Emoji

Emoji was created in collaboration with students from Anstee Bridge, as part of a project that reimagines traditional fairy tales through a contemporary lens. Drawing inspiration from Hans Christian Andersen and stories like The Princess and the Pea, this modern retelling unfolds on prom night, where two former best friends face off beneath the surface of their perfectly filtered lives.

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The title, Emoji, speaks to the way we communicate now - through symbols, curated images, and digital expressions. Like emojis themselves, which can mask true feelings behind a smile or a heart, the characters in this story are navigating a world where what we show isn’t always what we feel. Online, appearances can be deceiving, and emotions often get lost in translation.

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The story explores the tension between image and reality, and how technology can amplify pressure, bullying, and misunderstandings. At its core, Emoji delves into the messy, beautiful complexity of teenage life - friendship, identity, relationships, and teenage pregnancy - asking what it truly means to be seen, heard, and understood.

 

Director's Notes for Emoji

 

Emoji is a story that invites exploration of the tension between appearance and reality in the digital age. It offers a unique opportunity for schools to engage students with themes of self-image, social media, and complex teenage experiences.

 

Below are a few suggestions for how this story can be adapted or developed for your students, encouraging creativity and conversation about the issues it raises.

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1. Modernizing Traditional Tales
   Like Emoji reimagines The Princess and the Pea, encourage your students to explore and adapt other traditional fairy tales to reflect today’s world. How might characters or storylines evolve when viewed through the lens of modern teenage issues? This exercise can help students connect with timeless stories while discovering their own voices and experiences.

2. Exploring Digital Communication
   Central to Emoji is the idea of how we communicate online versus in person. Consider a scene or sequence where characters express their true emotions, or hide them, through social media platforms. Encourage students to experiment with how digital interactions (like texting, messaging, and social media posts) shape or distort the characters’ relationships, self-perceptions, and actions.

3. Workshops on Emotional Expression
   Emoji is rooted in the idea that what we see online is not always the full story. Use this story as a springboard for a series of workshops on emotional expression in the digital age. Have students explore how emojis, memes, and online messages can express or mask feelings. Discuss how they might use these tools to authentically communicate their emotions in both online and offline interactions, fostering empathy and better communication.

 

 

These notes aim to inspire both creative and critical thinking in students, allowing them to personalize and deepen their engagement with Emoji. The beauty of this story lies in its adaptability, offering countless avenues for exploration while staying grounded in universal themes.