The Bluest Eye Unit Project

Here are the directions for your unit project for Toni Morrison's The Bluest Eye. Note the due dates, and keep in mind that we will have an in-class workday on Monday, March 1. The final project is due NO LATER THAN Wednesday, March 3 in class! This is a chance to show me what you've learned in a creative way, and I look forward to seeing what you all can do!

** You should have all of these sheets on pink paper for your reference. I'll be putting up helpful links and resources for you to consider (optional, but recommended) for the rest of the week (Monday, Feb. 22-Friday, Feb. 26).

The Bluest Eye Unit Project
In this assignment, drawing on one of the following themes from the novel, I want you to creatively express what you’ve learned and what you’ve seen as you read Toni Morrison’s first novel, The Bluest Eye.

Major Themes:
Beauty
Racial Identity
Love and the Lover
Class Structure in Society

Choose one of the following projects to complete and hand in no later than Wednesday, March 3. We will have an in-class workday on Monday, March 1. During this time you may work on your project, get feedback from Ms. Disher, and brainstorm parts of the novel with classmates (but you are each expected to do your own work. This is NOT a group assignment).

Your Choices:
1. Using the text as your guide, create a soundtrack that you feel fits with the messages and events in the novel. You may use any genre of music you like, but you must censor any inappropriate language in the liner notes that you turn in for a grade. For each song, you must list the title, artist, a selection of the lyrics (2-3 lines that you think connect to the theme you are discussing), and a brief 1-2 paragraph explanation of how the song fits within your larger theme (love, beauty, racial identity, or class) in the novel. Your finished soundtrack should include 10-12 songs.

2. Be the casting director! As you know, The Bluest Eye has never been made into a movie. If you were to cast that film, which actors would you cast in these roles? Why? Provide a dream casting list (any actor from any period, living or dead) with the actors’ names, a brief 4-5 sentence explanation of why you chose that actor and how he/she would portray that character, and a selection of your dialogue from a particular scene you’d like to direct. You do not need to copy the dialogue from the text exactly as is! Be creative.

3. Similar to option #2, I’d like you to take a scene from The Bluest Eye and rewrite it in a different form (a stage play, video game, poem, ballad, etc.) or genre (horror, romance, science fiction, dystopic fiction, etc.). The options are wide open! You must clear this type of project with Ms. Disher before starting to ensure that you have proper guidelines, but you should plan to refer to your major theme (love, beauty, racial identity, or class) in your creation, be able to explain your choices and changes to the text, and stay somewhat true to the text (for example, you may rewrite Cholly and Mrs. Breedlove’s fight scene in a Street Fighter-esque series of dialogue and screen cues, but you can’t have Pecola kill every character at the beginning of the novel with no explanation).

4. Take it from another angle! In a creative, 2-3 page typed, double-spaced short story, take one of the scenes from The Bluest Eye and write it from the perspective of another character. For instance, rewriting the scene in which Frieda and Claudia spy on Mr. Henry with the prostitutes from Mr. Henry’s point of view. Be sure to address your chosen theme (love, beauty, racial identity, or class) as you think your character would think of it.


The Bluest Eye Unit Project: Proposal Sheet
**Note: You should turn this in to Ms. Disher NO LATER THAN Thursday, February 25. We will have conferences on an as-needed basis on Friday, February 26 and Monday, March 1.

Which OPTION have you chosen for your project?


List the KEY PARTS or REQUIREMENTS to be fulfilled in your project (look on the project directions sheet and address each question or point that you have to cover):


Which THEME are you going to cover?


Which scenes, characters, or subjects are you going to cover or reference from the novel?


Considering your chosen form (soundtrack, film casting, etc.), why do you think this project will improve or help your understanding of The Bluest Eye?


How is this project a LEARNING STRETCH for you? How does it push you beyond your comfort zone, or make you experience something new?


The Bluest Eye Unit Project: Planning Sheet
**Note: This sheet is to help you plan your project and keep your dates straight. Don’t put it all off until the last minute!

Thursday, Feb. 25: Proposal sheet due to Ms. Disher in class!

Monday, March 1: In-class workday with laptops (COME PREPARED!)

Wednesday, March 3 Final project due to Ms. Disher in class!

Reflection Paper:
In a one page reflection (either hand-written or double-spaced typed) paper, discuss what you learned from your project and why you think it is important to your understanding of Toni Morrison’s The Bluest Eye. You should turn this paper in stapled to the back of your finished project.

Possible Questions to Address:
1. How did this project change your ideas or perspective on a particular character?
2. How did this project help you understand Morrison’s intent for writing the novel?
3. How did it explain or show you a new perspective for a particular scene or event in the novel?
4. How did you think about the novel (characters, events, writing style) at the beginning of the unit, and how do you see it now? Has your viewpoint changed in any way?
5. Did it affect your personal beliefs on your chosen theme (love and the lover, beauty, racial identity, or class structure)? How?

**If you have any questions or concerns about the project, the proposal, or the reflection paper, leave them in a comment here (with your name) or see Ms. Disher after class!