Task
Ten of you (2 per role) comprise a cruise design team for The Gatsby Cruise on the U.S.S. F. Scott Fitzgerald. As a team of 10 specialists, you will furnish the Fitzgerald using the 1920's art and architectural style, plan entertainment for the cruise involving the entertainers of the decade, choose and invite appropriate guests of importance who will give historical and literary insight to passengers' dinnertable and deckside conversation, determine suitable fashion for day and night aboard the cruiseliner, and provide sumptuous meals and fabulous table settings for the 3-day cruise.
Roles: 2 students per role
Interior designers: Find out how the people of the 1920s decorated their homes. What was Art Deco? How did the art get this name? Explain how an event in Paris influenced this art and the name. Make a project board that shows detailed pictures of what types of art and furniture you would use on the ship to imitate that of a 20's home, office, or restaurant. You might also include examples of buildings completed during this time that represent the art and attitudes of the times.
Master Chefs- What menus would you offer for the guests? Describe the courses of foods that you might have on the ship or in a fine restaurant of the times. Include foods for all three meals of the day. What would a typical lavish dinner for 50 such as one served at Gatsby's house cost? What table appointments would you use? Make a project board that displays menus, table settings, popular foods, and other information about the food and drink that Gatsby might serve. Also, you might tell how you obtained the liquor that was available on the ship and at home despite Prohibition. Check out the sites about the Speakeasies, bootleg liquor, and the influence of the mob.
Fashion Coordinators for Men and Women: Research the fashions of the men and women of this time. Give a detailed account of what a well-dressed Flapper would wear. What were the attitudes of parents about these unusual clothes? Design an interesting project board that shows clothing and accessories for both sexes. Include what the passengers might wear for a formal evening on board the ship.
Entertainment Agents: Plan the musical and theater entertainment for the ship. What songs would you play on the deckside loudspeakers? Whom would you invite to sing? What kinds of dances would you see in the ballroom? Find out about dance marathons. Include in this entertainment samples of slang that entered the language at this time.
Omnium-gatherum- (miscellaneous collection) Choose two of each of the following: Important writers, presidents, inventors, celebrities, and mobsters you might invite to add spice and interesting conversation to the cruise. Find out what they contributed to the decade of the 1920's. Locate pictures of artifacts, short news clippings, samples of writing, or photos of the people in their work. Explain why each one would be invited. Be sure to invite one of the Miss America's of the decade. Be sure to ask Henry Ford how his inventions influenced the economy.
