Mosaic I Humanities Seminar

Mosaic I Humanities Seminar 851 – Spring 2015

Section 703 – Lee

Mosaic 1 Final Project

Throughout the semester in Mosaic I, we have been interrogating texts as cultural artifacts, examining how they convey meaning or offer insight into the human condition in a particular place/time (especially about how and why we should submit to/resist the rules), as well as the resonances and echoes these insights have for us today. Now we will turn our attention to a popular film or other digital media, and connect it with a Mosaic I text, to explore how the two works, together, offer us a formula for living in contemporary society.

Part 1:

Please select ONE work from column A, plus ONE work from column B, and combine them together to demonstrate how they help us address one issue from column C. In other words, construct a calculus for the human condition whereby A+B=C. Note: See the yellow highlighted material below for an example of how to put it all together.

A: The Films	B: The Texts	C (note: you should make your topic more specific—see below)
Interstellar	The Epic of Gilgamesh	How to grow up How to be a good leader
Snowpiercer	Antigone	How to treat others How to do the right thing How to make a difference
Marvel’s The Avengers or Captain America: The Winter Soldier	The Trials of Socrates	How to challenge authority How to do live authentically
The Hunger Games or The Hunger Games: Catching Fire	Inferno	How to have faith How to resist the rules How to keep a promise
The Americans or Doctor Who	The Left Hand of Darkness	How to know one’s self How to know other people How to be a man/woman
X (You may propose a TV, cable or film production of your own, but it must be pre-approved by me by May 1).	The Bloody Chamber (select one or more closely related stories)	How to love How to desire

Part 2: Presentation Format

Once you have your formula, you have the option of writing your essay in a traditional format, or writing it as a Buzzfeed-style article (ideally, complete with appropriate images). In either case, the essay must be three to four typed, double-spaced pages in length (or 900-1,200 words).

The essay must have a catchy, compelling title that draws the reader in to your topic, substantial evidence that supports your claim (in the form of direct quotation from both the text and the film/show), and a clearly identifiable, focused thesis statement that answers a version of the question, “How do A+B= C”? (Example: What can The Hunger Games: Catching Fire and Ursula Le Guin’s The Left Hand of Darkness teach us about why to put others before ourselves?). Be sure to have three main points that support your overall answer, and remember that in this essay your aim in to synthesize two disparate works to demonstrate how they directly engage in answering a question related to our course unit ideas.

Remember that in a short essay, the more narrow you make your focus, and the more closely you analyze your evidence, the more compelling your essay will be! If you decide to focus on a cable or T.V. series, pick one episode, one character, or one central concept that runs through the series rather than generalizations. Take careful notes while you watch your film/program, paying attention to camera angle, costume, setting, and other symbolic communicators of meaning, as well as to dialog. Review your material several times. If you use any outside sources (critical reviews, web pages, etc) you must cite your sources, parenthetically, within the text, as you would a traditional essay.

Due: Sunday, May 3, submitted to Blackboard by midnight (11:59 p.m.)

Length: 3-4 pages, double-spaced (900-1200 words)