The Evolution of The Western

The Creative Assignment can be anything that demonstrates personalized learning and critical thinking about two or more major works from the syllabus. These must be two DIFFERENT works than from your essay. If you prefer to write another essay, then a different question from the list of essay questions can be used to analyze two different major works. All the same rules apply (MLA, word count etc.)Expectations : Clarity and coherence of the supporting document. Is it well written? Does it illuminate the purpose and design of the creative work? Effort put into the creative work. did the student sincerely put time and effort in the construction of the work. Evidence of skill. Has the student executed the work well? Originality. Has the student created something that demonstrates a new take on themes or ideas raised in the course. Personal investment. Has the student risked something, thought deeply, engaged with the work or is it a throw away? Depth of critical engagement. Is the work closely related to aspects of the course. Does the work demonstrate critical engagement? Some ideas to consider are the following: A painting of characters interacting with the artist. A children’s book in which the text is re-written to echo a narrative from class. A creative lesson plan for teaching the materials: what are the goals, expected outcomes of the lesson plan? How will these be tested? A performance of one’s own spoken word narrative. A comic book about the student encountering the poem, entering the poem. An original song using a poem as the lyrics. A game / board game / that teaches about subjectivity. A rant that incorporates all the complaints of all the poets plus the speaker’s equivalent complaints. A set of clothes painted with values. An extended lesson on unlearning racism/gender bias/stereotypes. Films We Used in Class Stagecoach, 1939. Django Unchained, 2012. The Lone Ranger, 2013. Rosewood, 1997. The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly, 1966. Firefly, “The Train Job” Books We Read in Class The Lone Ranger. Zane Grey. (excerpt provided) Natalee Caple. In Calamity’s Wake. Scott Henderson and David Alexander Robertson. 7 Generations. Michael Ondaatje. The Collected Works of Billy the Kid. E. Annie Proulx. Brokeback Mountain. YOU CANNOT USE The Lone Ranger in comparison with Stagecoach Critical Creative Assignment (you can write an additional essay of the same length using different texts and a different question in place of this assignment if you prefer): An original creative work that engages themes and ideas from at least TWO works in the course. Essay Questions: Use at least one secondary source (ideally an academic article) to support a close reading and comparative analysis of two works. • Describe and discuss the use of the figure of the sidekick and or the use of semi-magical animals in 2 works. Explain the way that the figures relate to the archetypes of sidekick or semi-magical animal. In the case of the semi- magical animal, what role does the paranormal play in the works? In the case of the sidekick, what does this character add to the narrative? How do they contribute to the ultimate messages received by an audience? • Describe and discuss the representation of gender, class or race in 2 works. Explain the purpose of this treatment, how it illustrates an ideology, and, in the case of revisions, how it tells a new story / changes the Western. • Describe and discuss how 2 works treat historical material. What is the role of verisimilitude in the works? What techniques (heteroglossia / polyphony / mirroring / foils) are used to what effect? How is the end result / moral of the story rendered via the use of historical material. • Describe and discuss the treatment of violence in 2 works. What are the aesthetics of the treatment (the values materialized in the depiction)? How do these same works treat depictions of the law. What are the implications of treating violence one way vs another? • Describe and discuss the theme of boundaries / the border / liminal space in 2 works. What significance is there to the crossing of borders to the narrative and or main character? What kind of journey is represented in the narrative?