Current Project: Political Posters and Pan's Labyrinth

I just returned from another successful stint as a teaching assistant for the Princeton site of Johns Hopkins' Center for Talented Youth. Juniors and seniors in high school spend three weeks delving into a subject-- in the case of my students this summer, it was Politics and Film. I organized an activity that I was really excited about, but we ran out of time to do it-- so what better way to bounce back than to share it with you? 

The Faun. Via fandom.com.

This activity is designed to supplement a viewing of Pan's Labyrinth (minor spoilers for the film within). The film blends fairy-tale fantasy with the brutal realities of Francoist Spain in the 1940s, as a young girl attempts to escape living with a brutal stepfather who is a fascist captain through undertaking tasks set for her by a mysterious faun. The film features a plethora of disturbing and/or beautiful fantasy images, including creatures like the Faun, the Pale Man, and a Giant Frog. 

The Pale Man. Via fandom.com.

Giant Toad. Via fandom.com. 

For this activity, I wanted to encourage students to make connections between the creatures found here and anti-fascist artwork of the period the film depicts. Additionally, I wanted to give them the opportunity to practice visual analysis, both in terms of semiotic meaning and historical significance. 

First, before the film, I gave them a bit of historical context on the Spanish Civil War-- what the sides were, what they were called, basic events and timeline that might be useful to them in both seeing the film and doing the activity later. We had also done some discussion of semiotics and image analysis. 

Steps: 

1. While students are out of the room, print and hang up the following posters: 

Five posters featuring political caricatures. Captions and original images at Brandeis. 

2. When students reenter the room, encourage them to move about the room examining the posters. 
3. Ask students to work together in small groups or pairs, using their devices, their lecture notes, and their knowledge of history and semiotic analysis to interpret the images. What does the artist mean to convey? What sorts of attributes do these posters criticize or encourage? Do you think the artist promotes Republican or Nationalist ideals? 
4. After giving groups time to discuss and iron out their answers, come together as a large group and discuss their findings. 
5. Compare these images with your memories/still images of the film Pan's Labyrinth. Does the film use similar imagery? Promote similar ideals? 
6. Share information about the artist, found at Abraham Lincoln Brigade Archives (.doc download).  

If time had allowed, I would have liked to pair this with a disability studies reading about readings of the body, though I have not determined what that piece might be-- any suggestions are welcomed!