The idea behind this blog was to create a year book styled memory for those who had spent their last year at Orewa College in 2008.The roles of still images, texts and quotes have worked very well with this blog in creating a sense of nostalgia for the viewers, where they are able to reminisce their time at school, as well as remind them of how carefree and joyous life was at a young age.
Nostalgia can be defined as a sentimental longing or wistful affection for the past, this blog represents this as the different media formats play different roles in achieving nostalgic feeling. The still images represent what we are longing for; the events of 2008 and how we remember them to be. The quotes from students represent the feelings we had about our last year of school and the importance for remembering the events, they are written in a bold font to enhance this feeling, to express how much everybody who attended Orewa College for this last year appreciated and enjoyed the experience. The blog demonstrates the idea that nostalgic memories are shaped by emotion and feeling, where the photos show the happy emotions from the past, and seeing these images three years later, pleasure is felt when remembering back to the past. The quotes approach a different feeling as they show how the past is missed and there is a sense of longing to go back to these days.
This memory highlights the importance of nostalgia and how feelings can be experienced culturally as well as personally. This particular blog can be understood from a cultural perspective because viewers who did not personally experience the event could relate to similar events such as their own school years. The photos would create a nostalgic feeling for anybody viewing as they are able to see it as if they were there, the text below each event supports this feeling because it explains the events in more detail which enables people who did not experience the events to know what happened. The media formats allow those who were involved in the events to remember personally and also as a cultural memory, where those not involved could relate to similar experiences of their own.
Paul Grainge (2003) discusses how nostalgia is a mood that is associated with the lost past, where it is a recycling of our own personal experience through stylistic ways. This year book styled blog represents this as the layout of pictures gives a nostalgic feel, as the Polaroid type frames around the photos symbolise that it is a past event. The quotes go well with the picture as they symbolise they symbolise the feeling for personal experiences of these events from students involved. The pictures and texts combined remind viewers of individual events that occurred throughout their last year of school, the blog is a nostalgic representation of an important past event that reminds those that were there of the memories.
The idea behind this blog was to create another perspective of a past event; I wanted it to be designed like a year book so that past students can look at the images and remember the events. Year 13 is a very important year for most 18 year olds and I wanted to include memories about the last year of school that perhaps the year book did not cover or events that I saw as important in making College an enjoyable experience.
Reference
Grainge, Paul.“Colouring the Past: Pleasantville and the Textuality of Media Memory.” Memory and Popular Film. (2003) 201-219. Print.
Lip sync was a fundraising event which saw most men dressed as females or boy band members and the girls in fluorescent lycra.
“Best year of school for me, I had a lot of responsibilities at school and I will never forget it”
- Dylan Yelavich
The 2008 production was based on the story of Annie who is chosen from the orphanage to spend a week with Mr Warbucks in his mansion. The two become very fond of each other and he wants to adopt her, but in order to do this, they must overcome the nasty plan of Miss Hannigan and her brother to win the reward for finding Annie’s real parents. Ultimately, their plan is foiled and Annie is adopted by Mr Warbucks.
“I don’t want to leave at all, I hope everybody stays friends”
- Cameo England (Miss Hannigan)
The 2008 Junk to Funk competition saw so many out standing entries that the judges required extra time to make their decisions. Many competitors must have spent weeks getting their entries ready, and the audience thoroughly enjoyed the fashion show.
“Lots of drama, we joked that we were the Laguna Beach of Auckland. But so much fun, with the best people and lots of booze”
- Amy Lee
Another successful dress up day, where we had to dress as our favourite super hero. Another day full of adventures at Orewa College.
“The best year of college so far, the only year where I felt all of my teachers treated me as equal. Much more sociable atmosphere, almost as though any social barriers had been lifted and there were no exclusive groups anymore.”
- Adam Parsonage
For Stage Challenge 2008, Orewa College presented “Unconditional;” a look at how families who struggle to deal with day-to-day pressures can put those aside when it really matters.
Highlights of “Unconditional” were the maniac supermarket scene complete with shopping trolleys and dancing groceries, the party with a boy racer car and super sized speakers, the tight choreography of the office scene and the antics of the bowls club players.
“A fun, carefree year. We all felt so grown up, being the oldest in the school”
- Melina Fiolitakis
40hour famine camp was for a select group of year 13s that got to learn how to be famine leaders and how they can encourage others to support the 40 hour famine.
“I love Manaaki Orewa; it is the best thing that has ever happened to me”
- Annabelle Thompson
As year 13s were lucky enough to not have a uniform, on mufti days they chose to dress in costume to raise money for causes. On this occasion they dressed as cowboys and indians, the day was very hectic with reenactments of traditional cowboy and indian fights occuring in the playground.
“It was a good year”
-Cory Fotheringhame
For many of us at Orewa College the cross country was not about winning or even running the track, it was about dressing up and supporting your house groups.
“Best year of my life, I wish I could stay”
- Lavinia Niuhulu
The rain clouds parted, the sun shone (for most of the day) and Orewa Colleges annual international festival kicked off to the sounds and sights of international dances. Throughout the day the aromas of exotic food and the colours of 19 nations filled the school as students from all year levels visited the festival and sampled some of the culinary treats.
“This year has been a laugh, alot easier because the teachers were better to us”
- Benjamin Capstick
As an Orewa College tradition the year 13s walk to school from the Whangaparaoa plaza, they dress up as they please and attempt to make it to school on time.
“I’m excited to leave, but had such a fun year”
- Emily Hopkins
