Visualizing Shakespeare

1. Visualizing Shakespeare Engaging Teenage Second Language Learners in the Bard Íris Lilja Ragnarsdóttir 2011

4. Overview A few disclaimers! What is manga? What is Manga Shakespeare? A brief course description Why use Manga Shakespeare? (Theoretical framework) Íris Lilja Ragnarsdóttir 2011

5. A few disclaimers! I am not a Shakespeare expert I am not a manga expert I am not an expert on adaptation I am, however, interested in knowing more about all of the above Íris Lilja Ragnarsdóttir 2011

6. What is manga? Origin of the word dates back to 18th century Today, denotes Japanese style comics Íris Lilja Ragnarsdóttir 2011

7. What is manga? • What are comics? • According to expert Scott McCloud comics tend to be mistaken for… “crude, poorly-drawn, semiliterate, cheap, disposable kiddie fare” • Let’s look at his definition… Íris Lilja Ragnarsdóttir 2011

10. What is Manga? • Manga’s popularity steadily increasing • In Japan, began to thrive after WWII • Outside Japan, began to blossom in 1980s • Today, integral part of mainstream popular culture, with Europe following Japan as the largest consumer Íris Lilja Ragnarsdóttir 2011

11. What is Manga Shakespeare? • Published by… • Began in 2007 • UK Young Publisher of the Year 2008 • 14 adaptations of plays already • Additional educational resources • Supported by British Council • http://www.mangashakespeare.com/index.html Íris Lilja Ragnarsdóttir 2011

12. What is Manga Shakespeare? • Testimonials… “Watch out! Self Made Hero’s Manga Shakespeare books are seriously good. Students are reading them for pleasure!” Anne Walker, School Librarian, Leeds “It’s great to see Shakespeare become cool again, by taking these timeless dramas and placing them in fresh, relevant contexts that will excite and challenge modern readers. Welcome to the 21st century, Will.” Gavin Lees, English Network Leader, Livingstone Íris Lilja Ragnarsdóttir 2011

13. Course Description • Student-aimed: マンガシェイクスピル！MANGA SHAKESPEARE! Want to study SHAKESPEARE the visual and fun way? Now you can! In this course we will cover the background to Shakespeare’s life and times and take a close look at three of his major PLAYS… in MANGA format! You will have an opportunity to enrich your English VOCABULARY and to add a few JAPANESE words to your lexicon. You will also get to nurture your CREATIVE side through fun project work. Join now! Íris Lilja Ragnarsdóttir 2011

14. Course Description • Not a substitute! • Prerequisite usually English 503, instead suggesting 303 or 403 • Reaching a wider group of students Íris Lilja Ragnarsdóttir 2011

15. Course Description • Shakespeare’s life and times • Three plays, most likely Romeo and Juliet,Macbeth and ? • Educational resources from Self Made Hero • Create additional material, such as group projects, exercises and assignments • Other topics include: manga, Japan and Japanese, visual literacy, multiculturalism etc. Íris Lilja Ragnarsdóttir 2011

17. Course Description • Assessment divided into term and final grade • Term grade = 10% class participation, 15% reading tests, 15% individual assignment, 10% group project • Final grade = 25% final essay, 25% oral exam • Fair and fun evaluation! Íris Lilja Ragnarsdóttir 2011

18. Why Use Manga Shakespeare? • Popularity not reason enough! • Here are a few reasons… Íris Lilja Ragnarsdóttir 2011

19. Why Use Manga Shakespeare? VISUAL AIDS • Zone of Proximal Development / Scaffolding • Tools for negotiating meaning • Helpful to students with learning disabilities • Offer opportunities to explore complex ideas NB! Danger of too much reliance Íris Lilja Ragnarsdóttir 2011

20. Why Use Manga Shakespeare? VISUAL LITERACY • The ability to construct meaning from visual images • Exploration, critique and reflection • Deeper understanding of aesthetics / awareness of manipulation • Need for active teaching Íris Lilja Ragnarsdóttir 2011

21. Why Use Manga Shakespeare? CRITICAL AND CREATIVE THINKING • Emphasis on critical thinking skills • Lack of creativity is a problem • “When reasoning fails, Imagination saves you! When Intuition fails, reason saves you” (Crane, 1983) Íris Lilja Ragnarsdóttir 2011

22. Bloom’s Taxonomy

23. Bloom’s Taxonomy

24. Dr. Craig Roland’s classification of critical and creative thinking NB! This is only a partial list

25. Why Use Manga Shakespeare? GARDNER’S MULTIPLE INTELLEGENCES • People have multiple intellegences that are independent of on another and each has its strengths and constraints • Emphasis on linguistic and logical-mathematical intellegence • Manga likely to appeal most to the spatially intellegent (bodily-kinesthetic, musical etc.) Íris Lilja Ragnarsdóttir 2011

26. Why Use Manga Shakespeare? GENDER ASPECTS • Comics usually associated with boys, but manga appeals to both genders • Masculine and feminine domains in educational system • Gender bias in the manga themselves? Íris Lilja Ragnarsdóttir 2011

27. Why Use Manga Shakespeare? MULTICULTURALISM • “Multiculturalism is the appreciation, acceptance or promotion of multiple cultures” (wikipedia.org) • For example Japanese culture and language Íris Lilja Ragnarsdóttir 2011

28. Summary • Manga can be a legitimate educational resource • Manga engages young readers • Visual aids can benefit language learners • Need for teaching visual literacy • Need for teaching not only critical but also creative thinking Íris Lilja Ragnarsdóttir 2011

29. Summary • Appeals to multiple intellegences • Appeals to both genders • Creates opportunities to explore multiculturalism • Any more ideas? Íris Lilja Ragnarsdóttir 2011