Moby Dick Paper Assignment #1

DUE Wednesday OCT. 20

Make sure to read the syllabus for general expectations/requirements

3 pages, MLA formatting, standard margins and fonts, double spaced

A Very Important Thing that your paper MUST include:

AFTER YOUR CONCLUSION PARAGRAPH YOU MUST PUT YOUR THESIS STATEMENT AT THE VERY END OF YOUR ESSAY, LABELED AND PRINTED AS A SEPARATE PARAGRAPH.

1. Your own topic that has been approved by me in advance of the due date. This approval occurs (or is denied) when you present a written thesis statement to me.

2. Explain how the painting in the Spouter Inn and the sermon delivered by Father Mapple can be considered both Romantic and Modernist in overall style/philosophy.

Age of Reason, Romanticism, Modernism

Age of Reason c. 1700-1800

-Part of the “Enlightenment”

-Emphasis on finely crafted detail and order

-An ideal of the perfection of the individual and of society and vice-versa

-Materialistic instead of spiritual

natural laws govern human behavior

-Either it “is” or it “isn’t”

-American and French Revolutions

Age of Reason con’t.

Reason frees people from ignorance and superstition; thus they become enlightened, and enlightened people can perfect themselves as well as their community at large.

Romanticism late c. 1700’s-1900

Artistic/Literary paradigm valuing:

feeling > reason

art > science

extremism > moderation

nature > man made world

“Christian” themes as allegory

Therefore, the language is often color centered, poetic, and emotional

Originally a reaction to the Enlightenment’s/Age of Reason’s emphasis on the rationalization of nature, in art and literature. It legitimized the individual imagination as a critical authority rather than State, Church, or Scientist.

Modernism: c. Early to mid 20th Cent.

Precise and concise

Topical references

Belief in science and technology

Breaking with traditions

Minimalist prose

Film Class Paper #3

3-5 pages, double spaced, typed, MLA formatting

DUE: Wednesday, June 2^nd 2010 AT THE START OF CLASS.

A Very Important Thing that your paper MUST include:

AFTER YOUR CONCLUSION PARAGRAPH YOU MUST PUT YOUR THESIS STATEMENT AT THE VERY END OF YOUR ESSAY, LABELED AND PRINTED AS A SEPARATE PARAGRAPH.

1. It has been said that the Coen Brothers always make the same film. Which film (that we have seen in class) do you think is the Coen Brothers' best one in terms of how well they present the CBAP (Coen Brothers' Artistic Paradigm)? You must present a coherent criteria to judge the films and still develop an excellent and detailed thesis statement that goes far beyond something lame like: “Fargo is the Coen Brothers' best film because it presents the CBAP most effectively.”

2. Because of its constant white, snowy backgrounds and scenes, Fargo has been called a White film noir. This obviously contradictory statement accurately sums up a film that doesn't have the dark look or expressionistic camera angles normally associated with film noir (think Down by Law). Yet, in spite of this, the white-ness of the film is oppressive and sinister as anything else we have viewed. Keeping the contradictory nature of Fargo in mind, explain the ways (and whys!) that the Coen Brothers invoke a stereotype and then undercut it.

3. Your own topic that has been approved by me in advance of the due date. This approval occurs (or is denied) when you present a written thesis statement to me.

Visions of America: Culminating Art Project

ART PROJECT: DUE MONDAY MAY 24TH, 2010

This project is EXTREMELY important and represents an entire 25% of your final grade. This absolutely must represent your best work. Late projects WILL NOT BE ACCEPETD FOR CREDIT! In addition, poor effort and poor writing (misspellings, typos, grammar mistakes, etc.) will be severely penalized.

Using the films and discussions and assignments that we have covered in class as inspiration you will create a pairing of TWO works of art that exemplifies and/or questions the artistic paradigms of both Jarmusch and the Coen Brothers.

ONE WORK OF ART MUST exemplify and/or question THE ARTISIC PARADIGM OF THE COEN BROTHERS AND ONE MUST exemplify and/or question THE ARTISIC PARADIGM OF JIM JARMUSCH. Works could potentially each exemplify/question both paradigms at once.

1. For each of the two works that make up your pairing you must have a minor essay in paragraph form, explaining the subject matter, imagery, and WHAT IT IS AND HOW YOU ARE EXPRESSING IT. (i.e. “This work exemplifies the Artistic paradigm of the Coen Brothers by.... and by...... and further shown with the color and angle of.......juxtaposed with the expression and of......and the package of Huggies.”) Also explain what inspired you to create it, and your own opinion/judgment of the particular work.

2. One meta essay in which you discuss at least ALL of the following in paragraph form.

What is the artistic paradigm of Jim Jarmusch and the Coen Brothers? Give examples from the films we have seen to prove your points. What about them do you wish to exemplify and/or question and why?

What do you feel are your strengths and weakness of your two pieces.

What is your own creative process? What were your inspirations, false starts, problems, successes and struggles? Describe it in detail as best you can.

How would you describe your own artistic style?

3. Your pairing of pieces MUST include the following:

One piece of visual art. (painting, collage, drawing, photo, sculpture, etc.)

One “other” piece: This piece can be anything from a poem, short story, short film, original musical performance, interpretive dance or piece of visual art of a different style/type than the other part of your pair.

Visions of America Course Syllabus

Second Semester 2009/2010

Block A3, Mon. and Wed. 12:15-1:45

FILMS:

Down By Law, Jarmusch

Mystery Train, Jarmusch

Night on Earth, Jarmusch

Dead Man, Jarmusch

Ghost Dog, Jarmusch

Blood Simple, Coen Bros.

Raising Arizona, Coen Bros.

Miller's Crossing, Coen Bros.

Fargo, Coen Bros.

The Big Lebowski, Coen Bros.

O Brother, Where Art Thou?, Coen Bros.

ATTENDANCE: You are expected to attend every single class and view every film shown, be on time and be prepared (having done any readings, homework, have the necessary materials). Obviously, “Life Happens” and some of you will end up missing a day or two. If you miss a day, it is up to YOU to talk to your classmates and get notes, assignments, etc. YOU MUST BE ABLE TO RENT/BUY AND WATCH (ON YOUR OWN TIME) ANY FILM YOU HAVE MISSED. There might be second showings outside of class time and after school if there is a very unique circumstance or verified illness You can also check Kurtattrillium.blogspot.com for major assignments and syllabus updates.

You may not eat your lunch in my room when it is class time. You will not be permitted into the room with lunch and will considered to be tardy if you make a choice to go eat it elsewhere.

Absences/Tardies

You are considered to be absent if you are more than Ten (10) minutes late.

Absence issues will be dealt with on a case by case basis and may involve different consequences for different students.

Consequences for tardies (from 1 sec - 9:59 min late) will be dealt with on a case by case basis.

Five skipped classes and you will be dropped from class with no grade given.

Skipped Class = You leave class for more than five minutes without instructor acknowledgement or permission OR you have been in the school for the previous period or are in the school during Daily 2 and do not attend this class.

GRADING POLICY:

LATE PAPERS AND/OR THE CULMINATING PROJECT WILL NOT BE ACCEPTED. LATE PAPERS/PROJECT WILL AUTOMATICALY RESULT IN ZERO CREDIT.

The grading is based on a point system with a possible 100 points being the maximum. Completion of the course awards .5 Language Arts credit.

Participation = discussion and attendance 20 points

Paper 1 10 (pre mid term)

Paper 2 10 (pre mid term)

Paper 3 10 (after midterm)

“Emergent” assignments/homework 25

Culminating Project 25 (after midterm)

PARTICIPATION: 20% of your grade

This is a record of your active level of discussion and general participation. However, you DO NOT earn these points merely by showing up and sitting in class. See attached Participation Rubric for the expectations.

PAPERS: 30% of your grade (10% each)

Three papers will be assigned. All are required. All papers must be typed, using standard margins and fonts and meet MLA formatting and style guidelines. Students will be able to select from a set of provided essay topics or present their own (based on instructor pre-approval). Always print up two copies: one for me and one for you to have just in case. Always make sure to save a copy of your paper to a disc, back up hard drive or even something like Google Docs. The instructor reserves the right to suggest or REQUIRE A RE-WRITE on any paper. If a re-write is assigned the student and instructor will agree upon a new due date with the same late penalties as before. Suggested or required re-writes will earn new (usually better!) grades if the work

improves. Details TBA.

EMERGENT ASSIGNMENTS/HOMEWORK/CLASSWORK: 25% of your grade

There will be many assignments relating to each film. Most of these will be “emergent” and will come directly from discussion and class interest. Each will be due the next time the class meets unless otherwise announced. The final number of these assignments therefore is not known, but all such assignments will count for a total of 25% of your final grade. Homework will be posted on the class blog within one week of being assigned. When classwork is assigned the expectation is that it be completed during class time.

CULMINATING PROJECT: 25% of your grade

One major combination writing and creative project will be assigned. The student must create a series of three artistic pieces of differing media (drawing, painting, poem, collage, video, performance art, interpretive dance, etc.) that exemplifies or questions thematic and philosophical paradigms as discussed in class and in relation to the films. All Culminating Projects must include essays that interpret and explains how each of the works of art fulfills the given criteria and one large “Meta” essay which explains the intent and execution of the entire series as whole. Details TBA.

Blood Simple questions

Answer on a different sheet of paper. Make sure your responses are thoughtful, complete, and reflect the high expectations of this course.

1. What scene, shot, or series of shots was the most interesting to you and why?

2. What was your overall impression of the film and why?

3. What sort of similarities in theme and style are there to Jim Jarmusch films?

4. Blood Simple is very “sound oriented.” The Coen Brothers purposely increase the volume of many sounds that we normally wouldn't notice or even care about. What effect does this have on the mood and overall feeling of the film and/or specific scenes?

Visions of America paper #2

3-5 pages, double spaced, typed, MLA formatting

DUE: Wednesday April 7th, 2010 AT THE START OF CLASS

A Very Important Thing that your paper MUST include:

AFTER YOUR CONCLUSION PARAGRAPH YOU MUST PUT YOUR THESIS STATEMENT AT THE VERY END OF YOUR ESSAY, LABELED AND PRINTED AS A SEPARATE PARAGRAPH.

1. Describe a moment of “silence” from each of the Jarmusch films we have seen. What is said/conveyed/understood in that moment of no spoken language? Which scene does it best according to you. Define your criteria and then explain why. (BTW: That answer is your thesis statement!) For 3pts extra credit: Describe each of the scenes you selected in four separate poems.

2. Just as Blake's life slowly drains away from his injury, he also experiences the gradual loss of meaning of his social identity. Even from the start of the film his life has already begun to deteriorate. Explain and analyze this journey of disintegration.

3. Your own topic that has been approved by me in advance of the due date. This approval occurs (or is denied) when you present a written thesis statement to me.