Lesson Report:
**Title:** Exploring Sound, Silence, and Interpretation: John Cage and Personal Representation
**Synopsis:** In this session, students examined the conceptual understanding of sound and silence through the lens of John Cage’s avant-garde composition “4’33”.” The lesson encouraged students to explore the boundary between sound and music, incorporating personal and generational perspectives. Through interactive activities, students interpreted videos to capture their essence, promoting skills in observation and creative representation.
**Attendance:** No specific absences noted.
**Topics Covered:**
1. **Introduction to Sound and Silence:**
– The class began by revisiting sound-related concepts, focusing on how sound and silence are perceived and interpreted.
– The instructor introduced John Cage’s piece “4’33”,” discussing its significance in challenging traditional notions of music.
2. **John Cage’s “4’33”:**
– Students watched a performance by William Marx.
– They were tasked with answering, “How do we explain this?” and “How do we justify this?” in their notebooks.
3. **Group Discussion and Sharing:**
– Students formed groups of four to discuss and agree on their explanations and justifications for “4’33.”
– Representatives from each group shared insights, highlighting individual and collective interpretations.
4. **Exploring Personal Perspectives:**
– Students engaged in a free-write activity, considering the difference between sound and music from their perspectives, their parents’, and grandparents’ viewpoints.
5. **Reading Exercise:**
– The class participated in a popcorn reading of a script from their reader on page 132, emphasizing interpretative performance.
6. **Personal Video Interpretation:**
– Students selected a non-personal video from their phones and submitted it for class use.
– Each student received a peer’s video, embarking on a task to recreate its essence using available university resources—capturing the video’s core emotion and intent without direct communication with the original creator.
7. **Reflection and Discussion:**
– The class reflected on how personal videos were interpreted and re-represented by peers, discussing the nuances in interpretation and what might be lost or gained in translation.
**Actionable Items:**
– **Homework and Portfolio Preparation:**
– Prepare a portfolio including a typed essay and five or six additional works created during the course.
– Ensure each work showcases varied writing styles and reflects the theme of the “sound of silence.”
– Include a title page and ensure each piece is on a separate page in the portfolio.
– Submit drafts via Telegram before tomorrow’s class session.
– **Optional Additions to Portfolio:**
– If enhancements to the written sections are desired, indicate additions by using italics and note the origination of changes.
This session not only delved into explorative and interpretive exercises but also provided students with a creative platform to express and scrutinize elements of sound and music through varied lenses, paving the way for critical thinking and expanded creative expression.
Homework Instructions:
ASSIGNMENT #1: Create Your Portfolio
In this assignment, you will compile a portfolio that showcases your work and development as a writer throughout the course. The portfolio should provide a comprehensive overview of your understanding and interpretation of the theme “The Sound of Silence.”
Instructions:
1. Retrieve the essay you wrote earlier in the course, which will form the foundation of your portfolio. The professor will hand back the essays to you.
2. Type up the essay, exactly as it was originally written, unless you want to add to it; make any additions in italics and note that these are added to the original text.
3. Select five or six additional works that you completed during the course. Choose pieces that showcase a variety of writing styles and perspectives and collectively convey your growth and thoughts on the theme.
4. Type each selected work, ensuring each one is on a separate page within the portfolio.
5. Create a title page for your portfolio. Title it “Orientation 2024 Portfolio” and include your name.
6. Ensure the portfolio reflects a diverse range of your best work that highlights your opinions and abilities as a writer.
7. Save the final document.
8. Send your complete and typed portfolio to the professor individually via Telegram before your class tomorrow morning. This will be used for sessions during class.