For my project I decided to focus in on the idea of manipulation. I think it is a very interesting topic to talk about because it can be used in any kind of situation. I thought it could be a great project topic because you really could bring it into any situation. The first thing I think of when I hear manipulation is social media. The media has a huge impact on everything now. If it’s any kind of news, image, or video someone finds the way to manipulate it. Why are our brains compelled to manipulate different things in the world?
SOCIAL STUDIES
For the social studies part of my project, I brought in the idea of manipulation because the first thing I think of is social media. I choose to focus in on the impact that different kinds of news does to our media. For my research, I first looked in on the impacts that fake news has on our media. Then as I continued my research I created a timeline of how our media evolved over time. Then I focused on the first amendment which talks about the freedom of the press. Overtime, we watch the first amendment play a huge role in our society with freedom of speech. But once you read it over compared to when it was put in the Bill of Rights in 1791, the media has definitely had an impact. As time went on with the news today so many people have different opinions which end up getting shared. This ether makes one bias or keeps them going towards that side. In 1791, the people were limited to the information they would share or they would have to make it an even discussion. But now everyone uses freedom of speech and it all goes to the media. But even back in time people have used images and media to manipulate one into believing something else.
For English I read the short story “The Yellow Wallpaper” it goes along with the idea of manipulation because the narrator of the story is being manipulated without even knowing it. For my final product I wrote a persuasive essay to encourage and educate kids why they should read this story. I talked more about mental health awareness, also things in the 2020 that we would do different from the story that takes place in the 1800’s. I also included things that we would do today that can help one face this kind of depression.
For my Art portion, I started watched a documentary called “How Art Made the World” recommended by Mr. Grandi. This five part documentary is to get a basic understanding of how from the beginning of when people started to create art they used manipulation in the art pieces. They exaggerated lots of the features to create an image that they saw. All of our brains are wired the same so even thousands of years ago they manipulated art like we do today. After I completed the documentary, I looked at art that symbolizes manipulation. Then, I created my own artwork that I manipulated. I did different techniques where I would manipulate the materials I was using. I used gravity and air to move the paint. Then I used different tools to smear and push and pull the paint around.