Project 1: The 'Golden Age' of Figure Skating
BACKROUND
The 1950's-60s was proclaimed as the 'Golden Age' for American figure skaters. This era included sport-altering moves such as a flying camel and a triple loop. Also, America won the most Olympic medals and titles from figure skaters.
The 1950's-60s was proclaimed as the 'Golden Age' for American figure skaters. This era included sport-altering moves such as a flying camel and a triple loop. Also, America won the most Olympic medals and titles from figure skaters.
HISTORY
For my history portion of this project I made a figure skating dress. It was styled after the other dresses made in the 1950s. most of those dresses were shorter because of the fabric shortage from WWII. Since they didn't have a lot of fabric, there were certain fabrics that were used more for these dresses, one of these including rayon. At the beginning of this project I didn't know how to sew, but I was determined to know how. Knowing to sew would be very helpful for my cosplay projects. I had some of my classmates help me with the process too. One in particular taught me that since rayon is a stretchy fabric, I would need to line it with something. In the end I lined it with felt.
For my history portion of this project I made a figure skating dress. It was styled after the other dresses made in the 1950s. most of those dresses were shorter because of the fabric shortage from WWII. Since they didn't have a lot of fabric, there were certain fabrics that were used more for these dresses, one of these including rayon. At the beginning of this project I didn't know how to sew, but I was determined to know how. Knowing to sew would be very helpful for my cosplay projects. I had some of my classmates help me with the process too. One in particular taught me that since rayon is a stretchy fabric, I would need to line it with something. In the end I lined it with felt.
ENGLISH
For my English part I made a newspaper that i made to look like it was written in 1960. I researched different things that happened around the time i wanted the newspaper to be from, including release of books and Presidential elections for better context. I also added the date and the usual price for newspapers back then. In the newspaper I talked about who these famous figure skaters were and what they did. My three figure skaters were Dick Button, Carol Heiss, and Tenley Albright. I talked about the medals they won, what moves they accomplished, and why they were important to American and the world's history. To make the newspaper I found a free newspaper template and looked at newspapers that were actually made in that time. After i finished writing it I printed it out, then tried to dye the paper with tea. I've dyed paper with tea before, but this time the tea didn't stain it. It did, however, give it the perfect texture for newspaper.
For my English part I made a newspaper that i made to look like it was written in 1960. I researched different things that happened around the time i wanted the newspaper to be from, including release of books and Presidential elections for better context. I also added the date and the usual price for newspapers back then. In the newspaper I talked about who these famous figure skaters were and what they did. My three figure skaters were Dick Button, Carol Heiss, and Tenley Albright. I talked about the medals they won, what moves they accomplished, and why they were important to American and the world's history. To make the newspaper I found a free newspaper template and looked at newspapers that were actually made in that time. After i finished writing it I printed it out, then tried to dye the paper with tea. I've dyed paper with tea before, but this time the tea didn't stain it. It did, however, give it the perfect texture for newspaper.
ART
Finally, for my part part of this I recreated a routine that one of the figure skaters I researched did. I did Carol Heiss' US National/1960 Olympic routine she made. Of course I had to change it around a bit so I could actually perform it, But I tried to keep it as accurate as possible. The main things I had to change were the jumps and spins. Another thing I had to do was to split up the routine into 4 sections. The one I picked was about 5 minutes long, which is very long for a routine. I split it up into 4 parts and did those separately. I then added the music Heiss used to the recordings.
Finally, for my part part of this I recreated a routine that one of the figure skaters I researched did. I did Carol Heiss' US National/1960 Olympic routine she made. Of course I had to change it around a bit so I could actually perform it, But I tried to keep it as accurate as possible. The main things I had to change were the jumps and spins. Another thing I had to do was to split up the routine into 4 sections. The one I picked was about 5 minutes long, which is very long for a routine. I split it up into 4 parts and did those separately. I then added the music Heiss used to the recordings.
Project 2: How Ice Cream Helped the Morale of the Navy in WW2
BACKROUND
During the island-hopping in WW2, ice cream was used as a morale booster instead of alcohol and cigarettes. This ice cream was so popular that most soldiers favored it over any other stress relieving items. This obsession was to the point where the army built ice cream factories right behind the front lines. There was even navy soldiers who ate an entire ship's worth of ice cream on a sinking ship before it sank.
During the island-hopping in WW2, ice cream was used as a morale booster instead of alcohol and cigarettes. This ice cream was so popular that most soldiers favored it over any other stress relieving items. This obsession was to the point where the army built ice cream factories right behind the front lines. There was even navy soldiers who ate an entire ship's worth of ice cream on a sinking ship before it sank.
HISTORY
For my history portion of this project I wanted the perspective of what American citizens would've seen from this side of the war. To make these, I searched up references of other WW2 posters and looked for what was a popular format to make them and how the slogans were worded. From that, I sketched out my posters then used an app on my phone to draw them out. For the photos, I took a picture of myself then cropped out the background. Then, if I wanted the person to look more feminine, I put the photo through a face tuning app to give myself longer hair. after that I Added the photos to the posters, then grey-scaled everything. |
ENGLISH
For the english part of this project, I created two letter conversations. One of these conversations was of the perspective of two Japanese soldiers talking about how bad their environment is compared to the U.S.A.. One of these soldiers is slowly dying from starvation and the other was captured by the Navy and escaped. Being captured by the other side to the Japanese was the greatest dishonor and it was usually seen better to kill yourself then get captured. In these letters they discuss how the soldier who was captured saw the ice cream and how much better the U.S.A. was treating them. The other letter conversation is two American soldiers talking about how well the military was treating them and how the citizens were reacting to it. In one part of these letters, I made a parallel to the other letter conversation. In the Japanese one, the captured soldier talks about how he had seen American soldiers run to the ice cream boat and in the American one he talks about being one of the soldiers running to it. Since I didn't give these characters names, to make them different i used a different font for each of them and folded the letters differently. |
ART
Finally, for the art portion of this project I made ice cream using a recipe from 1945. to do this, I found a recipe for this off of a youtube video of a guy making it. The original recipe was for 5 gallons but the guy had gotten the measurements for a much smaller portion. Using this recipe I got the ingredients for it. Some of these ingredients for it were very weird, however. It called for things like powdered milk and powdered eggs. The recipe was very dated. I had to boil it in a double boiler, let it sit until it was room temperature then freeze it. I recorded myself making it as well. I wanted to stay true to the original recipe as much as I could, so instead of using the ice cream maker I stirred it by hand. |
Project 3: The OJ Simpson case
BACKROUND
the OJ Simpson case is about OJ Simpson, who was tried for a double-homicide. There was lots and lots of evidence pointing to him being the murderer, but in the end he was proclaimed not guilty. One of the reasons that this happened is because this case included a lot of racism.
the OJ Simpson case is about OJ Simpson, who was tried for a double-homicide. There was lots and lots of evidence pointing to him being the murderer, but in the end he was proclaimed not guilty. One of the reasons that this happened is because this case included a lot of racism.
ART & HISTORY
For this project I combined art and history together to make a choose your own adventure picture book. First I storyboarded out what I wanted each page to say. Then, I drew and colored in each page on watercolor paper. I then glued all the pages together to make the book. After the book was finished, I wrote an afterward describing why I went this way with the book. |
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ENGLISH
For my english part I wrote an argumentative essay explaining why I thought that OJ Simpson was guilty. For this I researched the trial and things before, including OJ and Nicole Brown's relationship and the Los Angeles Riots. Then, I wrote out how I wanted the essay to flow and what major points I wanted to hit. My main points showing he was guilty was his past influences wit the law, the car chase, and the evidence. I also had a paragraph addressing the other side of this and why the jury claimed not guilty. I chose to do an essay because I thought it would've been the best way to show my opinions on this case. |
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Project 4: Apollo 11 and The Challenger Disaster
BACKGROUND
The Apollo 11 was a space journey that ended with the first person on the moon and the US winning the space race. The Challenger Disaster is about a teacher who was going to go to space but the spacecraft exploded 73 seconds into the flight. what would happen if these two events were synthisized?
The Apollo 11 was a space journey that ended with the first person on the moon and the US winning the space race. The Challenger Disaster is about a teacher who was going to go to space but the spacecraft exploded 73 seconds into the flight. what would happen if these two events were synthisized?
ART
For art I decided to synthesize the medium of which I used to paint and put it on. First I printed out the blueprint I wanted to use and printed it out. After that i sketched out my design and painted it. The materials i used were acrylic paint, watercolor pencils, pens, and chalk pastels. I positioned them in a way to make it look like Apollo 11 was succeeding by putting it closer to the top. I made it so the Challenger was showcasing off the fire that lead to it's demise. |
ENGLISH & HISTORY
For this project i combined english and history to make a short story. This story focuses on if the Challenger Disaster and Apollo 11 were the same event and how that would affect America. To incorporate more synthesis I put video game characters into this alternate universe. My main character is named Kaito Momota, who in his original game he's from is titled the 'Ultimate Astronaut.' He witnesses the event as a child, and even with that, he still wants to become an astronaut. Later in the story NASA gets shut down and the Soviet Union wins the space race. |
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