Virtual Literacy

• Engels
• Middelbare school
• havo, vwo
• Leerjaar 4,5

Next slide you will watch a video

It is the reveal trailer for last year's Pokemon game. Think of the following:

- How does the trailer communicate that the world is inspired by England?

- The second part of the trailer introduces the three starter Pokemon. Which one is fire, water, and grass, and how can you tell? What is communicated about their character?

How is it communicated the world is
inspired by England/Britain?

Scorbunny, Sobble, and Grookey are starter Pokemon. Per Pokemon, mention if it is Fire, Water, or Grass and how you can tell. Also mention characteristics that are being communicated.

Design your own Pokemon on the next slide

Design your own Pokemon! Think of the following:

- What type (Fire, Water, Grass, etc.) is it and how can you tell from your design?

- What are its strengths and weaknesses, and how does the design/behaviour communicate this to the player?

- What kind of moves (attack/defense) would this Pokemon have? Why would that make sense for the player when looking at it?

- What kind of area would you find your Pokemon? Why does that make sense?

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For example, Scorbunny was fire (you can see that from the red colouring and the fire he leaves behind while running. The choice of animal and that he leaves fire in his wake means he is quick. The band aid on his nose indicates he has a bit of a fighter in him, so physical/fighting moves are logical (Double Kick, Headbutt, etc.)

Design your Pokemon!
(What animal does it look like? What colour? What other details are in its design (like Scorbunny's band aid)? Etc.

Watch the following commercial

Next you will watch a Hornbach commercial.

This commercial caused consternation because people with Asian heritage (both men and women) thought it offensive. When watching, try and think why Asian men and/or Asian women might take offence at the commercial.

Before you start, you might want to think (and in the classroom I would start a lesson series with this) what some of the stereotypical imagery is and what some of the prejudices are concerning Asians / Asian Men / Asian women.  Then try and see how they are represented and what it communicates about these groups and to what extent it reinforces this already existing imagery.

What in the ad might cause some groups to interpret it as offensive (particularly Asians / Asian men / Asian women)

What effect might ads/imagery/text have that plays into and reinforces certain prejudices/stereotypes? Concretely, how might it effect people's lives?

Look at the photo in the background, then answer the question on the next slide

Look at the photo and reason how art and initiatives like this do the opposite to the advertisement from earlier: namely altering the representation of a social group by purposely subverting stereotypical imagery/prejudices. What do you see in the picture? What is the stereotype the picture plays off on? How does it subvert it? Why is this type of representation important?

Look at the photo and reason how art and initiatives like this do the opposite to the advertisement from earlier: namely altering the representation of a social group by purposely subverting stereotypical imagery/prejudices. What do you see in the picture? What is the stereotype the picture plays off on? How does it subvert it? Why is this type of representation important?