Learning from the Past to Make the Future

Next week, February 4, you have your first essay due. It should be between five and seven double-spaced pages and use citation mechanics correctly (I recommend MLA, but you can choose Chicago or APA if you're more familiar with either of them). Each student will be making a brief presentation in class (bring an image or two to digitally project if it helps your argument).

The work must be from before the 21st-century. Therefore, the cut-off date is 2000. The artist, writer, or group might still be alive, but the work that you're concentrating on must pre-date 2000. Describe what it is. How does it use language in non-traditional ways, ways that fall in line with the spirit of this class? Why is it interesting, compelling, significant? What does the work have to say about the working of language itself and its connections to culture, society, politics, art, etc. Please understand that the questions above are not to be addressed as a laundry list; they are meant to be suggestive of the kinds of questions you might want to explore. You are free to discuss the work of more than one writer/artist, but the bulk of your writing should concentrate on one. This is not strictly a research paper; I especially want to hear your ideas critically articulated.

You are not required to choose your artist/group from the ubuweb "Historical" section, but if you want to "go off menu" you must clear it with me first. Also remember to look for more work/information about your chosen artist/writer on sites other than ubuweb. Also, also, remember to consult the scholarly online databases through the Gelman portal. Google really doesn't have everything, you know?

Your hard-copy essay is due at the start of class on February 4. Please give it a meaningful title and proofread it carefully before turning it in. Questions: kcs@gwu.edu