The House on Mango Street (Spring 2009)
Sandra Cisneros is one of the most brilliant of today's young writers. Her work is sensitive, alert, ‘nuanceful’... rich with music and picture. --Gwendolyn Brooks
A deeply moving novel ... delightful and poignant. ... Like the best of poetry, it opens the windows of the heart without a wasted word. -- Miami Herald review
The House On Mango Street by Sandra Cisneros (Arte Publico Press, 1984; Knopf, 1994)
The House on Mango Street Overview
Out of one of the 72 neighborhoods in Chicago comes the story of Esperanza Cordero, her family of six, and the imaginative expanse of her neighborhood. A series of vignettes provides insight into her experiences as a young Latina in a "poor" section of Chicago. However, the fundamental themes of Identity, Community, and the American Dream transcend the boundaries of class and race, becoming the stories of anyone who has lived in this city.
The House On Mango Street project provides students with a new means of forming unique connections to literature and its themes through the use of media arts and digital technology. The development of theme-based artifacts calls for teens to discuss, imagine, and experiment with different ways of bringing text to life though their own distinct perspectives and creative talents.
During this 10-week project, students engage in universal concepts by linking their personal narratives to the cast of characters presented in the book. In addition to creating digital artifacts, teens participate in weekly book discussions to analyze how modern media has shaped their perception of these themes. The end result produces a collection of work representing the fusion of literature, personal narrative, and digital media.
The House on Mango Street Projects
- Photography: Photo diaries of Chicago neighborhoods
- Digital Video: "Challenging the Theme" Public Service Announcements
- Fan Fiction: Vignette Flipbook inspired by The House on Mango Street
- Art & Design: Mixed media composition inspired by The House on Mango Street
- Digital Music & Spoken Word: Thematic poetry with original score accompaniment
- Digital Queendom: Video vignettes inspired by The House on Mango Street