Posters of Hope: Write a Monologue with a Message
An Activity Brought to You in Partnership with Mural Arts Philadelphia
|
The teaching artists of Mural Arts Philadelphia each designed a poster to communicate a message to the community that they felt was important during this time of quarantine. Consider using one of these posters as inspiration for a monologue that you can submit to our Digital Monologue Festival!
|
There is a printable version of this activity that you can download.
| ||
|
You will need…
|
STEP ONE: Choose a Poster
Browse through the gallery of posters by visiting the Homeschool with Mural Arts webpage (scroll down the page to find the poster gallery). Consider the colors of each poster, the style, the different images, and of course the poster’s message. Is there a poster that taps into something that’s been on your mind? Or, is there a poster that inspires an idea for a character? If so, that’s the poster for you! In a few simple steps, we’ll help you transform that poster into a monologue with a message.
You can follow the steps below to write your monologue, or you download them as a printable handout.
Browse through the gallery of posters by visiting the Homeschool with Mural Arts webpage (scroll down the page to find the poster gallery). Consider the colors of each poster, the style, the different images, and of course the poster’s message. Is there a poster that taps into something that’s been on your mind? Or, is there a poster that inspires an idea for a character? If so, that’s the poster for you! In a few simple steps, we’ll help you transform that poster into a monologue with a message.
You can follow the steps below to write your monologue, or you download them as a printable handout.
STEP TWO: Why This Poster?
Before you connect this poster to a story, think about why it’s connecting to you. In one sentence, describe why this poster interests you.
STEP THREE: Connect the Poster to a Character
When something is important to us, it fuels our sense of urgency. The same is true for characters! To find your character’s urgency, imagine a change that your character is trying to make within themselves or in their community. Or, you can imagine a challenge that your character has to face. How might your character’s change or challenge connect to the poster?
STEP FOUR: Connect the Character to a Change or Challenge
When something is important to us, it fuels our sense of urgency. The same is true for characters! To find your character’s urgency, imagine a change that your character is trying to make within themselves or in their community. Or, you can imagine a challenge that your character has to face. How might your character’s change or challenge connect to the poster?
STEP FIVE: Give that Change or Challenge Voice - Write a Monologue!
Before you connect this poster to a story, think about why it’s connecting to you. In one sentence, describe why this poster interests you.
STEP THREE: Connect the Poster to a Character
When something is important to us, it fuels our sense of urgency. The same is true for characters! To find your character’s urgency, imagine a change that your character is trying to make within themselves or in their community. Or, you can imagine a challenge that your character has to face. How might your character’s change or challenge connect to the poster?
STEP FOUR: Connect the Character to a Change or Challenge
When something is important to us, it fuels our sense of urgency. The same is true for characters! To find your character’s urgency, imagine a change that your character is trying to make within themselves or in their community. Or, you can imagine a challenge that your character has to face. How might your character’s change or challenge connect to the poster?
STEP FIVE: Give that Change or Challenge Voice - Write a Monologue!
|
In theatre, a monologue is a moment on stage when only one person is speaking. (You can watch a monologue called Neighborhood Blue written by 12th grader Autumn Angelettie here.)
To start your monologue, imagine a specific moment in your character’s life when they are striving for that change or facing their challenge. Who could they talk to as they advocate for themselves or their community? What would they say? |
|
|
If you’re not sure how to start off your monologue, try one of these sentence starters:
|
Need some more writing support?
Check our our Self-Guided Monologue Writing Resident Teaching Artist Steve Gravelle will walk you through the writing process through a series of videos and exercises. |
