In the final third of the semester, you will be given a list of themes with suggested readings from which you can choose to write an analysis of a case study in modern media. In this paper, you will need to produce a close reading of a media text, explain its historical and ideological context, and incorporate critical readings into your analysis. You will have the opportunity to develop and workshop this paper in your discussion section. Two weeks prior to the end of the semester you will hand in a first draft of this essay. After having received comments from your discussion leader and classmates, you will submit a revised, final version to your instructor. There are three key stages to the assignment: 1) an initial proposal (March 18&20); 2) a draft (April 6) which will receive comments; and 3) a final draft due at the end of the semester (May 6). There are three key components to the essay: 1) a thesis that offers an argument and an overarching structure to your essay; 2) an analysis and critique of one of the key concepts from our readings and discussions in lectures and discussion sections; and 3) a series (no more than three) of case studies that inquire into a media objects, technologies, practices, or semiotic systems. Ideally, these three components should work together and mutually reinforce one another. Other Basic Format Considerations: 2000 words – 12 pt font with 1” margins – Works cited with proper citation method MLA Possible Themes (this is only a rough list of rough ideas – feel free to choose and assemble your own adventure from the semester′s topics) Propaganda and Paranoia on Television or Radio Media and Domestic Space – the Computer as New Television Time and Labour – the Computer and Algorithmic Productivity Print Culture and Contemporary Practices of Reading on Cellphones Practices of Listening and the Rebirth of the Record Contemporary Surveillance and Productivity Apps Below ill attach some of the readings we have done in class you can pick out from these readings for whatever theme you do. You do not have to read all of them just the ones you are going to use.
