I am always trying to find new and interesting ways to introduce poetry to my online class. It is a challenge to reach students and for those who will at least try the process, others dismiss any work as fluff and a waste of their time. (Actually on an evaluation along with “you suck”).
Perhaps this is too dated, but I thought reading and then giving them the YouTube version of the songs would help at least create an interesting discussion board then inspire them to then create their mix tape on an event in their life. I was thinking about having them translate the poem into prose. I haven’t yet done this assignment, so I have no idea how it will work.
INVITATION: If anyone wants to post their own Mix tape narrative, please do. Any suggestions are welcomed. Thanks
Love and Other Catastrophes: A Mix Tape
by Amanda Holzer (2002)
All By Myself, Lou Reed. I Wanna Dance with Somebody, Whitney Houston. Let’s Dance, David Bowie. Let’s Kiss, Beat Happening. Let’s Talk About Sex, Salt ‘n’ Pepa. Like a Virgin, Madonna. We’ve Only Just Begun, The Carpenters. I Wanna Be Your Boyfriend, The Ramones. I’ll Tumble 4 Ya, Culture Club. Head Over Heels, The Go-Go’s. Nothing Compares to You, Sinead O’Connor. My Girl, The Temptations. Could This Be Love? Bob Marley. Love and Marriage, Frank Sinatra. White Wedding, Billy Idol. Stuck in the Middle with You, Steelers Wheel. Tempted, The Squeeze. There Goes my Baby, The Drifters. What’s Going on? Marvin Gaye. Where Did you Sleep Last Night? Leadbelly. Whose Bed Have Your Boots Been Under? Shania Twain. Jealous Guy, John Lennon. Your Cheatin’ Heart, Tammy Wynette. Shot Through the Heart, Bon Jovi. Don’t Go Breaking My Heart, Elton John and Kiki Dee. My Achy Breaky Heart, Billy Ray Cyrus. Heartbreak Hotel, Elvis Presley. Stop! In the Name of Love, The Supremes. Try a Little Tenderness, Otis Redding. Try (Just a Little Bit Harder), Janis Joplin. All Apologies, Nirvana. Hanging on the Telephone, Blondie. I Just Called to Say I Love You, Stevie Wonder. Love Will Keep Us Together, Al Green. It Ain’t Over ‘til It’s Over, Lenny Kravitz. What’s Love Got to do with It? Tina Turner. You Don’t Bring Me Flowers Anymore, Barbra Streisand and Neil Diamond. I Wish You Wouldn’t Say That, Talking Heads. You’re So Vain, Carly Simon. Love Is a Battlefield, Pat Benatar. Heaven Knows I’m Miserable Now, The Smiths. (Can’t Get No) Satisfaction, Rolling Stones. Must Have Been Love (But It’s Over Now), Roxette. Breaking Up is Hard to Do, Neil Sedaka. I Will Survive, Gloria Gaynor. Hit the Road, Jack, Mary McCaslin and Jim Ringer. These Boots Were Made for Walking, Nancy Sinatra. All Out of Love, Air Supply. All by Myself, Eric Carmen.
blogged 