Remixing the Remix Assignment

  Remix Defined:

The concept of Remix often referenced in popular culture derives from the model of music remixes which were produced around the late 1960s and early 1970s in New York ... A music remix, in general, is a reinterpretation of a pre-existing song, meaning that the “aura” of the original will be dominant in the remixed version. remixtheory.net

The Assignment:

Each student will choose an existing, media representation in performance of the culture, race, ethnicity, gender, nationality, religion, etc. with which he/she identifies.

Medium Constraint: The representation should come from a performance (e.g. dance, theatre, acting, singing, etc.).

Creative Constraint: Students will then remix the representation present in the media artifact. The medium should stay the same from the original to your creation; dance - dance, sing - song, monologue - monologue, etc. Your remix should be between 1 and 2 minutes long.

Contextual Constraint: The remixed representation you create must demonstrate your own negotiation of identity as described above.  Your remix should also be a commentary on how the identity is represented in the original text you’ve chosen.

Reflection Constraint: 250 words about the Project: Artist statements should include a discussion of the correlations and contradictions between your remix (perspectives, practices, etc.) and the original representation of this aspect of your identity. Also spend time talking about your creation process and what you hope the audience will notice about your remix.

Before the next class period, leave a thoughtful comment on one of your peer’s remix projects.