Creature Design...inspired by terryl whitlatch
CREATURE DESIGN...inspired by Terryl Whitlatch
Key Concept: change
Related Concepts: innovation and adaptation
Global Context: scientific and technical innovation: adaptation, ingenuity and progress
Statement of Inquiry: Change and innovation adapts with ingenuity and progress.
Inquiry Questions:
Factual: What is change?
Conceptual: How is innovation effected by adaptation, ingenuity and progress?
Debatable: Should adaptations and changes in our environment be attributed to the human race and our innovations?
G.R.A.S.P.S.
Goal- is to create a hybrid creature that will be able to survive this post apocalyptic madness.
Role- is that of an illustrator that has been commissioned to create a unique and interesting creature that is
going to drive sales in the film industry.
Audience- will be film aficionados, the film industry and the the marketing world (think about products that
have been modeled and marketed after films and literature.
Situation/Scenario- You are taking on the role of an illustrator and your goal is to create a hybrid creature that could be used in a post-apocalyptic (science-fiction) film. The concept of the film is that there has been a natural disaster or other catastrophic event that has drastically changed our civilization, due to the stress we are putting on our planet and people living in this world. The film makers are on the fence about a couple of things...so you will need to make some decisions on which direction you would like to go, in terms of the environment becoming a dystopian (example: steampunk) OR a situation where the civilization will have new life, but completely different from what we know to be true about our current world. They are also wanting ideas for the location...will your creature live on earth, Mars or some future distant planet that does not exist to our knowledge today.
Product- will be the prototype that you create for one of the main characters in the film.
Standards- A: knowing and Understanding
B: Developing Skills
C: Thinking Creatively
D: Responding
The Process (Big Picture):
- We will begin the unit by viewing a slide presentation and several videos to get you inspired.
- You will start by choosing either animals you have interest in, or by thinking of an animal by it's characteristics, and begin researching what it takes for those animals to survive in their natural habitat. Some animals are currently becoming extinct or on endangered species lists, due to changes in the environment, which are partly due to the stresses the human race is putting on the planet. Others are mutating or becoming hybridized in order to become adaptable to the environments they live in (either man-made or due to environmental changes). You will need to choose two or more animals that could potentially be combined to create a stronger, disease resistant creature that would be able to survive in possible dire situations. For example: You may know that it is incredibly important to you to save the honeybee, but also know that it is important that they do not die after stinging, so you find a compatible match OR maybe you know you want your choice to be animals that can survive on very small amounts of water, because we may not have an abundance of water or ways to treat the water we do have.
- Once you've decided on the animals you want to focus on, you will begin by combining the strongest and most important characteristics that each of the chosen animals have, and begin creating the concept of the hybrid creature.
- Next you will create a list of traits (think of the elements and principles of art- color, form, pattern, texture) that will add to the aesthetics of your creature design.
- Now you will have to make some decisions on the location and environment that the creature is having to adapt to. Create a narrative concept and again reflect on any additional traits the creature will need to have for survival.
- Starting with the skeletal structure, you will begin designing the creature, next creating a muscular layer and finally a layer that features skin/hair/fur/feathers, etc. These are meant to be the same size and able to be layered on top of each other. (Example will be shown)
- Once you have created the final creature design, you will create a representational prototype that could be used to help envision the creature either in a 3-dimensional form or in the proposed environment for described in your narrative.
- Finally, all creature design prototypes will be presented to the class in a group critique and evaluated using a rubric.
Factual: What are some of the physical traits of your chosen animals?
How do those traits help the animal survive in their natural habitat?
How can genetic engineering or changes in our environment have effects on an animal? What are some examples of species that have been genetically modified or cross-bred?
What will it need to survive in the changed environment? How will it stay cool or warm? Where will it find shelter? How will your animal move through the environment? How will it source food and water? What an how will it eat? How will it protect itself from predators? Whom will some of the predators be?
Will your creature live with humans? Will your creature have any superpowers?
Conceptual: How might your creature have to adapt when moving through this changed environment?
What happens when different species are used to create a hybrid species? what may some of the complications be with creating a hybrid species? Will you use an endangered creature in order to save some of it's qualities? Which type of aesthetic qualities will be important in your creature? How will it attract a mate?
Debatable: Is the genetic engineering of animals a good or bad idea?
Are humans playing God when they mess with DNA and genetics?
Tasks
Task 1: Animal Research (organized notes and research)-knowing and understanding
Task 2: Creature Design Ideas (brainstorming activity)-thinking creatively
Task 3: Creature Design Problems (reflection and concept thoughts reflection)- responding
Task 4: Reflection (concept for narrative)-thinking creatively and responding
Task 5: Creature Design: skeletal, muscular and skin-developing skills
Task 6: Final thumbnail sketch of hybrid creature-thinking creatively
Task 7: Reflection (can you support your research?)-responding
Task 8: Thumbnail (plan for creature design prototype)-thinking creatively
Task 9: Practice (with materials for chosen medium) -developing skills
Task 10: Presentation of prototype/environment- responding
Vocabulary:
change: is a conversion, transformation, or movement from one form, state or value to another. Inquiry into the concept of change involves understanding and evaluating causes, processes and consequences.
innovation: An altered interpretation or the experimentation of ideas, techniques and media. It
ensures originality and creativity by new ways of presenting ideas and unusual use
of media. The invention of new functions and ways of working.
adaptation: Adaptation involves incorporating ideas found in one product into the development of a new product.
ingenuity: the quality of being clever, original, and inventive.
progress: forward or onward movement toward a destination.
mutation: a change in characteristics in a life form, caused by a change in a gene or a chromosome.
genetic engineering: the deliberate modification of the characteristics of an organism by manipulating its genetic material or make-up.
environment: the surroundings or conditions in which a person, animal, or plant lives or operates.
DNA: DNA, which stands for deoxyribonucleic acid, is defined as a nucleic acid that contains the genetic code.
steampunk: a genre of science fiction that typically features steam-powered machinery rather than advanced technology.
Post-apocalyptic fiction is set in a world or civilization after such a disaster that ruins the world.
dystopia: is a community or society that is undesirable or frightening. It is translated as "not-good place", an antonym of utopia, a term that was coined by sir Thomas More and figures as the title of his most well-known work, "Utopia."
utopia: an imagined place or state of things in which everything is perfect. The word was first used in the book Utopia (1516) by Sir Thomas More.
Elements & Principles...
texture: the way something feels or looks like it feels.
pattern: a repeated decorative design.
form: the visible shape or configuration of something.
Resources:
BOOKS
An Atlas of Animal Anatomy for Artists by W. Ellenberger, H. Baum and H. Dittrich https://drive.google.com/a/nvusd.org/file/d/0B9sD2lzClqOGNmo4RGZDdkxuNkk/view?pli=1
Animalium. Written by Jenny Broom and illustrated by Katie Scott. © 2014 by Templar Company Limited. Animals, Real and Imagined: The Fantasy of what Is and What Might Be. Written and illustrated by Terryl whitlatch. © 2010 by Design Studio Press.
An Atlas of ANIMAL ANATOMY For Artists. By W. Ellenberger, H. Baum and H. Dittrich. © 1949, 1956 by Dover Publications.
The Wildlife of STAR WARS: A Field Guide. by Terryl Whitlatch and Bob Carrau. © 2001 by Lucasfilm Ltd.
VIDEO
DNA https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zwibgNGe4aY
Interview with Terryl Whitlatch http://www.cgchannel.com/2010/01/interview-with-terryl-whitlatch
Terryl Whitarchtended interview https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hw4tonAYHhw
Jar Jar Binks http://www.criticalcommons.org/Members/cmarez/clips/phantom_menace.mp4/view
Tracker Jackers https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B8JJsNQoIDc
Human Genetic Engineering https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dKBfxoPnT7g
Body Invaders https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vMG-LWyNcAs
Animals with Super Powers https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EQiqS4eWCNQ
Creature Animation https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dgMpoi23LuA
Jumanji Trailer https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8WaAUE4MXs8
WEBPAGES
Biology, Ecology & Jabberjays
http://teach.com/education-technology/biology-ecology-jabberjays-teaching-science-with-science-fiction-2
Mocking Jays
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/boria-sax-/what-is-a-mockingjay_b_4664865.html
Terryl Whitlatch Illustrations
http://stephscreaturegallery.blogspot.com/p/inspiration.html
Endangered Animals List
https://www.worldwildlife.org/species/directory?direction=desc&sort=extinction_stat us