Michigan's Culture: "Dreamgirls" Movie
1. a normal ~6-page paper (use established format/parameters) (Honors projects must be 10 p.)
2. a presentation based in digital story-telling techniques that must have ~1250 words of original text/script/narration. This could also be a webpage, Tumblr, powerpoint, short film, etc.
As we've been discussing, the goal is to discuss a Michigan-based:
*book (not your book report book) *author *event
*band/musician *movie/TV show/digital media presence
OR
*celebrity or individual, or other cultural institution/event *political issue
*any other Michigan based cultural phenomenon/event whose significance you establish as part of the assignment
If it's not on this list, your subject must reflect, refract, or comment upon life in Michigan in the current cultural moment (since 1985). You will be required to use a diversity of primary and secondary sources; an MLA-style bibliography is required. To contain and control the process of selecting appropriate topics, please send your TA and Prof Watts (watts) a BRIEF description of your topic by April 7 even if we've already discussed it informally. If you are doing something not on the list, please send your proposal to Dr. Watts as well. And be ready to talk about it in section every week. Same checkout policy as Book Reports.
PROMPT: While background research will be required, your thesis and introduction should address a few things:
a. what is the contribution of this subject to Michigan's culture? Is it significant enough for the reader to care about it?
b. what do you mean by “Michigan's culture”? Or the culture of a population, region or city in the state? Does it suggest the state has one diverse culture or many overlapping ones?
c. how was your source produced (officially or unofficially) by Michigan and its cultural environment?
d. for whom was it produced? was it successful? A national or local audience?
e. moving forward, will your subject have a historical presence? How will it contribute to the understanding of the state and its culture for future Michiganders?
A few warnings:
1. You are not working for the State Chamber of Commerce, Convention or Tourism Boards or any of that. Do not write promotional material. Establish a critical distance the same way we have with the books we have been reading.
2. Likewise, don't try to solve the problem. Identify its sources and discuss what it reveals. Understand your role as observer and analyst. Don't be preachy.
3. Be specific. If you want to work on Motown, focus on a specific individual or group. For example, narrow it to Barry Gordy, Smokey Robinson, Diana Ross, the Temptations, or the Supremes, etc.
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