PROJECT DESCRIPTION
INSTRUCTORS
SCHOOL SITE
LEVEL
SUBJECTS
In this project, we will use the lucha libre metaphor to find ways of tackling social problems (the rudos of the project) that are prevalent both in Latin America and in our own community. Just as lucha libre can empower its audience, the goal is to empower students through this project as they find ways in which they can work to combat issues that they identify as problematic.
Lucha libre, which literally means free struggle/combat, is one of the most popular forms of entertainment in Mexico, providing its audience with such icons as El Santo Enmascarado and Mil Máscaras. Lucha libre combines sport with melodrama, ultimately appearing as a metaphor for the perennial struggle of good vs. evil. The técnicos (“the good guys” of lucha), with their gravity-defying kicks and skilled acrobatics, maneuver the ring in their attempt to overcome the power of the rudos (“the bad guys”), who constantly taunt them and present equally-impressive moves and technique. In the eyes of the popular masses, who serve as lucha libre’s main audience, this can easily translate into the struggle they face at the hands of more powerful (and oftentimes oppressive) forces. Lucha libre allows them to project that struggle onto the ring and similarly relish in the técnicos’ victory. In this project, we will use the lucha libre metaphor to find ways of tackling social problems (the rudos of the project) that are prevalent both in Latin America and in our own community. Just as lucha libre can empower its audience, the goal is to empower students through this project as they find ways in which they can work to combat issues that they identify as problematic.
I loved the fact that by the end of the project, almost all students identified with the luchador after having infused him/her with their own qualities. It was also great to see students invest themselves into finding viable solutions to the social issues/problems they had chosen to combat. The lucha libre ring itself looked amazing, but I would definitely want to find a way of making the students’ luchadores come to life on the ring itself. It worked as an art display, but I feel that the idea of combating social issues was lost because there was no action present in the exhibition itself.
With regards to the project logistics, I would have made the lucha libre poster (cartel) an additional challenge component rather than a required piece. I saw several students rush through their story and the creation of their art piece because they needed to complete the cartel. A lot of students that were not as familiar with the software being used faced issues that I had not anticipated and that, thus, I did not account for when forming the project outline. If I were to keep the cartel as a requirement, I would definitely anticipate spending at least another week on the project in order to insure that all students have the opportunity to produce beautiful work.
1. Storytelling in Spanish using PRESENT, PRETERITE and IMPERFECT tenses
2. Current social issues in Spanish-speaking countries and our immediate community
3. Lucha Libre as an example of current popular culture in Latin America (Mexico in particular)
For written piece:
For Lucha Cartel (poster)
For art piece:
For Lucha Libre ring:
Timeline
SEMANA 1 What is a social problem? What social problem would you like to see disappear? Introduction to project What is lucha libre? Reading: Bilingual story about El Santo (iconic luchador) Grammar: Introduction to conjugation in the preterite tense |
SEMANA 2 Sketch of luchador alter-ego Luchador basic profile Vocabulary: Comida, dieta y ejercicio Grammar: Stem-changing verbs in the preterite tense |
SEMANA 3 Color sketch of luchador alter-ego Review of two sources that highlight chosen social problem Draft 1 of fictionalized account Grammar: Irregular verbs in the preterite tense |
SEMANA 4 Draft 2 of fictionalized account Sketch of poster Vocabulary: Childhood Grammar: Imperfect tense |
SEMANA 5 Draft 3 of fictionalized account Color sketch of poster Grammar: Future tense |
SEMANA 6 Art piece creation begins Creation of poster begins (Using Adobe Photoshop and/or Illustrator) Final draft of fictionalized account |
SEMANA 7 Ring constructed in classroom Art piece completed and mounted along ring Poster completed and ready to be projected (3 from each class will be chosen to be printed) Optional component: Representation of social problems in center of ring Clean-up after exhibition night |
Examples of Student Work