Teacher's Choice Image selection

The image I selected is a work by Paul Lasaine, a visual arts and creative director working in the film industry.  This particular piece was created for a Dreamworks project that never got off the ground.  As far as I know, this work in acrylic on canvas is untitled, but was developed for a film version of Moby Dick.

I chose this work of art, firstly, because it is in keeping with the "Dangers and Mysteries of the Sea" theme we are exploring in the BWC.  Secondly, there is a lot of narrative in this image.  I think the boys will have plenty of stories to tell and ideas to throw around.  Lastly, we have looked at several images relating to pirates, sea monsters, and mythical creatures.  This is the first image we will have discussed which features an actual creature of the sea.

Based on the discussions I have led and witnessed with this group of boys, I think this choice will interest them a great deal.  They seem to be engaged by any images which contain danger, conflict, and the possibility of annihilation.  That may sound a little morbid, but I think boys at this age are really intrigued by the concept of survival and man vs. nature.  They are really trying to understand harshness, aggression, and even violence.  They're drawn to images that are just a little frightening and they are engaged by stories of people struggling or fighting against nature or beast to survive.  Perhaps they are struggling with their own vulnerability and need for protection contrasted with their growing desire for independence and self-sufficiency.  This may be especially true for boys.  Perhaps they're reaching an age where what scares them a little also excites and allures them.  But perhaps I am pontificating to much.  Who doesn't find the prospect of a creature the size of a football field lurking just out of sight beneath the surface of the water simultaneously terrifying and thrilling?

As I mentioned above, this image is in alignment with the theme we've been exploring in the BWC for the last few weeks.  The boys are working on 3-dimensional, paper pop-up sculptures which can display their writing, stories, and poems about mysteries, legends, and dangers on the high sea.  This image may spark some new ideas, as we have not really talked about the dangers presented by the real animals who actually live there.

I think the boys will be challenged to piece together all the parts of this story.  They may or may not be familiar with the actual tale of Moby Dick (most likely not), but either way, there is a lot to flesh out in this image.  There is certainly a lot of action in the foreground and some catastrophic things are happening there, but there is also a ship in the background that almost appears to be sailing away.  I wonder if the boys will make observations about that or postulate about who the aggressor really is.  Are the men trying to hunt the whale, or is the whale attacking them for no reason?  I'm sure they will have lots of ideas.