Prof. Lucas Kwong

Gothic Spaces Presentation description

For this project, each group will decide on a video game, piece of architecture, or film whose spatial structure(s) could be considered Gothic, exhibiting some of the Gothic elements we have discussed in class. Then you will create a Google Slides presentation of that place that describes the Gothic elements, analyzes the space in terms of one of the theoretical concepts discussed in class, and connects the space to one of the literary texts we have read. These presentation will be posted on OpenLab along with images and videos.

While you can/should summarize plot (if applicable), you should prioritize attending to the space in which that plot unfolds. Think about atmosphere, environment, physical/temporal location and its meaning, aesthetic choices. 

Selected Terms and Concepts:

Theoretical Concepts: Uncanny, Sublime, Abjection, The Fantastic, Terror

Atmosphere: Gloomy, haunted, confined, underground, dark, wild, decaying grandeur

Architecture: Medieval, castle, vaulted arches, intricate recesses, labyrinths, flying buttresses

Each group will complete the following tasks:

• Decide on a video game, architectural space, or film that you think has enough of the atmospheric and/or architectural elements to be considered Gothic. Explore the virtual space, physical location, or cinematic setting.  Take detailed observation notes (each group member should take at least one page of hand-written notes).
• Create a  Google Slide presentation (linked on Openlab) that includes the following:
  • Name and location of the space (is it in a game? Building? Film?)
  • Images and/or video
  • Description of its Gothic atmospheric and architectural characteristics
  • Two well-developed paragraphs that analyze the space in relation to one of the theoretical concepts and that make a connection between the space and at least one of the literary texts we have read. You must clearly describe the theoretical concept and provide quotes from at least 2 of the literary texts to support your analysis.
• Present your profile to the class in a 5-minute oral presentation (using note cards). Give us a tour of your profile: explain the various elements of the space, summarize your analysis, read us some quotes, etc. 

Handout: How To Observe A Gothic Space

Video guide for the Gothic Spaces presentation

Prof. Lucas Kwong

In this video for ENG 3407 (Gothic Literature and Visual Culture), I recap class discussion of the H.P. Lovecraft story “At The Mountains of Madness” and guide students through how to construct a sample analysis paragraph. The video includes discussion of how to integrate paraphrase + direct quoting with analysis and connection to the main thesis. The video also concludes with a visual framework for moving from close reading, to identifying genre conventions, to commenting on broader cultural and social themes.

This video can be adapted for specific discussion of “At The Mountains of Madness,” or used as the basis for an in-class discussion of how to structure literary analysis in a single paragraph.

Prof. Suzanne Miller

Pitch Paper

English 2002 * Spring, 2019

Due: Wednesday, May 15^th—printed copy due in class*. Late paper will not be accepted.

Think about the four plays we have completed thus far: The Rising of the Moon, Othello, Water by the Spoonful, and Disgraced, and choose the one that you think would be most appropriate, compelling, and possibly even life-affecting for your fellow City Tech students. Then do the following:

Write a “pitch” (we will review this term) in the form of a 4-5 page letter to the artistic director (we will review this term as well) of Voorhees Theater.

The pitch will include the following:

In the introductory paragraph…

• Ground the reader by providing a brief overview of the play’s plot.
• Give a clear thesis that follows the equation THESIS = topic + comment on the topic.
• The topic is simply that you think Voorhees should produce your chosen play. The comment on the topic is WHY you think fellow City Tech students would benefit from watching this play.

In the main body of the letter…

• Discuss two or three scenes in the play that illustrate your thesis well. Use specific examples from the play along with direct quotes that tie back to your reason for choosing this play for a City Tech audience.
• Include a review from at least one production (not a book review) that backs up your argument of would make this a riveting show to see at City Tech.

In the concluding paragraph…

• Convince the reader that you are passionate about this project, and provide a sense of the production you have planned. Explain that you are sending either images or audio clips via email (which you will do by sending them to me), and in this paragraph explain what you are sending and why you have chosen these images or clips. Choose oneof the suggestions from the list below. (You may also suggest another idea to me, and if it meets the criteria, I will approve it).
• Find three images for the set. Find at least three images that you might give to a set designer. These images might be practical (for example, pictures of actual furniture or a drawing of a room that might you think best represents the set), or your images may be conceptual (colors, textures, etc. that you think represent the “feeling” of the place where the play takes place.

OR

• Find three images for the costumes. Follow the directions above.

OR

• Find three clips to give to a sound designer: this might be clips of songs that are played between scenes or sound effects that may occur during the scenes.

OR

• Cast the main characters of the play by submitting “headshots” of the actors/actresses. (If you choose Othello, do not cast the actors/actresses from the film.

• End the pitch by adding one more convincing reason as to why this play is the one that City Tech students need to see.

Prof. Suzanne Miller

English 2002—Introduction to Drama

Think of someone in your life who would benefit from, or relate to, one of the plays we have studied in class so far this semester (The Rising of the Moon, Death of a Salesman, or Fences). Write a letter to that person persuading him or her to read the chosen text. If your mind is blank, you may make up someone to write the letter to.

In order to be persuasive, you must do the following:

(Please note: these bullet points are also the exam instructions!)

• Give a plot synopsis (or brief summary) of the play you’ve chosen to recommend. Remember, the person to whom you are writing has not read the play, so you need to give him or her a basic understanding of what is going on in the text. (This should be brief—a few sentences, not an extremely detailed account of everything in the play.) Remember to include the play’s title and author.
• Explain the message of the piece. What theme or themes are illustrated in the play? Give details from the play to support your ideas.
• Explain to your reader why he or she should read the text you’ve chosen. Be specific! Why is the message particularly relevant to your reader, or important for him or her to hear?
• Somewhere in the letter, refer to an “element of drama” aside from plot and theme to help your reader understand something about the play’s plot or theme.
• Quote the play—directly and accurately—at least once. The quote should be relevant to whatever point you are making at that moment, and quotation marks should be used.

Feel free to begin and end your letter with standard pleasantries that have nothing to do with the text you are discussing (“How are you?” etc.), as this may help you to write more fluidly.

Your response should be between three and five paragraphs.

Although you may be writing to a friend, please use standard written English, as I will be grading the grammar.

RUBRIC for the mid-term exam:

• A correct synopsis is given.
• The theme or message of the play is discussed and details from the play are used to support this part of the letter.
• A specific reason is given to your reader as to why he or she would relate to this play. (Note: the reason cannot just be “You would like this play.”)
• An “element of drama” (aside from plot and theme) is used to help your reader understand the plot or theme of the play.
• The letter includes at least one direct and accurate quote from the play, andquotation marks are used.
• Correct grammar is used and your sentences make sense.
• Character names are spelled correctly. The play title is written correctly and is underlined. The author’s name is mentioned and spelled correctly.

Prof. Suzanne Miller

Shakespeare on Social Media 

Guidelines:

• Due Date: Wednesday, March 6^th (5pm via Google docs.).
• a minimum of five typed pages, double-spaced, in 11 or 12 pt. font (note: the “social media” section (the posts) may be in any font and may use any spacing).
• submitted on-time.
• formatted according to the MLA style.*
• free of plagiarism: direct quotes must be enclosed in quotation marks and cited using the MLA style; ideas and information from an outside source must be cited using the MLA style.

Note: Please include a Works Cited page formatted in the MLA style.*  Although you will probably only have one source for this assignment (the play), I still want you to get into the habit of creating a proper Works Cited page.

Overview:

If Othello, Iago, Desdemona, and Emilia had access to social media, which platforms would they choose and why?

For this project, you will track the characters as they move through the play. You will make observations about the action of the play (plot) and comment and on the play’s theme,

This is a text-based assignment—but you may include graphics if you wish.

Give your project an overall title, and give each section the subheading (from the list below) that corresponds to it:

• Platform Choices
• Character Journeys
• Social Media Posts

* See the Purdue Owl website for help with using the MLA style and with formatting a Works Cited page in the MLA style.

The Assignment:

Think about which social media platform best suits Othello, Iago, Desdemona, and Emilia. You might choose a different online forum for each character, or there may be some overlap (i.e. two characters may prefer the same one).

Introduction: (one paragraph)

Give a brief overview of the play’s plot and briefly discuss the play’s theme or themes particularly as they relate to the Iago-Othello-Desdemona triangle (which ensnares Emilia as well).

Section 1:  (three-five paragraphs)

Platform Choices: Knowing what you do about social media, choose a social media platform for each character.

• Briefly explain the platform choice for each character: what is it about this particular platform that connects with this particular character? Why does it make sense that he or she would use it?

Section 2: (two-three pages)

Character Journeys: Depending on how you choose to put this section together, you might have four long paragraphs (one for each character) or several shorter paragraphs. This section will be about two or three pages.

• For each one of the characters, choose three important moments in the play that illustrate the “beginning,” “middle,” and “end” of his or her journey.
• Quote directly from each scene and make it clear how these scenes demonstrate each phase of the character’s journey.

Section 3: (varies)

Posts: Combine Sections 1 and 2: The page length of this section will vary based on the social media platforms you choose, but it should amount to at least two pages. Note: Othello, Iago, Desdemona, and Emilia stay where they are in time; in other words, they are not suddenly modern characters. All of their circumstances are the same as in the play, but they magically have the ability to use social media.

• For each of the four characters, write three posts which help to illustrate their journeys as they move through the play (twelve posts in all). The posts should correspond with the scenes you’ve chosen in “Section 2.”
• The language of the text will be in first person (i.e. Othello writes in Othello’s voice, Desdemona in Desdemona’s voice etc.) in the characters’ voices but in YOUR WORDS.
• Use the conventions of the social platforms that you’ve chosen (short bursts for tweets, and perhaps longer, more rambling posts for Facebook etc.)
• While this is a text-based exercise, you may include visual elements—but this is in no way required: you will only be graded on the text-based portion.