BOOK ABOUT A BOOK PROJECT
In this project you will, in groups of three or four, create a book that is about and/or inspired by the “great” work your group has chosen too work on.
The form and length and tone and layout of the book are up to your group, however the choices you make should be intentional and in line with the concept and content of your book.
Each group must make a book that meets the following requirements:
1) is about one of the great works from our great works: the group book should ultimately tackle the question why is this text great?
2) provide some glimpse into the history of how the book in content, layout and material form came into existence. What are the various labor or work that went into this great work.
3) an overview of the work’s reception and preservation over time
4) clear and cogent close reading analysis of salient parts of the book
5) some analysis of how a part or parts of this work are in conversation with the authors other writing and with literary/art by other authors/artists.
6) a creative response to some specific part of the book (eg. a graphic adaptation of part of the text; a fan fiction alternative ending or back story to some particular part of the story; a poem based on some small but evocative phrasing in the book).
7) an introduction in which the group provides an overview of some of the ways works have come to be considered great and a claim about what constitutes a great work for your group; how you see your text engaging with that theory of great works; and how your content, layout, medium, and form work to underscore these ideas.
8) a mla formatted bibliography with accurate citation all information for all the sources you consulted including the specific edition(s) of the text you examine.
9) the book must be be circulatable among at least ten people at the same time.
10) is influenced by, reflects on, or responds to something one or more of your group members learned from the book art field trips.
As part of and preparation for the book each group will present on their work at various points of the semester.
The presentation should meet the following requirements:
1) Give an overview of the plot and key characters
2) Provide a history of the books author, creation, publication, reception, and preservation
3) Think about how this book and your research relates to and or affects the way we read the shorter texts on the syllabi
4) Include and audio/visual component
5) Incorporate everyone in the group
BOOK ABOUT A BOOK GROUPS
Scarlet Letter: CJ, Ruwani, Alisha, Ishaana
Notes from Underground: Mark, Jia, Media, Shannon
Quicksand and Passing: Sanam, Gudman, Andrea, Domonique
Little Prince: Katherine, Tom, Jasmine, Jamaul
Beloved: Abby, Danay, Jelandi, Mamady
American Born Chinese: Caleb, Hnin, Samantha, Sarana