The Nerdy Duckling

This week’s assignment required us to reinvent metaphors in pieces of artwork. And since my project speaks for itself (pun intended) I’ll let it say the rest…

As awesome as that looks, it took me forever…

Not even joking.

I used Windows Live Movie Maker which seemed really easy and straightforward at first, but then it just got more and more complicated when it didn’t do what I wanted it to. It’s easy to add the photos (that I drew, shot with my iphone, uploaded to my email and downloaded) and easy to add the sound (which I first attempted to do with my webcam and couldn’t because of the sound format so I then had to upload the sound to Soundcloud and then download) but the adding parts were the only simple steps. Then I added the credits and the video at the end, which was easy enough. But then the hard part came. WordPress wouldn’t allow me to upload my video because of the format type. So then I went to Youtube and it wouldn’t accept the format either. But I followed the steps that they prompted and was able to change the file format of my video to an accepting format. Then another roadblock. Apparently my computer didn’t want me to watch the file after it was uploaded by Youtube. Seriously? Turns out they’re trying a new system over at Youtube where they block people from watching certain file formats. All I had to do was turn it off and then I was allowed to watch the file.

So as if I didn’t have enough trouble coming up with an idea for this project, I then had to jump through hoops just to get it put together. I think in terms of stress and frustration this project has topped my list.

Still waters run deep

Similes tend to make you think. Metaphors let you feel things.

I must admit I haven’t spent a lot of time thinking about metaphors or similes since high school, when we were required to memorize about 500 words and their meanings for college prep. Oh, the wonderful days of AP English, learning literary concepts and analyzing to our heart’s content. Just kidding.

I don’t usually take the time to analyze the words I’m using, or their implicit or explicit meaning, especially in every day conversation. But I use metaphor all the time. Everyone does. I’m constantly saying things like “I’m tired as a dog”, more so on Monday. When I stop and think though, most of the dogs I know personally are pretty high energy. Yes, they lay around all day and sleep but wouldn’t you if you were unemployed, covered in fur and left alone in a house all day? I sure would. No wonder dogs don’t wear pants.

The most difficult part for me of thinking about metaphor as a mechanism for creativity is that even today, even while studying to become a high school English teacher… metaphors confuse me. Similes confuse me. I don’t always know if I’m doing it right. I need examples! Creative examples!

Aha! So much better. When I need an example of a simile, “Life is like a box of chocolates” will now pop into my head. And metaphor, of course “That is the voice of an angel” will be my go-to example.

I love this video because it presents material in a fun creative way that allows students (and people like me) to understand how metaphors and similes are used in pop culture and in ways that relate to us. If I was teaching a lesson on metaphor I would use a video like this… it would show that metaphor isn’t limited to Shakespeare and if Kanye West and Jay-Z can use them, so can you! A great follow-up assignment to this would be to have students pull out their iPods or phones and see how many similes and metaphors they could find in a designated amount of time. Then you could talk through them as a class, discussing which ones work really well (Pink’s “You’re just like a pill” or Kanye’s “people are like seasons”) and which ones don’t (Omarion’s “there’s an icebox where my heart used to be”~ouch).

As for the title of this particular entry, my dad once wrote me a letter and in it he said, “the phrase ‘still waters run deep’ has never applied more than it does to Meredith”. He went on to say that in my quiet I am usually thoughtfully thinking over the conversation or planning the perfect witty reply in burn form. I think it is the perfect metaphor for my personality and couldn’t help but include it.

Video taken from Youtube.