Writing Assignments

1) Monster Behind the Mask

For this assignment, you will pick a pop culture monster/villain/dooms-day-event and look at what is actually developing the fear represented.  There were several natural disaster movies in the late 90's: Dante's Peak, Volcano, Deep Impact, Armageddon...just to name a few.  Were those in the late 90's really afraid of asteroids and volcanos or was there something in the politics behind it?  Is our current (but fading?) obsession with zombies really about the undead?  What does the changing image of the vampire show us about our changing society?

In general, monsters are used as masks for other cultural fears that are too uncomfortable to deal with in the open.  Looking past the Hollywood monster and seeing what message is really driving the narrative is important because we are shaped by these narratives--both the ones on the surface and the ones at the core.

Using theory-supported observations, you will unmask a monster and decide if the motivation behind the monster is good, bad, malicious, accidental or something else entirely.

August 31, midnight: Proposal and outline
September 14, midnight: Blog 1 due
September 21, midnight: Final draft due


2) The Problematic Gaze

Looking shapes both the looker and the one being looked at.  Take paper one: the Monster.  One could say that what is monstrous is in the eye of the beholder.  Physical deformations can be monstrous and normal all at the same time.  To some, even common physical traits like skin color, height, age, hair, piercings, tattoos and nearly everything in between can be just slightly "different" according to the gazer and that might be all it takes to make something monstrous or "Other."

But what is it that causes large groups of people to agree on what is "normal" and what is "other?"

Using more theory-supported observations, you will find a way that media (TV, film, art, music, news, speeches...) subtly shifts the presentation of something to make us view it in a positive or negative way.  (Example: camera angles "looking down" on a specific type of character or word choice surrounding a person or type of people in news broadcasts).

October 10, midnight: Proposal and outline
October 20, midnight: Blog 2 due
October 23 and 24--meeting with professor--recommended to have a draft to look over
October 31, midnight: Final draft due


3) Power of Text

Throughout the semester, you will be reading short works of fiction and non-fiction written by some of the best writers.  While not a visual medium, they also deal with the idea of the gaze and often confront it more directly and more cleverly than many other mediums can.  As they don't need a multi-million dollar budget to create it, they have more freedom, but they struggle with getting an audience big enough to engage with their piece so that they can make an impact.

Pick one text we read (or one we didn't with approval) and analyze the rhetorical tricks and methods used and decide their purpose and effect.  How are they controlling the power of the gaze?

November 12, midnight: Proposal and outline
November 28, midnight: Blog 3 due
December 11, midnight: Final draft