Over the next several weeks we’re going to be featuring each of the 2014 LegacyQuest video entries in a blog post exploring the video and its creators. We are so proud of the students and teachers who took part in this year’s inaugural festival and we want to share their work with the world.
The first video we’re featuring is the winner of this year’s contest. Entitled “Social Media: Dreaming Through the Ages,” this short film was created by middle school students, Arlie, Sammar and Jack from Morganton Day School under the supervision of teacher Britta Gramer. Their stated goal was to “study the different components of social media, and to research different forms of communication in different societies.”[1] They wanted to “show the world that social media is not that new.”[2] The students noted that they chose this topic because they were all so fascinated and even obsessed with modern-day social networking and they were shocked to learn that ancient people used a form of social media as well. Using a fun, time-traveling, dream world, Arlie, Sammar and Jack uncover the fact that “communication has been happening since the dawn of humanity and it is only the format that has changed over the years.”[3]
Before viewing the award-winning video below, here is a bit more information about the students, in their own words. The students chose nicknames to describe themselves. This is what they had to say about the LegacyQuest process:
I am Sweet Sammar. My friends would describe me as fun and kind. I enjoy things such as dance, art, and writing… The best part about filming was being with my teammates… While making this project, I have learned to do many things. One of them would be how to put a film together. It is a very good skill. I enjoyed working on this project because I learn more of the history from what I love, social media!
My name is Awesome Arlie. My friends would describe me as jumpy, and funny. I can be described as jumpy because I am easy to scare, people do it to me all of the time. I am funny because I always am telling jokes, and being sarcastic… The best part of this project was filming… One cool thing that I learned from this project is how long social media has actually been around. It is cool to me because I knew about cave paintings and things like that but I never actually connected it to social media, until now.
My name is Jovial Jack. My friends would describe me as friendly because I am a good friend to people and even stand up for them when needed. My favorite things to do our martial arts and music, and I have been doing them for a while… I think that the best part of this project was the filming. I enjoyed doing that because I also like acting and it was like finishing off all the hard work… There was a lot that went into filming though, like creating backdrops and finding pictures. One cool thing I learned during this project is how long people have been communicating.
So now that you know more about these creative and ingenious students, watch their video below and learn about the ancient origins of social media!
Click here to read our blog post interviewing Britta Gramer about her experience as a teacher taking part in LegacyQuest.
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[1] Student Letter of Intent
[2] Ibid.
[3] Student Film Summary
AntiquityNOW 