Final Writing Assignment -- Fall 2005

Description

There are a number of themes in our course this semester, two of which I would like to emphasize in the final assignment: fetishism and truth.

Several of you have extended our analysis of fetishism in visual culture with me through email and personal conversations outside of class. Given that so many have expressed a strong interest in the topic, it seems an obvious option for the final paper.

While fetishism deals with paradoxes of belief and knowledge, claims about truth and the information contained in images involve appeals to the evidence found in pictures and the propositions that can be inferred from them.

The writing assignments will allow you to pursue one of these themes. The options are:

1. Write a critical essay on fetishism in the work of Cindy Sherman.

2. Write a critical essay on the relation between truth and knowledge in visual images.

Note: Both of these options leave room for you to formulate your own approach to the topic. The danger here is that you could easily drift into a relatively unfocused discussion if you do not define your thesis and how you intend to argue for it at the start of your paper. Be sure to read carefully the document linked to "guidelines" below and follow closely the suggestions contained in it. Your work will be assessed according to the criteria listed in that document.

Note also that your task is to produce a critical analysis, not a research paper. There is no need to do a lot of additional outside reading; in fact, it may very well be a distraction or opportunity for avoiding the hard work of articulating your theme and arguing for your poistion. You have sufficient material on our syllabus for writing an excellent paper. I'm more interested in your analysis and reasoning than I am in the work of others. But be sure that the claims you make are backed up with evidence and logically compelling reasons for accepting those claims.

The final paper should be 8-10 pages in length.

All papers are due in my office (Rm. 907, 66 W. 12th St.) by 5:00 PM, Tuesday, 3 January 2006.

Be sure to review these guidelines before beginning work on your essay.

You are responsible for all of the material in this handout and will be evaluated according to the criteria discussed in it. It is essential that you read it carefully.

You should also review the policy on academic honesty and let me know if you have questions about it.

All papers must be typed on a computer and run through a spell-checker.

You will be evaluated on the form and content of your papers, so pay close attention to both appearance and grammar. All papers must be double-spaced with one-inch margins, a bibliography listing all the works cited, and appropriate endnotes or footnotes. If you need additional instructions or guidelines, see me.