Research Topics

Please post a brief description of your research topic including the following: 

1) name of photograph and/or photographer (if available), 2) brief description of photograph i.e., subject/context, and 3)  what you will argue this photograph's political, historical, social and/or cultural impact has been.

An Oblique Glance

Lister and Wells assert that the context and venue in which a particular image is encountered by a viewer influences his/her interpretation of it.  This photograph was taken by Robert Doisneau in 1948 post WW II Paris.  It depicts a couple looking into the window of an art gallery.  What is your interpretation of this image?  What, if anything, do you find unusual about it?  Why?

Photographs

In their essay Beyond Belief:  Cultural Studies as an Approach to Analysing the Visual Lister and Wells explore how culture, social circumstances, history, and semiotics impact how  meaning, pleasure, and power are articulated through specific images.  Examine the image at right and comment on what you see.  What social, cultural, and/or historical significance does this photograph have?  

Fact or Fiction?

Angela Carter skillfully weaves fact and fiction in her account of the Fall River Axe murders.  After reviewing newspaper articles and/or transcripts of testimony of the trial from 1893, how well do you think she uses factual details to support her argument?

Who's Our Narrator?

Angela Carter never explicitly identifies the narrator of her short story, but she gives readers several "clues." Who do you think the narrator is, and what evidence can you identify that supports your claim?

Lizzie Borden - Villain or Victim?

In this unit we will be examining how evidence is connected to claims.  In her short story, The Fall River Axe Murders, Angela Carter weaves fact and fiction to construct an argument that Lizzie Borden killed her father and stepmother.  What is the most convincing evidence she provides to substantiate her claim?  Can you determine if it is fact or fiction?  And, does Carter succeed in convincing you that Lizzie is an axe murderer?

The Process of Hero-making

James Loewen quotes Charles V. Willie at the beginning of his essay, "Handicapped by History:  The Process of Hero-making."  How do you think history will remember Michael Phelps and his historic performance at the Beijing Olympic Games? How has "the process of hero-making" that Loewen describes affected what you think of Phelps? Do you think he and his legacy will fall victim to "heroification"? And finally, consider how this quote applies to Michael Phelps:  

By idolizing those whom we honor, we do a disservice both to them and to ourselves . . . We fail to recognize that we could go and do likewise.

Another Great Olympic Athlete

Now that you have formed and written an academic opinion about Michael Phelps, I would like you to briefly examine the life of another great Olympic athlete, Jesse Owens. Please go to www.JesseOwens.com where you will find biographical information about Owens. I would also encourage you to look further for information about him if you have questions that are not answered in this piece. In addition, please view the two YouTube videos about Owens posted on Blackboard and then post a comment on how you think his Olympic experience compares with Michael Phelps'. Both men have been called American Heroes. Do you think these men are equally deserving of the title? Why? Why not?

Blog Entries

Several of you have contacted me to let me know you have had trouble posting comments to the blog.  If you were unable to post your comments, please print a copy, and we will address posting problems in class.

Michael Phelps - The Greatest Olympic Swimmer Ever?

This week your editing group selected articles from around the world covering Michael Phelps' record-setting performance at the Beijing Olympics.  Please follow the link to the YouTube video below and then comment on how language and image are used to elicit reactions in readers/viewers.

YouTube Video Phelps