Macbeth and Elements of Drama Discussion Posts

This weekend's discussion post assignment is a bit complicated and will primarily be using YouTube clips for analysis, but learning how to do this will prepare you for your drama essays, as well as demonstrate your ability to follow complex instructions.   So make sure you read this blog thoroughly and ASK QUESTIONS if you are unsure how to do something.

There are four different drama discussion forums altogether in the Reading Responses, Online Discussions, & Homework Posts folder reflecting four of the five elements of drama: plot, character, setting and staging, and dialogue.  Theme and performance should also be addressed in these posts, but do not have their own forum. This post requires one (1) VIDEO POST to one of the four drama discussion forums and two (2) REPLIES to classmates who have posted a DIFFERENT video post than yours.

The Video Post & Analysis
Find a specific video of a scene from Macbeth either in

• the Class Video/Adaptations folder, 
• the YouTube playlist I have compiled, or 
• any scene you can find from the internet through a Google search (you can also search within the Angel post--see "Finding Your Video" instructions below).  
• If possible, you can also embed full movies if the option is available (such as Rupert Goold's film adaptation starring Sir Patrick Stewart), but make sure that you mention the location on the timeline to find your scene (e.g. go to 18:15). 
• Note that the new link I gave in the Class Video/Adaptations folder with full movies and select clips does not contain "embedible" clips.

After you have found your particular scene for analysis, choose one of the four drama forums that best embodies your particular scene to post your video (e.g. if you chose a scene from Throne of Blood, then setting might be the most significant dramatic element that distinguishes your adaptation because it is set in medieval Japan, so you should pick the setting forum).

• Click on the "New Post" button
• Enter an appropriate title in the "Post title:" box that indicates the basis of your analysis, including the name of the adaptation and the scene
• Embed your video in the text box below (see instructions below)
• Provide an analysis under your embedded video
1. Address the main category of the forum (i.e. plot, dialogue, setting, or character) and why it is the most relevant element of drama that applies to your particular scene and adaptation
2. Address the remaining four elements of drama (including performance) and how they are represented in the scene.  (e.g. if the plot or dialogue changes due to the setting, indicate how and more importantly why it is important).
3. Make sure you address theme as well if it is relevant to the scene, especially the recurring theme of fate versus free will.
4. Provide relevant film terms when applicable and the role they play with each element of drama (e.g. "a closeup on Macbeth when he delivers his soliloquy allows the sound to be low as he whispers his lines, which makes them more chilling than if he had spoken them out loud.  The camera also allow the viewer to focus on the actor's performance, especially his facial features, which are lit with low-key lighting, which creates shadows on his face and makes him appear even more sinister.")
5. Provide a conclusion, re-emphasizing the significance of the main category of the post.
• Hit the submit button (WARNING: If you spend a long time writing your post, it is suggested that you copy and paste it into the post so that you do not lose any work if Angel times out on you)

REPLY to Drama Forums
Once you have posted your video and analysis, you must go through other posts by your classmates who have chosen DIFFERENT video clips and post one REPLY to two (2) different adaptation clips that have the LEAST number of replies.  Your response should BUILD onto the analysis provided by the initial poster, adding any relevant information.  One area that will often need extra development are the film terms, so think critically and add your insight.


To see what others have posted and to make sure you are not using the same example as someone else, quickly see all the replies that have been made by choosing "nested view"

 

After finding an appropriate post with the fewest replies

1. hit reply (note this example is from a VERY different assignment, but the process is the same), 

2. provide your additional analysis; if you have a specific incident in mind for the video, provide the original poster with a time to locate the point in the video (e.g. go to 1:15 and note how the director uses voiceover to emphasize Macbeth argument with himself, as if he is crazy).
3. hit the submit button

Finding Your Video
You can use either Google search, YouTube search, or the Macbeth playlist to find scenes from adaptations that you are already aware of or search for new ones (NOTE: Remember that when I grade papers, if EVERYONE does the same scene and adaptation, the competition gets tough--and so does my grading after I read the same thing over and over.  Picking less "popular" and more challenging scenes will help lift you above the pack).  As noted below, you can also search inside of Angel, which will streamline the process, but the results from this method are much more limited because the search engine is not as comprehensive, so you will need to have a much clearer idea of what you are looking for when choosing this approach.

Embedding Your Video
After finding an appropriate video for your post or reply, you will need to embed it in your discussion post with your analysis.  There are two ways in which you can do this:

1. The first method is to use the Google Media Tools "insert rich media" button to both search and embed video in your Angel Discussion post or reply; 
2. The second method is to a) find your video via Google, YouTube, (or directly from the course YouTube Macbeth playlist), b) copy the "embed code" from YouTube, and then c) paste it into your Angel Discussion post or reply using the HTML "source" button.

The first method is much more streamlined and easy to use, but the second option allows you more flexibility to find more appropriate video using Google's or YouTubes search engine.

1. Google Media^TM Tools (from Angel)

The Google Media^TM tools can be used to insert YouTube^TM or Picasa^TM content into a course environment. YouTube^TM videos may be linked or embedded (with associated player). Picasa^TM pictures may also be linked or embedded.

 Caution: ANGEL's "G" button is offered as a convenience for inserting Google^TM sourced media rather than a fully supported ANGEL feature. This feature relies on the public availability of Google^TM services to search to search YouTube^TM for video and Picasa^TM for images. If Google^TM changes the availability of these services,  the "G" button may fail to function. ANGEL has no control over the Google^TM services.

 Note: The search controls for the Videos tab are identical to the controls offered for the Images tab.

1.   Videos. Controls for searching YouTube^TM for video content. Selected content may be inserted into the HTML editor.

2.   Images. Controls for search Picasa^TM for pictures. Selected pictures may be inserted into the HTML editor.

3.   Find. Search terms may be entered in this textbox. Terms entered will be used to find matching content.

4.   Sort by. Select the appropriate option:

●    relevance

●    rating

●    date published

●    most watched

5.   Go. Click this button to perform a search based on the configured selections.

6.   Media preview. Media matching the search criteria are displayed in the preview window for each hit. Clicking a preview item opens the related media in a larger window.

7.   embed. Click this button to insert an embedded media viewer into the HTML editor. This embedded player will be used to view the media.

8.   link. Click this button to insert a link in the HTML editor. When clicked, the link will open a new window displaying the media.

9.   Pagination. Results will be displayed in groups of 25. If there are more than 25 results, pagination will be introduced. Each pagination link will link to another group of 25 results.

10.  Cancel. Click Cancel to close the Google Media window.

 Note: Media inserted into the HTML editor using the Google Media window will be represented in the HTML window using a placeholder image. This placeholder image will later be replaced with an actual preview of the media when the HTML editor is closed and the content saved.

  

2. How to Embed a YouTube Video

(from Google) In order to embed a video into another website, blog, (or in this case, your discussion post and reply):

1. Click the Share button located under the video.
2. Click the Embed button.
3. Uncheck ALL the boxes EXCEPT
4. Check the Use old embed code box
5. Copy the code provided in the expanded box.
6. Paste the code into your post (see below).

You may also customize your own embeddable player by clicking on the embed code. When you click on the embed code the space below it will expand and reveal customization options such as:

• whether or not to include related videos
• whether or not to enable privacy-enhanced mode
• whether or not to use use the old embed code
• the size

Pasting in Your Post

Once you have copied your embed code, you need to paste it into your discussion post.  Follow these instruction to open up the "source" window to paste your "embed code" from above:

1. View the HTML source code by clicking Source .
2. Paste your "embed code" from YouTube or other source (note this example is from a slightly different assignment)

1. Return to the edit window to add your analysis of the scene/video by clicking Source again.

Some of you are more computer savvy than others, so offer help if you see desperate pleas in the Q&A.  You can come by my office if you need help or send me emails, but I likely cannot tell you much more than I have here.  So work with it, and dare I say "have fun?"