City Stories Project
Instructions
Using an artistic medium(s) of your choice (see below) create a “city story” that: 1) is set in New York City; 2) tells a story that is shaped in some way by the geography and spatial organization of New York City; 3) uses references to specific sites and places in the city that add another layer of meaning and specificity to the story for you and for audiences who know the city.
The goal is to think creatively and to use artistic methods to create and tell a story. However, your story does not have to be fiction; it can be creative non-fiction as well.
Your artistic production does not have to be complete. For example, you can sketch out the narrative for a longer story, but just produce/create/write one scene. Or, if your story is a kind of performance, you can just sketch out your vision for the performance (i.e. provide illustrations of the performance space, scenery, costumes, chorography, etc), but not actually stage a performance. Be ambitious, but realistic about what you can complete before the deadline. It is better to have part of the story done well then an overly-ambitious project that is hastily done and poorly executed because you ran out of time.
Suggestions for Artistic Mediums
You may choose any artistic medium except photography. (Note: You may incorporate some photographs into the story you create, but photography may not be the only artistic form you use. In other words, you may not create another photo portfolio). You are more than welcome to combine artistic mediums to create a composite piece. Ask Professor Heath if you have questions. Apart from the photography restriction, you may experiment however you like.
The following is a list of suggestions to inspire your creative side:
Short story
Poems
Digital Short Story
Play
Songs
Musical compositions of any form
Musical
Opera
Ballet
Video
Movie
Performance Art
Installation Art
Paintings. Pastels, Sketches, Drawing, Collages
Found Art Assemblages
Fabric or Textile Arts
Sculptures or 3-D Printer Creations
Timeline
Mapping Project (Digital or Traditional)
Podcast
This list is not exhaustive—feel free to choose other mediums that appeal to you.
Technology and Posting Your Story to Your Blog Site
Depending on what kind of story and artistic form you chose, you may find that you need help figuring out what technology will allow you to realize your vision and post it to your blog site. Please contact Denisse for advice and help.
Final Submission
You should submit your story and a short 450-500 word reflection on your story to your blog site by Sunday, November 26th.
In your reflection piece you should talk about the creative process: how did you come up with your story? What inspired you? Why did you choose the particular mediums that you used? How do these mediums enhance the story? You should also discuss how particular references in places in New York City that are found in the story add to the narrative.
We will also do a peer review during part of class on November 28. Final versions of the City Story project will be due on Friday, December1.
