts and keep them in our active memory.
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Make your own DIY-version of "Spring"
These are some helpful tools to create adaptations and parodies in various media: sound, video, images, and social media. Just choose one format (or several ones), dig into our archive of raw materials, and get crafty!
Find out what suits you the most!
- I would like to work with:
- I prefer:
- I have time:
Animation
extension
Video
schedule
3-5h
clear
Animation
Animation is a genre widely used not only in entertainment, but also in education. For instance, many popular TED-Ed lessons include animations that make videos more captivating and comprehensible. You can animate some episodes from Luts’ novel that did not make it the final cut or create something completely new: for instance, offer an alternative ending.
Materials
- Laptop or computer with stable Internet access
- Software: Vyond, Zimmertwins, Adobe Animate or other programs for creating animations (free trial available)
Time
3-5 hours
How-to
- Team up with 2-3 people. Discuss with your group whether you watch animations and what genres you prefer. Have you ever seen any animations based on literary texts? You can draw inspiration from these professional animations based on literary texts.
- Decide what will be the topic of your animation. Would it be a scene present in Luts’ text but missing from the film? Maybe an alternative ending? Your favourite scene recreated from a different perspective? Or maybe this would be an educational video?
- Divide the roles between the members of your group. You will need to write a script (including character’s lines), record a voice-over and edit the video.
- You can choose software depending on your aims: for instance, Vyond allows creating short animated films, writing subs and creating voice-overs. More resources for making animations are listed here. The algorithm is more or less the same everywhere: at first, choose the characters and scene, secondly, put your characters in action; finally, add the voice-over and subtitles.
- Show the animation to your classmates and upload it to Youtube.
Fake profile
extension
Social media
schedule
0,5-1h
clear
Fake profile
What memes would Lible share on Facebook and how Toots’ Tinder profile would look like? Creating fake accounts for fictional characters may seem as a purely entertaining activity, yet, it requires a solid knowledge of the material. Let’s make some profiles for those who never had them.
Materials
- Any gadget with a stable Internet connection: smartphone, tablet, laptop, or computer.
Time
>1 hour
How-to
- Team up with a classmate and choose your subject. Before the start, take a look at a selection of fake profiles of fictional characters: for instance, online dating profiles or Instagram feeds.
- Brainstorm the ideas. What would this person share and not share? What are his/her interests? How does your character express her- or himself? How does this person want to be perceived online? You can sketch your ideas on paper.
- Select a social media: Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, Tinder or anything else of your choice.
- Collect the materials: select photos and videos from the archive, search for extra materials in Google Images, if needed. Make sure that the feed of your character is diverse and include videos, memes, texts and photos.
- Design a fake page. We recommend you to use special websites for mocking profiles, such as Fakebook, Fake Tweets Generator or Fake Tinder Profile Generator. If you can use Photoshop, try these templates for Instagram, Facebook and Twitter.
- Share your work with the group. What do you think, which profile would be the most popular one? Who would your character become friends with? And who would you add as a friend yourself?
Infographics
extension
Image
schedule
2-3h
clear
Infographics
Create handy infographics to visualize the most interesting facts about Spring. You can use this format to present the results of analysis or just to advertise the novel and film to your friends.
Materials
- Any gadget with a stable Internet connection: smartphone, tablet, laptop, or computer.
- Software: Canva, Mind the Graph, Prezi or any visual editor.
Time
2-3 hours
How-to
- Take a look at some infographics about literature. What kinds of materials are used? Which aspects of literary texts are covered? What is the aim of such infographics?
- Team up with 2-3 classmates and brainstorm your options. Decide which aspects of Spring you would like to demonstrate in your infographics. Are you interested in numbers and facts related to this work? Maybe you want to present the main characters, themes or artistic devices?
- Divide the roles: decide who will collect the material, find visuals and design the final infographics. Create infographics with Canva or Mind the Graph (registration is required).
- Share your work with the group. How is your infographics different to the ones of your classmates?
Source
Mashup video
extension
Video
schedule
2-4h
clear
Mashup video
Mashup video
A mashup integrates several pre-existing videos into a new unified one, which allows juxtaposing different sources and acquiring a fresh perspective on them. Usually the original videos are not at all related, so that the result can be very funny or thought-provoking.There are plenty of mashup genres: music videos, political videos, trailers, supercuts and some more. By the way, this format is widely used not only by prosumers, but also in the official film industry.
Materials
- Laptop or computer with stable Internet access
- Software: Youtube Multiplier, iMovie or Avid for editing videos, Youtube for sharing
Time
2-4 hours
How-to
- Team up with 2-3 classmates and discuss what mashup videos you have seen, whether you have any favorites and what you like the most about them. How the meaning of the sources is changed, when they are integrated into a coherent mashup? If you are not familiar with the genre, take a look at this selection.
- Decide what is the purpose of your mashup video. Do you want to highlight the actuality of Spring by mixing it with contemporary films or footage? Would you like to juxtapose Spring with other films on the same topic? The sources can be Estonian or foreign, old or new, fictional or documentary; you can also use music videos, your own footage, memes, advertisement, public speeches, interviews, and even videogames.
- Choose the format. Mashups can be humorous, informative or inspiring. For instance, it can be a music video that merges a musical scene from Spring with a different clip.
- Select the videos: choose some clips from Spring and the video it will be mashed with. You can check out a Creative Commons library, dig into Archive.org, find something on Youtube or film the video yourself.
- Import the videos into the selected editing program, crop them and put in a needed order. In the end you can add the music or voice-over.
- Publish your mashup online (make sure to follow the copyright rules) and show it to your classmates.
- You can also try other formats: for instance, make a parody of Spring by giving your own voice-over to famous scenes.
Source
Meme
extension
Image
schedule
0,5-1h
clear
Meme
One can spend the whole eternity scrolling memes, yet, they can be not only fun (and sometimes dumb), but also thought-provoking. Try to show the actuality of Spring with your literature-inspired memes.
Materials
- Any gadget with a camera (optional) and a stable Internet access: smartphone, tablet, laptop, or computer.
- Software:
Time
<1 hour
How-to
- Can you find any memes based on literary works and specifically on Spring? Take a look at this selection by SparkNotes or explore the group Literary Memes on Facebook. How can literary memes be classified? Do they refer to any other texts: films, TV shows, photos, paintings? Who is presented in them? What message do they convey?
- Divide into groups of 2-3 and brainstorm your options. Are any episodes or characters of Spring especially interesting to you? How can you relate Spring to modern agenda? Would you like to refer to any popular memes?
- Gather source materials: select shots from film, find images on Google, take photographs yourselves, if needed.
- Create memes with Giphy or Meme Generator.
- Share the memes with the class or post them online. How does the audience perceive your meme? Do they get the idea?
Parody
extension
Social media
schedule
1-2h
clear
Parody
Write a post or a short newspaper article on a current topic in society using “Kevade” as a ‘code’ for your text in a similar manner as was done by Andrus Kivirähk and Tarmo Tanilas. As an alternative you can also choose to create a caricature depicting some topical issues in society as was done by Ave Taavet in Eesti Päevaleht.
Materials
- Any gadget with a stable Internet connection: smartphone, tablet, laptop, or computer.
Time
1-2 hours
How-to
- Choose your topic. What contemporary phenomena or events you’d like to concentrate on? How could you relate them to Spring?
- Decide how you will use the source text. Would you like to employ a whole scene like it was done in the examples by Kivirähk and Tanilas? Maybe you’d use only specific references as in Taavet’s caricature? Another option would be to refer to the story as a whole.
- Choose a platform: you can actually make a post on social media or use Fakebook or Newspaper generator.
- Present your works to the group and discuss them.
Podcast
extension
Sound
schedule
2-5h
clear
Podcast
Share your ideas about O. Luts Spring in your own brand new podcast. You can offer your interpretation of the novel or film, put them under a microscope, share your reaction or discuss the texts with a friend. The podcast can last 5-8 minutes.
Materials
- Any gadget that can record sound: smartphone, tablet, laptop, computer with the microphone. A separate microphone would be ideal.
- Software: GarageBand, Ampedstudio.
Time
2-5 hours
How-to
- Team up with 1-2 classmates and begin the brainstorming. First, agree on the topic of your podcast. Maybe you’d like to analyze Spring through the prism of feminist ideas? Maybe you are interested in comparing the novel and film? Or maybe you just want to share your emotional reaction?
- Come up with the genre. If you have never listened to any podcast, try some top shows on Google Podcasts or Apple Podcasts. The most popular genres include solo podcast, gabfest, interview, panel show, non-fiction storytelling and comedy (read about their pros and cons here).
- Make a draft of your podcast. Decide who would be the ideal listener of your podcast and keep it in mind. What is the purpose of your project and which ideas would like to share? Do you plan to add any special effects: sounds, music, editing? Divide the roles – who will speak, be in charge of the sound and editing? More practical recommendations can be found in The New York Times article.
- Write a rough script and make a short rehearsal. What will you say in the introduction, main part and conclusion? Discuss whether you need to make any changes.
- Record your podcast with any available software.
- Edit the podcast, if needed: check volume, cut out the long pauses or add some music.
- Upload your podcast on Youtube, Soundcloud or to a free podcasting hosting, for example, Buzzsprout.
- Share your work with classmates and friends, or upload it to social media.
Source
Hetland, Tim (ed.) 2017. Teaching Literature with Digital Technology. Boston, New York: Bedford/St. Martin’s. Liberty Kohn, 237-240
Rap song
extension
Sound
schedule
1-2h
clear
Rap song
How about developing a rap version of Spring? You can write a bold parody, think of an alternative ending or organize a rap battle among fictional characters.
Materials
- Any gadget that can record sound: smartphone, tablet, laptop, computer with the microphone.
- Software: RapPad (Optional)
Time
1-2 hours
How-to
- Team up with 2-3 classmates. Do you like rap and hip hop? If you do, share your favorite tracks with the group and tell what you love about them.
- Take your time to listen to some rap songs about literature: a rap version of Spring by Estonian rapper Madrus, a new version of Iliad performed by USC Dornsife professor of classics or a song about literary devices rapped by high school students. You can also check out the Broadway hip-hop musical Hamilton based on the biography of American Founding Father.
- Choose your genre: would you prefer to retell the whole plot of Spring, focus on some particular episode, make a parody, create an alternative ending, organize a rap battle between characters, or maybe add a beat to Luts’ own reading of Spring?
- Decide whether you want to use some existing music or write some piece yourself. In the latter case, you can take a look at how songwriters and musicians create their hits. If anyone does beatboxing, go for it!
- Let’s get to the lyrics. You can write the text in advance or improvise. Just make sure that your piece follows the structure of a rap song: for instance, intro, verse, hook, outro.
- Put everything together. You can use the platform RapPad to make your own raps using rhyme lookups, syllable counters, and a collection of beats. There are some fun features, such as Freestyle Rap Coach, Random Beat or text editor.
- Perform the song for your classmates, or record it and post online.
Reaction video
extension
Video
schedule
2-5h
clear
Reaction video
The videos of people reacting to films, TV shows and music videos have become extremely popular. We bet you have seen some (or plenty) of them on Youtube or other social media platforms, so you will be able to make one about Spring. Maybe your video will raise some important questions or motivate others to watch this timeless classic film.
Materials
- Any gadget that can record video and sound: smartphone, tablet, laptop, computer with the microphone.
- Software: BeeCut, LightMV or iMovie for editing videos and Youtube for sharing.
Time
2-5 hours
How-to
- Form a team of 2-3 people. Do you have favorite reaction videos? Share them with your group and tell what you love about them. If you are not familiar with the genre, just check out this selection on Youtube. How would you explain the popularity of such videos?
- Decide what is the purpose of your reaction video (definitely it should not be just making fun of the film). Is it demonstrating the relevance of Spring to nowadays? Or offering a critical perspective on it? Or maybe showing how much this film means to Estonian people? Also, your video can be educational and offer fun facts or answer some common questions related to Spring.
- Choose your format. Would you like to film your own reactions or rather invite some other participants? (for instance, the elders, teens or even pets). Will the viewers react to the whole movie or specific clips?
- Make sure that your video is captivating. Usually the most popular reaction videos are very visual and show extreme emotions – facial expressions and sounds.
- A piece of technical advice: better to use a stable camera (web camera would work) and check the volume in advance. Here you can find tutorials for using the software.
- Show your video to classmates and upload it to Youtube. We recommend you to read these copyright rules in advance, so that your work won’t be deleted from the platform.
Remix
extension
Sound
schedule
2-3h
clear
Remix
Remixing implies altering a piece of media by adding, removing or changing some elements. It is close to sampling – reusing a portion of a sound recording to another recording. A mashup, in its turn, integrates several pre-existing songs into a new unified one. Whereas such techniques can be considered plagiaristic when applied to writing essays, they are extremely popular in pop culture. We can listen to remixes in dance clubs, admire remixed visual art or even watch remix films. Let’s try to create some remixes based on Spring!
Materials
- Laptop or computer with stable Internet access
- Software: Rave, The Wub Machine, Ampedstudio for creating remixes; Soundcloud or Youtube for sharing
Time
2-3 hours
How-to
- Team up with 1-2 classmates. Do you ever listen to remixes and are there any favorites? What do you like (or dislike) about remixes? How does remixing transform the content and form of the original song? If you can’t remember any, give a shot at these classic tracks.
- Choose your aim: do you want to create music for dancing, listening, provoking thoughts or giving a laugh? Use the suitable format for reaching your aim: you can create a piece of dance music by editing the original soundtrack from Spring, integrate samples of Spring music into a new song (sampling), or mix several tracks together (mashup).
- Select the materials from our archive: these can include songs, music or sounds from Spring, or even the recording of Oskar Luts reading an excerpt from his own novel. If you want to remix Spring with something else, you can use old or modern songs, your own recordings or other sounds.
- After having chosen an audio to remix, listen to it several times and write down any ideas that come to mind.
- Import the audio into the selected editing program, cut the sections and mix them. You can find some useful tips on editing here (1, 2).
- Publish your remix online (make sure to follow the copyright rules) and play it for your classmates.
Social media retelling
extension
Social media
schedule
1-2h
clear
Social media retelling
Today literary texts are adapted to all kinds of media, starting from graphic novels to video games, and social media is not an exception. Retelling famous plots via social media can be fun and rewarding. You can combine this activity with making fake accounts.
Materials
- Any gadget with a stable Internet connection: smartphone, tablet, laptop, or computer.
Time
1-2 hours
How-to
- Team up with 1-2 classmates and brainstorm your ideas. You can take a look at Facebook retellings of Hamlet and Pride and Prejudice or read some examples of Twitterature for inspiration.
- Choose your topic. Would you prefer to concentrate on a specific episode of Spring or make a very brief retelling of the whole novel? Who will be your characters? Would they use modern language or speak like they did in Luts’ time? Maybe you want to choose a specific genre – comedy, tragedy, action, sci-fi?
- Choose a platform: you can use special apps for creating fake feeds in Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, or conversations fake messenger or Whatsapp generator. If needed, you can just write and draw everything on paper. Another option would be that each student take a role of a certain character and participate in live conversations on his or her behalf.
- Collect the materials: find quotes from Spring, select photos and videos from our archive, search for extra materials in Google Images, if needed. You can use not only texts but also audiovisual media in your retelling.
- Present your works to the group and discuss them.
infoUnfortunately this option is not available.