Project:Break-a-Thon

Toolkit

Break the Super Bowl● The LAMP has been hosting Break the Super Bowl

event the last 5 years.● During the event students:

○ View the Super Bowl commercials.○ Learn how to deconstruct commercial

messages. ○ Play games, like bingo and trivia.○ Compete for prizes.○ Create critical breaks, transforming the

commercials and talking back to the messages.● Completed breaks are published to YouTube.● Hundreds of students and adults have participated.● But how do we get students and other organizations in

NYC and nationally to participate? How do we create a critical mass?

Break-a-Thon Toolkit● The LAMP is creating a digital toolkit that can be shared with

organizations, community centers, and educators, in order for Break-a-Thons to happen all over the country.

● The toolkit will include event plans, lesson plans, program materials, educational resources, and technology guidelines.

● The LAMP will also be expanding our Break-a-Thons to other events (VMAs, Academy Awards) and populations.

● How do we craft a digital toolkit that’s complete, but digestible, and also captures the fun and excitement of our past events?

Break the VMAs● Two events held in August

○ Flushing YMCA○ Vanderbilt YMCA

● Over 40 students participated● Students learned how music

videos are constructed and what messages they communicate.

● Games and Prizes○ Critical Bingo○ Trivia

● Students created critical music video breaks.

● Completed breaks were published on YouTube.

● The LAMP tweeted videos, images and quotes during MTV VMA event, August 30.

Next Steps & Challenges● Distributing rough draft and

receiving feedback.● Identifying next event and partner

sites.● Production Design and Layout ● Identifying potential audiences for

the toolkit● Understanding needs of potential

audiences● Getting people excited about

critical remix and challenging these large, cultural media events