Symbolism: Communicating Outside the Box

Introduction

Many of the thinkers we have read this semester have very radical ideas. Conceiving and communicating such ideas is often difficult preciselybecause they are so radical, i.e., outside the box. Symbolic devices like metaphor, simile, and allegory can be very useful when trying to communicate ‘outside the box’ ideas. In the texts we read, both Nietzsche and Anzaldúa use these devices often.

Prompts for Final Exercise. Please address all items

Choose three symbols (utilized in metaphor, simile, or allegory) that are common to both text. These can be general or specific. For each symbol find at least one passage from each text in which the author employs that symbol. You can choose from but are not limited to the following options:

• • • • • • body or bodies of water
          • light and darkness (shadow)
          • serpent and eagle
          • Earth/earth
          • bridge or tightrope
          • a sacrifice
          • evolution
          • food
          • being lost
          • underground; cave or pit

For each pair of passages,

• • • • • • • • Identify and explain what idea each author is trying to communicate through the symbol.
              • Explain how and why the device being used is either effective or ineffective.

Compare the idease being communicated by Nietzsche and Anzaldúa.

• What are the strengths and limitations of symbolism in communicating revolutionary ideas, modes of thought, and ways of being? What other forms/devices of communication would (or do) lend themselves to such a process?
• Find an example of other forms/devices of communication that lend themselves to communicate radical ideas and share it as part of your presentation.

Steps to Create the Final Exercise. Please follow all of these steps.

1. Re-read PowerPoint “Nietzsche,” Moodle, Class5and “Anzaldúa,” class 9.
2. Look at your notes and your underlined texts of “Thus Spoke…”and “La Conciencia…”
3. Look up terms and concepts in “Main Concepts,”Class 5, “God is Dead!” in Moodle.
4. Have an awesome discussion
5. Make an eleven-minute long presentation in any of the formats suggested below
6. Title every submission and include teammates names. The title needs to include your table number.
7. At the end of class today, please upload your notes, texts, PPs, Spoken Word written text, script for Skits, and notes, images and videos to the Final Project folder in Moodle. Everything needs to be titled (including table number) and include the names of teammates.

Possible Presentation Formats

Spoken Word, Skits, Video and image analysis, Power Point                                                                                                                Other creative formats might also be accepted, previous consultation with facilitators

Presentation Guidelines