What is a Remix?
Have students access the student chapter What is a Remix? and complete the interactive video activity there. Make sure students pause to write what they think a remix is at the first prompt, and then revisit the definition at the end of the video.
Next, divide the class into small groups and have them complete the structure strip activity to identify the differences between the types of remixes that are listed. When the groups have finished, have them share their definitions with the class and develop a consensus definition for each type of remix.
Their definitions should look roughly like this:
Edit
Example: “Garfield Minus Garfield.” This video is taken from “Garfield” comic strips where the main character has been erased, leaving only his owner.
Definition: This type of remix is created by removing or rearranging elements of a single text.
Mashup
Example: “Buffy Versus Edward”. This video was made using footage of the TV series “Buffy the Vampire Slayer” and the films in the “Twilight” series.
Definition: This type of remix is created by mixing elements of two or more texts.
Annotation
Example: “Wes Anderson, The Substance of Style: The Fantastic Mister Fox.” This video uses text, narration and images to analyze the film “The Fantastic Mister Fox.”
Definition: This type of remix is created by adding commentary to selections from one or more texts.
Collage
Example: “McDonald’s Ads Versus the Real Thing.” This video uses McDonald’s ads and film shot by the video-makers to compare how McDonald’s food looks in ads and in real life.
Definition: This type of remix is created by adding original content to selections from one or more texts.
Reboot
Example: “Hercules.” This film retells the story of the ancient Greek hero Hercules with a modern sensibility.
Definition: This type of remix is created by re-telling an existing story, using the overall structure and characters but little or none of the original text.
Fan-Made
Example: “Nightwing: The Series” (trailer). This unauthorized fan movie tells the story of Batman’s sidekick Robin after he becomes Nightwing.
Definition: This type of remix involves creating entirely new stories based on characters and settings taken from existing texts, but using little or none of those texts directly.
Mosaic
Example: “Star Wars”. This film draws on elements and ideas from many different sources to create an original story.
Definition: This type of remix involves creating an entirely new story with new characters that draws on elements from existing texts but does not use any of them in their original form.
Based on the types and examples they’ve examined, return to the original question: What is a remix? You should be able to come to a definition that is basically the same as this one: a remix is an original work that draws on one or more existing works.