Here is my Multimodal Argument Project!
The question presented to us was what represents our 21st century Gatsby? In making my project, I had to decide what the question meant and how I wanted to answer it. I decided that to answer the question, I had to find an overarching theme throughout The Great Gatsby and use that in my creative process. The first thing that came to my mind was probably the most representative symbol in the novel: the green light. This symbol of dreams and hope for the future inspired my project and the argument I wanted to propose.
Here my picture shows someone holding up a green light, way above the spectator. The spectator sits below and gazes up at the green light, which is the only object with color in the image. This picture is taken by the clock tower. In this photograph, I wanted to present the argument that my 21st century Gatsby is my hopes and dreams for the future and the means that I can achieve them. My picture supports this argument through the use of focus, setting, and other details in its composition
I chose to place the green light near the center, which places the focus upon it. Additionally, I took the color from the image and left only the green light, leaving it as the most important subject in the picture. The green light itself calls upon The Great Gatsby, inspiring the longing for some dream that my argument makes for the 21st century Gatsby. All of this serves as an emphasis that makes it clear that the green light and everything it stands for is the real centerpiece of my picture, and thus my argument.
This picture was taken by the clock tower in the canyon garden. The green light is being held at the surface level but the camera is down in the garden. The angle and distance from the light create a sense of the light being out of reach. Like Gatsby’s light, this light is tied to the dream itself. For Gatsby, the light comes from Daisy’s house. For many, their dream careers for example, could be tied to higher education. Indeed, the setting and angle of the picture stress the distance from the light and from the dream it represents.
This project was interesting to complete. It was a good break from the writing, yet challenging in the way it required thought about how a writer’s tools could be translated to other media. It encouraged me to begin editing my pictures, since I felt it could help the project be more visually interesting. Overall, I’m glad to have the chance to intersect my hobbies with a school project.