I talk to Tiktik Maria Labo...

Writing Workshop

Workshop Title: Talk To

Step 1

Tell your students, “Watch the following performance of “I talk to Tiktik Maria Labo after joining TikTok’s ‘POV: you stopped dressing for the male gaze’ trend” by Zoe Dorado. When the poem is done, simply discuss the piece. What stood out? Why?” Then briefly discuss.

Step 2

Say, “Tell your students to simply take inspiration from the poem (in whatever way they find appropriate, e.g. themes about femininity, comparisons to mythology, implementation of current trends, etc.) and jot down how they want to go about composing their own poem.” Give your students time to brainstorm.

Step 3

Ask your students to compose a poem inspired by “I talk to Tiktik Maria Labo after joining TikTok’s ‘POV: you stopped dressing for the male gaze’ trend” by Zoe Dorado. Again, tell your students to feel free to go any direction they’d like, based on the themes and/or composition of the piece.

Step 4

When the students are done, have them share their responses with one another.

The full presentation may be found HERE.

Analytical Lesson

Area of Focus: Various

Step 1

This lesson allows students to analyze various concepts and skills, so it is recommended that you have covered several of the “standalone” lessons before assigning this one.

Step 2

Start by watching the following two videos (they’re spliced back to back).

Step 3

When you’re done watching the videos, ask them about the intersections or overlaps between the two. How can “Maria Labo” connect to the “Male Gaze” Tik Tok trend? Briefly discuss.

Step 4

Now watch Zoe Dorado’s performance of “I talk to Tiktik Maria Labo after joining TikTok’s “POV: you stopped dressing for the male gaze” trend.”

Step 5

When you’re done, ask your students about the relationships between the speaker, Maria Labo, and the TikTok trend. How does the speaker weave all elements together?

Step 6

Have your students open the following document and go over the instructions with them. In this assignment, your students are going to use a triple Venn diagram to explore the similarities between each of the three elements of the poem: the speaker, Maria Labo, and the TikTok trend. When you’ve gone over the directions, give your students time to work.

Step 7

When your students are done, pull up a few examples to share with the rest of the class. Ask your students to share their findings.