Today we are going to start writing a manifesto!!!! A manifesto is a public decalaration of principles and intentions. Manifestos allow you to state your opinion, often in a radical way. They invite others to rethink their convictions. And they argue for a change in the status quo, a change that is the result of your words.
Read some of the following (in)famous manifestos. Jot down some notes about what the manifestos have in common. We will map these responses as a group.
DADA Manifesto: http://www.freemedialibrary.com/index.php/Dada_Manifesto_%281918%2C_Tristan_Tzara%29
The Surrealist Manifesto: http://www.tcf.ua.edu/Classes/Jbutler/T340/F98/SurrealistManifesto.htm
Communist Manifesto: http://www.anu.edu.au/polsci/marx/classics/manifesto.html
Manifesto of Negativity: http://www.altx.com/manifestos/negativity.html
The Hacker Manifesto: http://www.computerhope.com/jargon/m/manifest.htm
A blog dedicated to posting and responding to new manifestos:
http://changethis.com/
And slightly oldschool but a granddaddy Manifesto site from atl.usenet.com, now archived here: http://www.42inc.com/~estephen/manifesto.html
HOMEWORK FOR NEXT WEEK: WRITE YOUR OWN MANIFESTO. Publish it on your blog. Read your colleagues' manifestos. Respond to them.
What (some) manifestos have in common:
ReplyDelete1) point to make;
2) offer solution to problem;
3) propose CHANGE to status quo and/or call to action;
4) convert the reader;
5) makes the reader THINK -- active interpretation/analysis required;
6) nonsensical as PURPOSE;
7) WTF?;
8) language can be radical, extreme, graphic, & aggresive;
9) manifestos have to have 10 points;
10) THE END (manifestos can be funny)