Final Project

GW 2850

Fall 2016

Final Paper

 

‘Something in the Air’

Final Project Requirements

 

 

This semester we have thought through literature in terms of movements (The Enlightenment, Romanticism, Realism, Modernism) and while this is most definitely a way to ground ourselves chronologically and historically to the texts, there are really endless different ways to think about the way literature relates to us as a society and to us as individuals.  If we think of literature as atmospheric rather than limited to a particular movement or period, it becomes more of a phenomenon that at any point can tell us a different story but also says something profound about what the “atmosphere” of any given time period could have been like.

 

Trying to think about literature in this more fluid way could open up all sorts of spaces. For your final project, I would like you to see these spaces in our contemporary atmosphere. What sort of age of literature are we in now? What kind of genres do we see? What themes? What do you feel seems to be emerging from our time? What will people remember and how will they attempt to classify what we are doing? (What is in the air)

 

There are two components to the final work you will do for this class. The first is a more creative written component and the second will be a multi model component that you will present on the last day of class. (December 12th).  All of the instructions and percentage breakdown for each part are outlined below.

 

Part I: Creative Essay Component- 20%

 

For this part of your final project you have two options but the paper specs look the same:

 

  • 2,000 words/ 6-7 pages
  • Typed, double spaced, times new roman, word document
  • MLA if necessary

 

  1. Write your own short fictional story. As you’re writing, try to see yourself as someone who is trying to see which way the wind is blowing so to speak in our current world. Think about the message you are trying to send to your reader. This can be about anything! Have fun with it!

 

  1. Find a contemporary piece of literature or a contemporary film (approved by me) and discuss its relationship to our world. How is it relevant? What makes it literature? Cite from the text and add your own interpretation at every point.

 

Part II: Presentation Component- 15 %

 

In the second part of your project your will make your written work come alive! In other words, you will take the main idea or message of your work and translate it into a visual or audio piece. This one piece should not only encompass what you’re trying to do in your written work but also offer a way for the class to see in a very short period of time, what you’re work was all about. This is an opportunity for you to make art out of your work.

 

You can create:

 

– An audio essay- recording parts of your essay aloud and editing them into a compilation.

–  A short video

– An actual painting or still work of art

– A collage (digital or analog)

-A memorized skit

You will need to run any other ideas by me. Your presentation for the class must be at least three minutes long and your work must be able to stand-alone and tell us what it is about. You will be graded on how well you can translate your written work and your efforts. You will not be graded on artistic talent.

 

IMPORTANT DATES:

 

November 30th or December 1st: You will present a proposal to me in your individual meetings.

December 7th: Part One due in class

December 9th: Please send me a version of your presentation

December 12th   (Last day of class): Final presentation J