LENS+6+JLS

For //The Orange Houses// I decided to do another transmedial LENS. Initially, I had intended to mimic Fatima's paper angels in Day-Glow orange. As you can see by the picture of my origami aftermath below, that project failed pretty miserably as I am not a natural at paper folding. So, on the right is a picture of my final product that came together much nicer with good old fashioned scissors and tape!



I chose to make a paper angel because it was something that stood out the most to me from the book. My own angel is orange not just because of the book title but because Jimmi first called what Fatima folded from newspaper "seraphim". I know the word "seraphim" to literally mean "the burning ones" so, my seraph is orange to mimic that fire. The ultimate thing that Jimmi wanted Fatima and Mik to realize was the power of friendship. Friendship in this book is a fire that keeps it's characters going and gives them hope--if there's someone at your back there's nothing to be afraid of and your furnace can keep burning because there is fuel (love and hope). The angel that Fatima gave to Mik was the first symbol of that and the beginning of their meaningful relationship. They supported each other and fostered eachother's talents (Fatima's paper folding and kindness, Mik's artistry and resilience). From the moment Jimmi introduced Mik to Fatima because of her angels, I realized how important the concept of angels was to this story. Jimmi recalled the little girl that was made a suicide bomber and he questions her purpose--as she became an angel far before her time. He wanted Fatima and Mik to create beautiful things while they still could. On a side note, while I made this angel, I considered why I connected so heavily with the concept when I wouldn't consider myself a particularly religious person--since religion is unavoidable when we read some texts--especially in Jimmi's comments about being too angry at God to ask for anything. I think the angels in this book touched me most because they were a creation of a kind character that was giving hope, tangible hope and love to her friends (even through these little paper seraphs). I was heart broken by the end of the book when Fatima had to leave, Mik had to begin adjusting to the hearing world, and Jimmi's mind had been completely beaten out of him. It didn't help either that the beautiful painting of the Statue of Liberty with 6 wings that Fatima and Mik made had been vandalized. In addition to my paper crafting adventure, I thought about how this book might fare as a film. I think it would be excellent and heart wrenching if done well. Filmmakers could combine complete silence when Mik turns off her aids with beautiful music in other scenes to enhance the effect of the event.