Lesson Title: Identity Logo
Targeted Grade Level: Middle School
Artists: Andy Warhol and Barbara Kruger
Estimated Completion Time: 4 class periods
Overview:
In this lesson, students will demonstrate an understanding of how the media, as well as peer pressure, influences identity. Exploring and discussing commercials, advertisements, peer pressure, and ideas or objects that best represent the individual, students will design an "identity logo". These logos can be created with drafting tools or on the computer, depending on the availability of these tools for the teacher.
Discussion Questions:
How do artists communicate identity through their artwork? How does the media influence our identities? How does peer pressure influence people? What is your favorite commercial or advertisement and why? What is your least favorite and why? How does your favorite commercial/ad persuade you? How are you different from your friends? What object or idea best represents you and why?
Show-Me Knowledge Standards:
FA 1: process and techniques for the production, exhibition or performance of one or more of the visual or performed arts
CA 4: writing formally (such as reports, narratives, essays) and informally (such as outlines, notes)
CA 5: comprehending and evaluating the content and artistic aspects of oral and visual presentations (such as story-telling, debates, lectures, multi-media productions)
H/P 6: consumer health issues (such as the effects of mass media and technologies on safety and health)
M2: geometric and spatial sense involving measurement (including length, area, volume), trigonometry, and similarity and transformations of shapes
Show-Me Performance Standards:
1:1 : comprehend and evaluate written, visual and oral presentations and works
2:1 : plan and make written, oral and visual presentations for a variety of purposes and audiences
2:3 : exchange information, questions and ideas while recognizing the perspectives of others
2:5 : perform or produce works in the fine and practical arts
2:7 : use technological tools to exchange information and ideas
Tools and Materials:
magazines, glue, sketchbook, Microsoft Office Publisher, photo collection from Self-Portrait through Photography project. If the teacher does not have access to a computer lab, students will need paper, colored pencils, crayons, markers, and a variety of drafting tools.
Introduction:
The teacher will "hook" the students' interest by showing a popular or funny commercial or advertisement. Students will then find up to ten logos in magazines and glue them in their sketchbook.
Process:
1) In groups of up to four, students will create a list of their favorite commercials, video games, and websites. The students will analyze through discussion and writing, why these are their favorites and how this type of media may influence them.
2) After the small group activity, students will complete a "Me" worksheet where they will write and draw subjects in which they most identify.
3) On the back of the sheet, students will write words or short phrases that best represent them and why.
4) Students will brainstorm an object and/or word (their name or short phrase) that represents their identity and create it in a simplified form.
Project:
Through the use of drafting tools or Microsoft Office Publisher, students will design a simple color logo communicating their own personal identity. They will select or design a font to interpret their name or words in which they identify. Drawing tools in Publisher or photographs from their personal photo file from Self-Portrait in Photography project will be used to invent a symbol or simplified object that best displays the student's identity. The color logo will then be reproduced in at least gray-scale. Up to 4 different color schemes of the logo will be encouraged.
Sample Projects:
Logo Design by Alex:
"I love fruit, technology
and school!"
"Talk to the Hand" by Tyler
"I get tired of people being up in my face."
Propane by Chris
"I used to get so mad I thought I would explode."
