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Illuminated Texts
Illuminated Texts created by students. Some of these are created using Microsoft Power Point and to hear the audio you will need to be using Windows, have Internet Explorer as your browser. For the Power Point Illuminated Texts you will also need Power Point or you can download the Power Point viewer to watch (and listen to) the presentation in your browser. In any case, you can download the Power Point file (without the music) to play on your own computer. For the presentations done using Adobe Flash you will need to have the Adobe Flash Player (most computers already do).
Cat in the Rain by Jenny Lee
The Illuminated Text that convinced me of the power and potential of the medium. This project explicates the short story "Cat in the Rain" from In Our Time. About a year and a half after this site opened, someone asked me how I got the idea for Illuminated Texts -- the answer for that one is easy: I saw Jenny Lee's "Cat in the Rain." Note: We now have a movie version of "Cat in the Rain" in case any of you were having problems viewing the Power Point version.
Click Here to View the QuickTime (video) Version of Cat in the Rain
Click Here to View the Power Point Version of - Cat in the Rain Read more »
"i carry your heart" by e e cummings an Illuminated Text
A presentation that I created to use in introducing students to the Illluminated Text concept during their studies of Renaissance Poetry. Though the poem is modern (and American), it is taught in conjunction with a poem by Sidney. After viewing the presentation, I ask that you either comment on the presentation (below) or leave a message on the Guest Book (above). There is also a Flash Version of this same poem that I created a few years after I made this Power Point version.
The House on Mango Street - An Illuminated Text example
A short example, appropriate for demonstration (we now have a Flash Video version of this presentation) -- showing students how and what an illuminated text is, using The House on Mango Street. It focuses on what Esperanza sees herself as and what she wants to become. One thing that this presentation also shows, I hope, is that it is not the technology, but the ideas that are the greatest contributor to making an Illuminated Text successful (though I would never be presumptuous enough to say that this one is). It is interesting that the year that I created this - and was so proud of my work - a student created an Illuminated Text on similar lines that blew this one completely away.
Illuminated A & P by John Updike
This is an illuminated text for John Updike's "A & P" using a literary 3X3 collaboratively created by 12th grade AP Lit students. [In order to hear this Power Point Illuminated Text, you must use Internet Explorer as your browser and choose open rather than save. JRS] I created the Powerpoint in order to model the student assignment of illuminating one story from a month-long short story unit. I am now able to tutor students on how to use Powerpoint (2007) after I spent about 4 hours constructing "A & P". [We now have a Flash Video version of this Illuminated Text - if you've had any problems hearing the sound - click on the link below.]
"i carry your heart" by e e cummings - An Illuminated Text in Flash
This is the second Illuminated Text that I have created using this poem. As my students transition from Power Point to Adobe Flash -- I wanted to go through the process and acquaint myself with what they were going through for myself. I chose this poem because I love it dearly- and, to me, it is an ideal candidate for a text-based animation -- the words are rich, beautiful, and multi-layered. When I was writing this Illuminated Text - it occurred to me how much these presentations are like essays or writing in general - you need to have some kind of overriding idea or thesis and each piece must support and play off of the other.
"Indian Camp" - Illuminated text by Jesus Alonso
This illuminated text on Hemingway's "Indian Camp" uses to text, to among other things, point out the journey from dark to light and back to light again. The words, in the presentation, move from darkness to light, echoing Nick's journey to the world that awaits him at the Indian Camp. It is moving and insightful. I also continue to show this Illuminated Text every year when we read the story - it never fails to impress me or my students.
Click Here to view the Flash Video Illuminated Text of "Indian Camp"
Click Here to view the Power Point Illuminated Text of "Indian Camp"
Bloody Resolve: A Macbeth Illuminated Text by Elizabeth Mucha and Renee Leber
The first Shakespeare Illuminated Text on our site and one of the best. The students use Macbeth's own words to indict his bloody intentions -- the movement of the words, the letters, and the music create a masterful impression of Shakespeare's words. [We now have a Flash Video version of this presentation - if you've had any trouble hearing the sound and/or video choose that version.] Shakespeare works wonderfully for these Illuminated Texts -
"The End of Something" an Illuminated Text by Alex Nuttal
A thoughtful and complex treatment of Ernest Hemingway's short story, "The End of Something," as presented by Alex Nuttal. Alex uses both pictures, words, and graphic shapes to represent and to explicate the sadness and the resolution of the story about the end of a lumber town and the end of a relationship. [We now have a Flash Video version of this text - click on that if you have trouble hearing or viewing the Power Point version]
A Pilgrimage to Thee: Sonnet 27, an Illuminated Text by Ariella Silverstein-Tapp and and C. Asoynec
A peaceful and contemplative examination of Shakespeare's Sonnet 27: "Weary with toil, I haste me to my bed." It is night, the moon is out, and the Moonlight Sonata plays in the background. Done by two students towards the beginning of our creation of Illuminated Text, it is, as one commentator has said, an ideal example to show students the power of what they can do to explicate the text when creating an Illuminated Text. There is now an Adobe Flash Video version of this Illuminated Text - if you have trouble viewing or hearing sound with the Power Point edition.
The Sky Tree: A Native American Story
This project explicates "The Sky Tree," a Native American story retold by Joseph Brucach It was created by Laura Neeb of McAuley High School in Cincinnati,Ohio in response to a project assigned to seniors at the end of the year. The images as well as the music beautifully illustrate and honor the spirit of the story. [There are two new versions of this incredible Illuminated Text: An Uncompressed Power Point Version (if you've had trouble viewing the other one) - and a Flash Video Version - enjoy.]
Dark Chasms: An Illuminated Text of John Gardner's Grendel by Sima Cunningham
A brilliant and insightful examination of Grendel's choices (or lack thereof) in an animated Power Point video created by Sima Cunningham. Once again, this Illuminated Text shows the power that the words from the text have (and that the pictures -- or lack thereof) in Illuminated Texts are secondary. [You can also choose to view a Flash Video version of this presentation].
Night - An Illuminated Text by Cat Valentine
An examination through text and music of the horrific and unfathomable events and words of Elie Wiesel's novel, Night. Ms. Valentine does a great job here with a very difficult subject. We now have a Flash Video version of this presentation - if you are having any trouble with the Power Point (especially with hearing the sound) that would be the one that you want to click on.
No Speak English: A House on Mango Street Illuminated Text.
This Illluminated Text by David Cordova and Sid Menon tackles one idea from one chapter in Sandra Cisneros' The House on Mango Street. That idea is really a character - the woman who comes from Mexico and cries because she doesn't want to see her children becoming culturally assimilated. [There is now a Flash Video version of this presentation as well.] It is one of the most moving moments in the book -- and it is handled with sensitivity and creativity by the students.
An Illuminated Text of Markus Zusak's The Book Thief
This is a moving interpretation of Marcus Zusak's book narrated by Death, sure to be a classic. Death makes it clear in this novel that he is not the grim reaper we typically picture, as he tells the story of one mortal who he has noticed especially. Illuminated by Amanda Thomas, a student in Debbie Reeves senior English, and one of our illuminated text guinea pigs.
Sylvia Plath "Mad Girl's Love Song"
This powerpoint illuminated text was born out on an assignment exploring modern poetry. Students were allowed to pick their poet and work to illuminate. Kiara's presentation of Sylvia Plath's "Mad Girl's Love Song" does a wonderful job of conveying the power of love to lead to madness. Through emphasis on such lines as "I shut my eyes and the world drops dead" and "I think I made you up inside my head" the mix of obession and depression is immediately felt. The instrumental music matches the decent into an erie mood that illustrates the insanity of this girl's mad love.
