If you have not watched the PBS “How To Be Creative” video, click on

the link below and watch it NOW!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=weIQIthC3Ks

• “Creative thinking is not a talent; it is a skill that can be learnt. It empowers people by adding strength to their natural abilities which improves teamwork, productivity and - where appropriate - profits.” — Edward de Bono

• “I start where the last man left off.” — Thomas Edison

• “Art begins in imitation and ends in innovation.” — Mason Cooley

• “Literature is a state of culture.” – Juan Ramon Jimenez

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Creativity is a skill you can learn,

practice, and put to good use.

Original ideas are often not truly original but

inspired by the ideas of others.

Our stories, especially the ones that last through time,

reflect who we are and what we value.

In this creative project, I am hoping you will come to understand the truths reflected in those quotes:

Creativity is a skill you can learn, practice, and put to good use.

Original ideas are often not truly original but inspired by the ideas of others.

Our stories, especially the ones that last through time, reflect who we are and what we value. (They create bridges between us!)

1. Choose one of the short pieces:– Plato’s Allegory of the Cave– Shakespeare’s Sonnet 130– Chopin’s “The Story of an Hour”– Bradbury’s “The October Game”– Twain’s “Advice to Youth”– Cisneros’ “Salvador, Late or Early”– Kincaid’s “Girl”

2. Use the literature as inspiration to create something that is marketable.

3. The product of your creativity must reflect that LANGUAGE IS A BRIDGE. You must prove that your product either:• creates community and common culture, or• represents the connection between who we are as

individuals and who we are as members of societies

THE TASK

If you’re having trouble understanding how language is a bridge, think about how an author

uses his/her story to communicate a message about life, human nature, the nature of the world,

etc. The story, then, builds a bridge between how the

author sees the world and how the reader sees the world. The reason we love the literature that we love

is because we feel it reveals a truth. When certain literature is beloved by many, the story builds a bridge connecting us in a culture/community of

shared values and shared truths.

This is what makes language a bridge.

• Starting Friday, Nov. 1st, individuals/groups will present their product to a panel of literary-minded investors. These investors are eager to invest in projects that demonstrate how language is a bridge: how literature forces us to ask and answer the complex questions that create common culture and solidify a sense of community. They are not concerned solely with projects that create more literature (though, those are welcome) but they also wish to see projects that show the importance of literature in other media. Your presentation will take the form of a pitch for investment.

• The investors will be judging your product on the following criteria:1. Is it clear that the product has been inspired by the literature

and that it reflects a critical reading of the piece?2. Does the presenter recognize and respect how the author has

created a “bridge” with his/her story?3. Has the presenter formed his/her own idea of how the product

has created a “bridge”? 4. Is the product unique, innovative, original?

Following are some examples of marketable products that were

inspired by literature…

Stephen King’s novel Carrie inspired a film.

The Walking Dead, a graphic novel series, inspired a

television show.

The producers of a reality series drew inspiration from Orwell’s 1984.

Independent filmmakers and videobloggers updated Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice and translated it

into a successful YouTube serial.

A hotelier loved JRR Tolkein’s hobbits so much he built a hotel fit for the Shire.

HOBBIT HOTEL

Simon Lake, father of the modern submarine, was inspired by Jules Verne’s 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea.

T-shirt makers love their literature, in this case drawing inspiration from The Great Gatsby and

The Catcher in the Rye.

Game of Thrones The Princess Bride

The Hunger Games

Find the following documents available on my website:

PROJECT PROPOSAL You will need to print one copy of the proposal for each group, fill

it out, and turn it in for feedback – you can also email it to me at kamerhe.lane@indianola.k12.ia.us

The sooner you hand in your proposal, the sooner you will have feedback from me as to whether your project is on the right track. You will want to hand in your proposal by either Monday or Tuesday, but it will not be accepted for points after Wednesday.

SCORE SHEET• If you work with a group, note that you and your group members

will receive the same score for “Proposal”, “Creativity”, and “Analysis”, but you will receive individual scores for “Communication” and “Audience/Investor Role”

• Each student must print their own score sheet and bring it to me by Friday, Nov. 1st.