(Novia) Its a blog…I think you already knew that…

Design and create a memorial to Anne Frank and the victims of the Holocaust
A memorial is something designed to preserve the memory of a person, or event. You will design and create either a model or blueprint/layout of a monument. This memorial can use multi-media. If you want to have flat screens projecting a movie, or speakers playing a song, you can. You simply must explain these features in your design plan, and insert them into your model or blueprint.

Design and create a commercial or short film spreading Anne’s hopeful message of peace

Questions

How are symbols, images, and sounds and other conventions used in visual media?

iMovie
In the iMovie, we searched for pictures on the net and we took those images and inserted them into the iMovie so that we could recapture the reminiscence of World War 2, the holocaust, and Anne Frank. We used sounds, such as recordings, music, and downloaded sounds from the internet. We used recordings to enhance the pictures and make them seem more like a reality. The music was used to set the mood and many of the lyrics are related to Anne Frank and World War 2 victims. For example after Anne’s family and her pictures had been shown the song changed into a sadder and more depressed song when Margot’s letter to the concentration camp appeared. For symbols for the movie we had gas chambers and chimneys to symbolize death and being trapped with no escape. Also the trains symbolize life being caught and put to death. The Judd badges and the Nazi symbols show how diverse and separated they are from one another. Symbols were in almost every single picture and will be found if you really look in depth.

Memorial

For the memorial, we showed images of everyone’s personalities, for example, we showed Margot, with an A+ beside her showing how perfect she was. We showed a big rock with each war victims name engraved on it showing that everyone’s lives has been acknowledged. The holocaust room has a door that shows people dying and trapped. This symbolizes how the Jewish were treated and felt when they were abducted by the Nazis. Also there is a cut up carpet on the floor after the room of friends that shows how rugged and unruly their lifestyle were after the Nazis actions of discrimination were put into force. In the peace room there are yellow flowers that shows how the world has come to harmony and all is in serenity and well-being. Also this memorial goes in a type of order for first Anne was a happy girl who had her friends and family however after the Nazi’s attacked they had a secret Annexe and were discovered so they were sent to concentration camps. Sadly when peace had come Anne and most of her family and friends had already died and said their goodbyes to the world they once knew.

What are the ways in which image-makers carefully construct meaning?

iMovie

Some ways they do this is by capturing a specific cause of what is happening now. For example to show death and execution the iMovie has shown a chimney to show how every puff of smoke shows the remains of a dead Jew leaving the Earth. Also it shows a gas chamber to show how they did mass killing all at once in vulgar ways. Another thing that image-makers construct meaning is the colours. Like if you show black and white you will see how ancient or long ago it was or maybe it would make the picture seem more serious where as a colourful picture will not be as serious and mature.

Memorial

In the images of the memorial I have pasted them in various ways. This shows some meaning because for example if I put it crooked you can see how messed up and crowded the place was really like and you would get some feeling of imperfection or wrong doings, though if straight and neat you will have a feeling vice versa of a crooked image/picture.

How are techniques used in visual media to influence or appeal to a particular audience?

iMovie

Some techniques we used in visual media are how we changed the colours and made the background suit what the topic was. Also the pictures showed things that are related to Anne Frank, World War Two, and the holocaust. Also the fonts and the settings of the text have been arranged in a way to get people to pay attention and feel the way we want them to. Visual media pays a very important role in the iMovie and send out a message without really being said.

Memorial

The techniques used in visual media to appeal to the audience are the colour and settings. I have set them up in various different ways so not everything seems the same and dull. This adds a bit of spice to the project and it becomes more lively and more of a reality. Also I frequently rotate colours for the project to be more attractive.

Blooms Taxonomy

Knowledge - Describe the symbols, images, and sounds you used to complete your project
For the Imovie we used pictures of a train with the sound of the train moving, we used pictures of The Franks peaceful life before they were caught with the song how to save a life (in craniological order), we used pictures of the actual fighting we had the sound of people crying, we had a very important picture of the final solution we had people screaming and crying, and lastly we change the song to Emenium and had two pictures of Margot and Anne Frank’s grave with a quote.
For the memorial the doors, which symbolize beings trapped with no escape.

Comprehension - Discuss how these symbols, images, and sounds carefully construct meaning
For the Imovie some symbols that we used to elements that caused such things in the world. Such as the chimney, which does not show the whole picture however if you look in depth to it you will see that it symbolizes people dying/dead. As for the images we first did all of them in chronological order according to Anne’s age and after Margot’s letter to the concentration camp we showed pictures of the Secret Annexe and after they got caught pictures of the concentration camps were shown and the slaughtering or the things used to slaughter the Jews in mass numbers. In the end we showed Anne’s grave and a few quotes to the world. As for the sounds for the concentration camp we had people and babies screaming in pain and also for the end when you see the grave we have Eminem’s song “When I’m Gone” to symbolize Anne’s death.

For the memorial we show symbols by in the room if the jew’s discrimination we showed a red silk carpet that as torn for it symbolized the jews of how they used to have a great rich life but then it all was tattered away. Also there is a door on the room of concentration camps which showed how the jews were trapped and dying, but were fighting to escape. Another symbol were the yellow flowers thrown on the floor to symbolize peace and harmony. For the images we have Anne’s interests in the first room and in the Family room aka 2nd room it shows Margot with an A+ on the side to show how she was viewed as perfect, same goes for the rest of the pictures.

Application - Explain how these symbols, images, and sounds will influence or appeal to your audience. Illustrate the symbols, images, and sounds (This will be done when you actually do the project)

For the imovie we used modern sounds to capture peoples attention and the images show world war 2 and almost everyone can relate to that because it affected everyones families in some way. As got the symbols there were things such as the jewish badges and nazi badges to show how diverse and separate the were from one another.

Analysis - Compare the symbols, images, and sounds you chose. Which are the most powerful? Why?

The symbols for the movie was concentration camps which symbolized death and trains which symbolized lives being caught and about to reach their death. Some images we used were things such as Anne and her family along with all the other sad things, we first started before the war and after to create a more dramatic effect. As for the sounds we used different music according to lyrics and tunes to suit the images/symbols. The most powerful was probably sounds for it made people feel a certain way about each image.

The symbols for the memorial was that people were dying on the door and were trying to escape, also we have people starving in concentration camps. Also at the end in the peace room we have yellow flowers to symbolize peace and hope. For the images we showed how people lived through each situation, the people itself, or maybe some side things that happened during that event. (No sounds) I think the most powerful were the pictures for it gave people straight forward information where as the symbols you had to really look in it in depth.

Synthesis - Create or design a memorial to Anne Frank and the victims of the Holocaust, or Design and create a commercial or short film spreading Anne’s hopeful message of peace. (Doing the project will accomplish this aspect of Bloom’s Taxonomy)

Evaluation - Summarize and grade the final product and the process to accomplish this task
The final product of our iMovie was well constructed. It was a good introduction to Anne Frank and the war. A few drafts of the movie were made before the final copy. Firstly we got all the pictures, music, sounds, and symbols. We then organized them by the order of which they would be shown. We put this into a movie and kept editing it until we were happy.
The final product of the model of the memorial was very well thought-out. Each room has a specific idea to show. Most of it was very well constructed and looks well made. In both projects a lot of time and effort was put into it and we had very good time management.

ESLR’s
Completing this task will involve the use of many ESLR’s. Your write up should also include a paragraph or two about how your group used the ESLR’s. If you want to be successful in this project please pay close attention to the Effective Communicator ESLR. The key to this project is collaboration. So please also include a paragraph or two about who did what, and how effectively they were at completing their assigned tasks.

iMovie:

Some ESLR’s that were used was effective communicator for we have to be able to communicate with people through a different way and we are being a critical thinker so we can think of many ways to present it to the audience. Another ESLR that this covers is an academic achiever for we have gone to find over 65 pictures and have put in a lot of effort to record sounds and find them on the internet. During the process of making the movie, it is important to be a self directed learner for there are no set guidelines on what the iMovie should be there fore you have to think about it for yourself and manage to put it out on paper and share it with others and that will make you be and involved citizen for you are letting others in on your idea and giving them a better understanding of the topic.

The memorial showed effective communicating skills for it manages to show and tell everyone about Anne frank, World War 2, and the holocaust. Also information is shown in various different ways. The memorial also shows a self directed learner because you have to stay up and finish gluing and cutting, along with drawing and a lot of other art related things. Also this shows an academic achiever for you have to really be neat and concentrate on what message you want to give out in order to have a successful project and to capture and audience’s attention. Another thing that the memorial shows is critical thinker because you have to really think on how you want to place something and where or maybe you have to question yourself on if there would be enough space for “that”.

Josh had made the whole iMovie with some assistance from Novia, while Farouk commented on it, while Novia on the other hand did the whole memorial with the help of Josh and feed back from Farouk. Also Farouk brought some supplies needed for the project such as the Styrofoam. Every member of the group put in effort to make this project a successful one and tried their best to make sure we all manage to complete the work on time.

Using resources to the best of your efforts.

Exp: We used all the tools in iMovie and tried to use it to enhance what we were talking about.

Grade: Excellent

Picture of Model:

I wonder whether you can tell me why it is important that people always try so hard to hide their real feelings? How is it that I always behave quite differently from what I should on other people’s company? Why do we trust on another so little? I know there must be a reason, but still I sometimes think it’s horrible that you find you can never really confide in people, even in those who are nearest to you. (Page 139)

1. Write a letter to Anne answering her questions.

Dear Anne Frank,

People try ever so hard to hide their feelings because they believe that they are judged for what they do and look like. They do not want to be known as someone bad, sad, angry, and mad, etc. so they try to camouflage it with fake laughter and smiles. Sometimes after keeping it in so long one day they will break down and get really low and depressed. Some people may even go to the extent of trying to commit suicide, however I really disagree with that for you only have one life but you can pick up countless problems around the corner. Many have lost themselves by being pressured by the public society or maybe because of media or close relations. Many things can affect one person’s behavior and so trying to cure someone depressed is difficult for there are numerous variables that may be causing them to act like this. However some do not want to be known as “the person who seeks help” so they hide it under layers of fake attitudes and characters. Though it only makes them because they feel suppressed and locked up inside. This is probably why you act so different from what you should in other people’s company. You don’t want to be known as a dumb, stupid, careless, sad little girl, so you put on an act so that you become the ideal little princess. Life is like a play, every now and then you change character, sometimes you’re good at playing it and sometimes you’re not, though you keep rehearsing until you finally get it, and when you forget your lines you are out of character, like if you mess up and act clumsy then you are no longer a poised character. So in life many people are always on their toes, trying their best not to forget when they exit and enter and what they should say and do. We trust each other so little, for we do not open up to each other and really talk, we talk with set invisible lines that say nothing about us, but only obvious facts. We only say what is necessary and treat words like glass which can easily slip so we must be careful with what we say or it may break and shatter into a thousand pieces and it would take a lot of work to repair and fix until its ok, but there will always be some dents or hurtful memories that bring back pain and dismay.  At times you cannot fix what you have said and all is lost, ruptured and crippled for as long as we live. We communicate with masks on us and we do not show our true colors and paint over it with something different and unfamiliar. We are too afraid of what we really are an don’t want other people too know, so we decorate it and plaster it with materials and disguises, then we practice our act and try to get in character. Later on we get used to it and start feeling comfortable with it and use the disguise often. People then forget the old you and go along with the new you, though some friends who do not agree drop out on your friendship and you gain new friends who don’t like you for who you are but who you are pretending to be. However when you seek for your old self, you are afraid your new friends will leave for they are not true so you stick with what you are acting as. Soon enough you forget your true identity and become “the mask” and then you are lost, so lost you are too scared to confide in anyone in fear that you get even more distant from the self you once knew, and so you hang on tight and play your part until the one day of which you forget your lines and get sent back to rehearse and audition for a new part once again.
Yours Truly,

Novia

2. Write a post to your readers persuading them to open up and share their ideas, thoughts, and feeling with the world.

People should learn to open themselves to many things and share their knowledge with the world. I believe that many people sometimes feel that their ideas may be stupid or not worthwhile, however if they have some strong supporters they may be a great person one day. Our world practically thrives on opinions, for opinions lead to great discoveries, which leave such great impacts on the world today. Do not be afraid if not all people agree with you for opinions never really have a right answer and are always open for comments. Ideas are another thing many people fear of talking about. They are maybe too self-conscious of what other people may think or are worried that their idea may be useless and so people will judge them through that. Sadly though, in our world today that is mainly true, so many have been keeping their ideas in. The world has been growing and expanding in many ways to finally reach the state it is in today. Imagine that years back we used to think the world was flat and if we were to go too far we were going to fall off the edge and die. Though a great sailor name Christopher Columbus disagreed with this and stated that he was going to sail around the world and prove the world to be round and so he did. Now for the people’s questions of why didn’t Christopher fall of the bottom of the globe, it was answered thanks to the discovery of gravity. Also guess how gravity was found out…it was because one day a normal person just like me and you was sitting under an apple tree, when suddenly an apple fell and there came the gravity theory. All these ideas and discoveries all came from little incidents and brave people having their own opinions and trying to state themselves right with ideas of theirs. A mistake many people make is that they think that their idea must be ideal or the best of the bunch to be able to be expressed, however they are greatly mistaken. Maybe the ideas you give out are not the greatest nor the most perfect, though if everyone hears it and builds on it, as well as corrects it you are set to go and have one idea that had been built on by many others including you. The world today has become more open towards new ideas of others because in the past they have learnt that when one is free to think the results are great and helps many people globally. There have been creative writing workshops and teachers having been pressing students to express their true feelings and try to translate their thoughts into words as accurately as they can, which also helps a student grow in word choice and sentence fluency as well as many others of the 6 traits. All this free thinking can be started as young as 3rd grade for that is when you start being able to put what you feel into words and being able to express what you are trying to say onto paper. Adults sometimes think that maybe these ideas are not as valuable, though great things come in small packages and in order to achieve something huge, you need to start somewhere. Beautiful things take time and so do great ideas so to hone them you should practice and remember to give out small little comments or pointers to the topics. The world needs you to help contribute to help the world go round and continue its progress in technology, learning, and education.

On November 7th, 1942, Anne starts becoming more mature and starts realizing that the world doesn’t revolve around her. I believe that there are many ways for me to compare myself with her for I have two younger siblings, one brother and sister. It seems that Anne is very eager for love from her father and wants everyone to care for her and not make Margot anymore special than her, for when they see Anne next to Margot Anne seems inadequate. In the sentence “They took Margot’s part at once, as though she was the victim of some great injustice” and the sentence “Now Margot is just the prettiest, sweetest, and most beautiful girl in the world” I probably won’t feel this way in my family because my brother always gets in trouble, and probably he is the one who feels like how Anne feels, however my mom would give more attention to my brother and sister. Though I don’t mind because I don’t really need too much attention pointed towards me. I want to be independent, for in life to be dependent is to be vulnerable and if you come into the world weak and reliant, you deserve to be bullied therefore I find being independent is very important in life.

Another thing that Anne talks about is how her parents simply jumps into conclusion as she states “Is it just chance that Daddy and Mummy never rebuke Margot and that they always drop on me for everything?” I can really relate to this because sometimes when I just didn’t notice something, my parents would probably say I just ignored it or because of some bad reason, and if I try to reason with them, they would just cut you off and stick to their conclusion. They are ever so sure of themselves reasons from you don’t really matter. However afterwards when they are not lecturing you they tell you if they ever scold you, you should reason with them. Though if you reason with them, they say you are impolite and interrupting them and if you don’t say anything they say you are not listening. Sometimes it just gets so frustrating, that even though you really didn’t do what they accused you of, you just say ok and apologize for no odd reason just to get it over with. Finally in the end you just become passize and give in to what ever they say and what ever they say is right and if they’re wrong read the first part of this sentence again.

Anne states how she wants to be unique and have a strong character, however everyone wants her to be like Margot who has a ladylike, soft, delicate, quiet, and poised character. She states this point when she says “I’m not jealous of Margot, never have been. I don’t envy her good looks or her beauty. It is only that I long for Daddy’s real love: not only as his child, but for me…Anne, myself.” I sometimes feel that way too, because my mom wants me to want the things she wants and to be the things she is, but what if I don’t want what she wants or I’m not what she is? What if I am just different? Can’t she just take me for who I am? I guess its for the best as they say, but I don’t know, I just don’t know.

We come into this world different and unique. Striving for a great future and a better life. Working your way up the ladder, but in the process why do people discriminate against you? Why do people want you to be like everyone else? If there is so much pressure to be like everyone else why say you are unique? Why do we in the UN say accept everyone for who they are so we can have peace. Why accept it when everyone is forced to be like someone else. Be like her…be like him…all voices rushing through, never taking a second to listen just blindly following voices. Maybe thats just life, maybe its something you just have to go through, then in the end you are not you but just in general, just like everyone else…

I believe that if my family were to bring me into hiding and give me just a mere duffel bag for me to stick my stuff inside, I would me seriously freaked. I mean I wouldn’t know where we were going or how long were we going to be there though I think I would pack more towards necessities and material rather than memories. By then my mind would only be channeled on survival and being able to keep up with my current life style. However such a small bag will not support needs and serve my every whim and way, so I will pack the things most important.

First are some casual clothing for me to change into if I get dirty. Clothing also helps you blend into the scene, and since we are hiding it will help blend or hide me so I do not attract so much attention. Also there are many seasons so I bring different types of clothing. Such as thick for the cold and thin for hot. Yea, and another reason, I know it might sound stupid but I just love clothes and I love to try on many types just for the fun of it! It give me confidence to know I am dressed up right, for people will usually look on the outside of someone rather then the inner side and will quickly judge. This is because its like war going on outside and no one is really going to take the time to get to know you. One quick glance is all they need to judge you and everything. Therefore I find clothing extremely important if we were to flee and hide away. Second I would bring some food like hot cup, apples, chips, water and candy in case there wasn’t enough food or enough time to cook the food. Heck, I don’t even know if we can cook the food in the place we are staying at. Food is important for a living and helps get strength to do things such as hiding and thinking of ways to conceal our hiding place. Later I would bring a notebook, some papers, and a few pens so that I can record things such as daily events or maybe organizing things like chores or maybe schedules to tell where to go daily and so we do not mess up and blow our cover. I believe that writing will also help we gain knowledge in English for I learn to write in many forms or expand in my creativity if I do things like writing stories or poems. Last but not least I will bring a camera so that I can take pictures of important things and it could also be used for me to prove things if people do not believe it will be just a snap shot away.

So these are the things I would bring and as you can see I seem to be very materialistic and practical. I guess it is because I am not a person who dwells over the past or I’m just not interested. All I want is a better future, a place where you don’t have to hide in little places and have a little bag with little bits of things to put in and little things to eat that you have to buy with a little bit of money. I want a big future, one where you are free to roam and discrimination is only of the past. Also I am not so fond over memories for I find not much use for them, I mean yea Anne Frank managed to get her diary published with her great hopes and dreams, though she died didn’t she. She died in a concentration camp and a diary, her only imprint left in this world has now been translated in numerous languages and sold world wide. Her imprint had left a great impression of all those other people who too suffered and hid away.  However I am not like that, I just want to get through life and try my best to stay alive while making way for a better…a new and improved future.

My Casual Clothes

My Food

My Note Book, Paper, and Pens

My Camera

I believe that courage is the ability to face danger,difficulty, or pain without being overcome with fear. The act of a person with courage is to be courageous and in order for them to accomplish this they should believe in themselves. Trust and confidence are some traits that a courageous person needs to show they are brave and can face problems without falling out or backing down. Courage is something all people need in order to get through life because you need to stand up for your rights and take every opportunity that passes your way. However in order to achieve this you have to have the courage, the confidence. It is something of which you need to believe in your self or others and with that you shall succeed with flying colors. Many tend to think of courage as probably jumping off a cliff or risking your life to save others, however you can be courageous in small ways too. An example is public speaking in the yearly MUN or doing a class presentation these things needs courage in order to perform, so these are my views on courage.