Critical Lens Analysis--due Tuesday, Nov. 16

Select any exhibit and analyze it with 150+ words. Use the "Critical Lenses 101" handout. Use at least three terms/words from the "Critical Lenses 101" flexbook that you haven't used before. Look in the EXACT way the "Critical Lenses 101" handout tells you to as a critic. Ask the EXACT questions the "Critical Lenses 101" handout tells you to ask. Have the "Critical Lenses 101" handout with you as you study your exhibit and as you write this blog task. If you do not refer to the "Critical Lenses 101" handout enough or effectively, your grade will be cut in half because you are not following directions and are not thinking in the directed way.

Also, add 150+ words response to Professor Patrick Hicks's presentation today. Did you learn? Do you look forward to college more now? Will you use critical lenses in classes taught by Hicks and others? (If you do this blog task far in advance, type your predictions for the visit by Prof. Hicks. What will professors be like? Heard a lot? Ready for them?)

“EXHIBIT” = novel, play, song, job, sculpture, film, poem, concert, painting, myth, sketch, poster, artwork, photograph, t-shirt, television show, biography, board game, military situation, college visit, speech, advertisement, event, place/building (school, office), game, brochure, practice, rehearsal, ritual, haircut/style, website, routine, suit coat, celebrity

This is a picture from Half Nelson, a phenomenal film starring Ryan Gosling (of The Notebook) about a great teacher who is also addicted to harmful, horrible narcotics.

Practice Blog Task 9/14 Tuesday

To practice blogging, respond to this question. Leave your last name in the window with your response. You will have blog tasks due throughout this year, most due on a Tuesday before midnight.

Of course little kids do not analyze The Lion King like we scholars do, but subconsciously and subliminally, do they become racist, sexist, bigoted while viewing this popular film? (First time hearing/seeing a Hispanic man they associate that voice with a hyena, the only Hispanic voice they've ever heard. Hyena=bad. Then, Hispanic=bad. Right?)

Similarly, doesn't advertising have subliminal effects? You cannot help it sometimes--you just have to buy those Abercrombie & Fitch clothes, even though they are absurdly overpriced. Right? Subliminal messages have deep, lasting impacts on the mind, right? They make you feel bad that you don't look like their models, then sell you the solution to your depression/negative self-esteem: their disgustingly-overpriced clothes!

Type 150+ words and think hard. Consciously, you only noticed the poised, petite, comfortable, confident, cute girl in the sweater that costs $183. Subconsciously, though, you also noticed the reason she is so happy: her sweater got her a hot guy whose eyebrows, hair, jaw, and style (also Abercrombie gear) are also flawless!

• At what are those three pictured together gazing?
• Who leans together to stare at something like they are?

More like "Aberzombie & Witch"...

Critical Lens Analysis--due Tuesday, May 18

The task is the same, but the lens used may be different and the exhibit/subject/topic must be different. These three are training you to remain a critical thinker for life, one who challenges the norm, questions "reality," and contemplates on deeper levels than most civilians.

With this class, you're constantly working on How To Think. Colleges will want thinkers who do precisely what these blog tasks demand (I know because I consistently ask my professor friends at various area private and public colleges and universities). Complain if you'd like, but all these exercises are done for you, to help you improve your intellectual capabilities for college.

Select any exhibit and analyze it with 400+ words. Use the "Critical Lenses 101" handout. Look in the EXACT way the "Critical Lenses 101" handout tells you to as a critic. Ask the EXACT questions the "Critical Lenses 101" handout tells you to ask. Have the "Critical Lenses 101" handout with you as you study your exhibit and as you write this blog task. If you do not refer to the "Critical Lenses 101" handout enough or effectively, your grade will be cut in half because you are not following directions and are not thinking in the directed way.

“EXHIBIT” = novel, play, song, sculpture, film, poem, concert, painting, myth, sketch, poster, artwork, photograph, t-shirt, television show, biography, speech, advertisement, event, place/building (school, office), game, practice, rehearsal, ritual, haircut/style, website, routine, brochure, suit coat...

Three sample exhibits: "Halo," a popular video game; "American Gothic," a famous painting by Grant Wood; and "The Singing Butler," a famous painting by Jack Vettriano

Critical Lens Analysis--due Tuesday, May 11

Select any exhibit and analyze it with 400+ words. Use the yellow "Critical Lenses 101" handout. Look in the EXACT way the "Critical Lenses 101" handout tells you to as a critic. Ask the EXACT questions the "Critical Lenses 101" handout tells you to ask. Have the "Critical Lenses 101" handout with you as you study your exhibit and as you write this blog task. If you do not refer to the "Critical Lenses 101" handout enough or effectively, your grade will be cut in half because you are not following directions and are not thinking in the directed way.

“EXHIBIT” = novel, play, song, sculpture, film, poem, concert, painting, myth, sketch, poster, artwork, photograph, t-shirt, television show, biography, speech, advertisement, event, place/building (school, office), game, practice, rehearsal, ritual, haircut/style, website, routine, brochure, suit coat...

Two sample exhibits: a Syracuse basketball game and a men's suit

Critical Lens Analysis--due Tuesday, April 27

Select any exhibit and analyze it with 400+ words. Use the yellow "Critical Lenses 101" handout.

“EXHIBIT” = novel, play, song, sculpture, film, poem, concert, painting, myth, sketch, poster, artwork, photograph, t-shirt, television show, biography, speech, advertisement, event, place/building (school, office), game, brochure, practice, rehearsal, ritual, haircut/style, website, routine, suit coat...

Two sample exhibits: Sarah Palin & "Married With Children" a popular sitcom

Partner in Thoughtcrime Project: Apply the Lenses to an Adult Short Story or a Children's Book--due Thursday, April 8

Type 400+ words here, analyzing your selected short story or book with the Critical Lenses. You may use any combination of the Marxist, Feminist, & Freudian Lenses.

Include both of your names and the title and author of your short story or children's book.

Analyze as deeply and critically as possible. Use at least five terms from the "Critical Lenses 101" yellow handout to earn more points. Indicate which exact lenses you are using. Indicate how the yellow handout helps you think more critically.

Analyze as deeply as I did with The Paper Bag Princess, I Know a Rhino, and Princess Smartypants. Go way beyond/below the obvious. A surface interpretation will not be accepted. Summarize very little--only when necessary to communicate your interpretations.

Perhaps you will analyze Edgar Allan Poe's master narrative, "The Cask of Amontillado" (picture above).

Literary Theory

Literary Theory: Crash Course

From: jdarnell, 2 months ago

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Browse these common theories. When considered singularly and collectively, they're useful approaches to great works of literature for interpreting and finding meaning.


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Epstein Analysis (80+ words due Saturday, March 8, by 10:00 a.m.)

(1) Find and read E.L. Epstein's essay on Lord of the Flies in the back of your Lord of the Flies book. It is on pages 203-208. (2) Using 25-35 quoted words of Epstein's, respond to his assertions with 80+ words of your own. Epstein is respected throughout America as a preeminent literary scholar. What do you think about Epstein's ideas?

Please email me or come see me if you have problems.

Literary Criticism

React to one or more of the following excerpts from professional literary critics: Wendy L. Sunderman, Bern Oldsey and Stanley Weintraub, Leon Levitt, Mary Ruthe Carter, Bernard F. Dick, Richard H. Lederer, Jerome Martin. Their words can be found by clicking on the comments link below. (The picture on the left is the cover of one of the best children's books ever. Relates interestingly to Lord of the Flies.)

Lord of the Flies Task 2

Golding knew Freud's theories very well and incorporated them into his novel. Ralph represents the superego. Jack represents the id. The ego, then, is within the reader's mind. Find and copy text here from the novel that makes these connections between the characters and psychoanalysis. What part(s) show(s) that Ralph is acting like the superego of the collective mindset of the boys? What part(s) show(s) that Jack is acting like the id of the collective mindset of the boys? (One comment here from each of you is due February 14.)

Lord of the Flies Task 1

Golding is considered by many to be a master of prose. He won a Nobel Prize for this book and, because he sold so many copies, lived a more than comfortable life. Show and respond to an example of a masterfully-written section of setting, narrative, or dialogue. An example that helps you feel, visualize, clarify, question, predict, or otherwise be involved with the book. See the first comment--the one I posted--as an example of what to do. And do include page number, as I have done. (One comment here from each of you is due February 14.)

Lord of the Flies Prediction

Based on what you have heard, seen, and know of classic British literature, what predictions for William Golding's Lord of the Flies can you create? What might the pictures show on this blog--and the pictures that come up when you Google (verb form of "Google") Lord of the Flies?

Art in Literary Analysis

What role can art play in the analysis of literature? This is a painting that reveals a lot about the boys of Lord of the Flies. A critical reader and viewer can make a lot of meaning from combining art and text.