Description
For this essay, you must perform a detailed analysis and interpretation of a video poem, lyric video, video-based written narrative, or work of kinetic electronic literature. Your thesis statement should formulate an interpretation of the work, and should be supported by a discussion of key strategies used by the writers to express their ideas. Your analysis engage the meanings of specific motion, time-based presentation, and other visual information about the texts and should be supported with screenshots, and direct links or timestamps for the moments you’re discussing in the video work.
You may work on any of the video works in the ELC1 (see animation/kinetic and time-based) ELC2 (kinetic and video), ELC3 (GIF and video), a work by Young Hae Chang Heavy Industries, a work from the Kinetic Typography channel in Vimeo, any other kinetic typography lyric or dubstep video in Vimeo or YouTube, or one of the TXT Stories. Just make sure we haven’t discussed the work in class and you haven’t written about it before.
A 1-2 sentence proposal of the work you wish to analyze, including a link to the work, is due by Friday, November 13.
Guidelines
The final paper should be about 500-750 words long in MLA format (about 2-3 pages long, typed, double-spaced, with 1” margins, and a 12-point font). Any use of sources must be documented in impeccable MLA format—parenthetical citation (author’s last name & page number) and a works cited page for the primary works and any research you cite.
The essay is due on Tuesday, November 24.
Evaluation
Your essay will be evaluated in the following areas, with areas 1-3 carrying most of the weight of the grade:
- Assignment (fulfilling requirements, quality of thesis, and depth of analysis),
- Organization (clarity of thesis, thorough paragraphing, overall organization),
- Development (relevance of claims, adequacy of support, and textual evidence),
- Sentence Structure, Word Choice, and Grammar (weaknesses will be identified in these areas, but they will not affect grade significantly unless they get in the way of understanding the essay).
An essay that satisfies all the requirements of the assignment with a clear sense of organization and adequate development earns a “C” in this class. An essay that achieves the goals at an above average level of proficiency, with only minor problems in one or two areas earns a “B.” The “A” is reserved for nearly flawless, elegant essays that excel in all the criteria described above. Essays that do not fulfill the minimum requirements for the assignment earn a “D.” Essays that are not turned in or are plagiarized earn an “F” in this class, and may result in a failing grade in the course.