Source Grab Bag

Hi all.


Here is a list of links that I'd like you to take a look at--these readings are what didn't make it onto the syllabus, but there are also readings on this list that would perhaps be helpful for your final paper.

Take a look at this list, pick something that interests you, and write a blog post about it. I know everyone has had to complete at least 2 blog posts so far---if you complete 2 more by the end of the semester, you'll have earned your blogging credit.

The blog posts don't have to be long, but they should capture what you find interesting and useful about the reading, or even just what you liked.

Happy hunting!

The Woman With No Long Term Memory

A New Way to be Mad

When Hearing Voices is a Good Thing

The Woman With MS and The OIympic Athlete

A Mind-Controlled Arm Could Be Available Soon

Can Loneliness Kill You?

Not All Deaf People Want to be "Fixed"

Thin Privilege and Fatphobia

Who Gets to be the "Good" Schizophrenic?

When Colleges Push Out Vulnerable Students

Disability and Election 2016

The Spectacle of Mental Illness

ASL and Race

The Belgian Community that Cares for the Mentally Ill

Poor Teeth in a Rich World

Who Makes Decisions for Adults with Down Syndrome?

Do We Judge People for Seeming "Unhealthy"?

Why Do Able-Bodied Actors Win Oscars for Disabled Roles?

What is "The Singularity"?

Mass Shootings and Mental Illness

Work Day Checklist

Hi all,

Today, you'll be working on your rough drafts in class, and I will be available to talk through/advise/provide suggestions at any time. This is a somewhat free form class today, but by the time you leave, you'll have to show me that you have completed AT LEAST THREE of the items on this checklist. Take a look, and think about what you can use the time today for.

Hallmarks of an effective paper:

• The introduction begins with an intriguing point of entry that is not vague and gives the reader a clear sense of the paper’s concerns

• The thesis of the paper is identifiable, defendable, provocative, and specific.

• The writer makes use of a minimum of 3 quotes per source engagement, through specific quotations and thematic parallels.

• The paper demonstrates thoughtful use of source material. The connection between the quotes and material is clear.

• The writer introduces quotations effectively, with clear signal phrases demonstrating the relationships between each speaker.

• In text citations are in proper MLA format.

• Each quotation or reference is followed up by original analysis and an explanation of its relevance (i.e. quote sandwich. 

• The essay brings challenging questions to the texts in question

• Paragraph Organization (paragraphs should contain points, evidence, explanation, and a sense of purpose.

• The essay’s conclusion does more than restate the previous ideas.

• Sentence Level Mechanics (grammar, spelling, overall clarity, etc.)

• The works cited page is properly formatted.

FINAL PAPER TOPIC

FINAL PAPER:   For your final paper, you must select a topic of your choice within the broader theme of the course: transformations of the human body on an individual and societal scale.  You can concentrate on one of the ways we have discussed in class so far, or explore other topics that we haven’t explored in class.  You are more than welcome to engage with any ways to transform the body you might find interesting.    Using original research (online databases, working in the library, engaging with products of mass culture, film, literature, television, etc), you will need to develop a clear, arguable thesis, which you will back up with carefully constructed arguments (informed by the evidence of your research) in a 7-10 page essay.You must use 12 point font, reasonable margins, and conform to MLA standards for quoting, citation, and bibliography.   


DUE MAY 13TH


OPTIONS FOR STRUCTURING A FINAL PAPER:

A critical essay analyzes the strengths, weaknesses and methods of someone else's work. Generally these essays begin with a brief overview of the main points of the text, movie, or piece of art, followed by an analysis of the work's meaning. It should then discuss how well the author/creator accomplishes his/her goals and makes his/her points. A critical essay can be written about another essay, story, book, poem, movie, or work of art.

The cause/effect essay explains why or how some event happened, and what resulted from the event. This essay is a study of the relationship between two or more events or experiences. The essay could discuss bothcauses and effects, or it could simply address one or the other. A cause essay usually discusses the reasons why something happened. An effect essay discusses what happens after a specific event or circumstance.

An argumentative essay is one that attempts to persuade the reader to the writer's point of view. The writer always tries to convince the reader of the validity of his or her opinion

A definition essay attempts to define a specific term or issue. It could try to pin down the meaning of a specific word, or define an abstract concept. The analysis goes deeper than a simple dictionary definition; it should attempt to explain why the term is defined and discussed the way it is.

Short reading for Tuesday

Hi all,

Please read Sarah Kurchak's "No, I'm Not Glamorizing My Autism" for Tuesday. The link is below:

"No, I'm Not Glamorizing My Autism"

Remember, this coming Thursday we have a class peer review for the third paper, so make sure you're also working on your rough drafts. Feel free to email or stop by office hours if you have any questions.

See you in class,
Greenlee

Third Paper Prompt and Resources

Hi all,

Here is the prompt for your third paper.

Words and Pictures: The Perception of Disability

In our discussions of disability, we haven’t concerned ourselves with the strictly medical/physiological experiences of disability. Instead, we’ve concentrated on how disability as a social category is perceived and perpetuated through language and images, and even how particular conditions are defined or declassified as disabilities over time.

In 5-7 pages, select a condition or experience that’s been defined or perceived as a disability, and explain its cultural interpretation: how it has been portrayed/treated in society.

Conduct original research on your chosen example. You will have to find TWO SOURCES minimum. One of these three sources must be a secondary source on your chosen topic: a scholarly article, academic book chapter, academic paper, etc. One of these three sources must be a primary source about your chosen topic: a film, novel, biography/memoir, essay, graphic novel, etc.In writing about the cultural interpretation of a disability, there are a few questions you can ask yourself to develop your argument:

• What words, phrases and labels have been applied? How have they changed over time? How does this language influence your example’s reception in popular culture?

• What images (in film, television, the news, social/political events) are available?

• What qualities or features are communicated through these images? Frailty? Immorality? Animality? Weakness?

You will have to support your position through these analyses, and pinpoint how language and images have shaped social perceptions of disability. You must use 12 point font, reasonable margins, and conform to MLA standards for quoting, citation, and bibliography.

ROUGH DRAFT: 4/3
FINAL DRAFT: 4/12

PAPER RESOURCES:

I have emailed all of you a PDF of the Disability Studies Reader, I highly recommend looking over the table of contents for the Disabilities studies reader to look for any articles that might be helpful to you.  I said in the assignment description that you have to use at least two secondary sources, so an effective way to structure your paper might be to use a scholarly article for your chosen condition, and apply it to a primary source, like a book or a film or a commercial or an image. 

Here's a link to a list of films/documentaries/TV/media around people with different disabilities, to get you started on finding a primary source:

Disability in Media: A List

Reading For Thursday

Hi all,

Please read the following article on depression by Alana Massey for Thursday. The link is below:

The Circumference of Despair: On Depression and Language

Please bring along at least TWO discussion questions.

Best,
Greenlee

Diane Arbus, Deviance, and "Outsiders"

Hi all,

I've sent the reading for Tuesday, David Hevey's "The Enfreakment of Photography," to your email. Since she's one of the main subjects of the reading, here's some information about and photos from Diane Arbus.

Diane Arbus was an NYC-based photographer who, before committing suicide in 1971 at the age of 48, was extremely well-known for her stark portraits of "deviants" (transgender people, transvestites, nudists), children and families, and social outcasts or "freaks." One can view her works in many ways: exploitation? mere exploration? shedding a light on people we'd usually ignore? tragic? comic? Arbus once said her pictures were meant to express "the space between who someone is and who they think they are," but where do we, as spectators, fit into this relationship?

Here are some short articles if you're interested in Arbus:

A Fresh Look at Diane Arbus

Diane Arbus: Visionary Voyeurism

And here are some photographs by Arbus. As you're looking at them, start thinking about what questions you'd like to ask about them, or what points of discussion you can come up with for class on Tuesday.

"Cutting Desire", Blog Post Info, and Paper Prompts

Hi all,

Here's the article you need to read for class--Jesse Ellison discusses the phenomenon known as BIID (Body Integrity Identity Disorder). Please make sure you take some notes on what you find compelling/confusing about this piece--it'll go a long way towards helping you compose a mandatory blog post on the article.

The reading:

Jesse Ellison: "Cutting Desire"

BLOG INSTRUCTIONS: You must post your blog by 11:59pm on 2/29. Your post should be at least 500 words long. Here are some leading questions to get you started: What form of treatment would you propose for people with BIID? What do you make of the article's assertion that most people with BIID seem to be middle-class white men? How do you react to the thought of someone "choosing" to be "disabled?" Please mention specific sections from the piece in your discussion, and feel free to record your own thoughts and reactions to the piece.

Additionally, here are the paper prompts for your second paper. You need to pick only one.

During our exploration of body modification, we’ll touch on some extremely different behaviors and activities. Scarification, tattoos, and piercings communicate both estrangement and alignment with social norms, simultaneously signaling one’s status as a societal “outcast” and as a member of a particular community. In this age of ubiquitous media and technology, “bodyhacking” can involve increasing or “improving” the abilities of the human body while also rendering the human body as something other than human, but not quite mechanical or technological. We’ve also discussed the possibility that  plastic surgery, diet, and exercise are forms of bodily modification that American popular culture encourages and endorses. You have 2 options for this paper.

OPTION 1:

 Body Modification Narrative

In a well-constructed essay of 3-5 pages, describe and analyze a form of a body modification that you have experienced or undertaken. Explain why this behavior could be classified as body modification. Using information from our class readings, feel free to address any of the following questions:

• how does your own modification signal rejection or adherence to social norms?

• Is your example a continuous behavior/result, or a singular event?

• Do you undertake this modification in public or in private, and what are your reasons for doing so?

• How has your example modified your interactions with the world around you?

• How has it changed your relationships with family, friends, school, employment, etc.

OPTION 2:

Body Modification Analysis

In a well constructed essay of 3-5 pages,  you must research, describe and analyze a form of body modification, and illustrate that form's relationship to both individual expression AND societal pressure. Using original research and class readings, feel free to explore the following questions:

• provide background on this form's cultural history/significance: how has its meaning shifted over time?

• does stigma, discrimination, or prejudice surround this form of body modification? If so, what does that look like? If there is very little stigma, why do you think this form of body modification is socially acceptable?

• is there a particular population demographic for whom this form of body modification is common or popular? Why do you think this is the case?

You must use a minimum of three secondary sources for either paper option. If you choose the second option, you MUST find at least TWO sources on your own. You can look for a journal article online/through the library database, reference a film, advertisement, work of fiction, etc. to illuminate your argument. You must use 12 point font, reasonable margins, and conform to MLA standards for quoting, citation, and bibliography.

ROUGH DRAFT: 3/3

FINAL DRAFT: 3/10

See you then,

Greenlee

Bodyhacking, Wetware, Cyborgs, etc.: Reading for Thursday

Hey all,

Here's the link for the article you need to read for Thursday:

Ben Popper: "Cyborg America: Basement Body Hackers"

As you read and take notes on this essay, keep a few things/questions in mind--what is the aim/goal of bodyhacking? What are its advantages or disadvantages? Does it expand the definition of what it is to be human, or does it present the possibility of moving beyond humanness, and how?

See you Thursday,

Greenlee

Reading Assignment and Final Touches--Cleaning up your paper before you hand it in

Hi all,

The final draft of your first paper is due on Tuesday: you have until 11:59PM on Tuesday to email it to me.

Since we're back in class on Tuesday, you're also responsible for the following readings (short, but interesting):

This piece by Katya Soldak for Forbes:

Barbie Flu Spreading in Ukraine

This Article by Maureen O'Connor:

Is Race Plastic?

Since the final draft of your first paper is due on Tuesday, here are some quick pointers on what to pay attention to before you hand it in.

• Does your introduction contain a thesis? Is it clear how your chosen examples will prove useful?

• When you introduce a source in a body paragraph, do you provide the author's name and the title of the source in a sentence?

• Are you providing direct quotes from your sources to support your overall discussion?

• When you provide a direct quote, are you using strong signal phrases, like "He writes" or "She argues"?

• How are you connecting one source to the next in your body paragraphs? Are you moving from similarity to similarity? Are you highlighting differences?

• Parenthetical citations in the body of your paper should be in MLA format--head to the Purdue OWL for assistance: MLA In-Text Citations: The Basics

• Your Works Cited Page should also be in MLA format.

Remember to give your final draft a good once-over, and I'll see you Tuesday.

Greenlee

PEER REVIEW INSTRUCTIONS

Hi all,

I'm finally feeling better--my apologies.

I still want you all to benefit from a peer review--so in order to make up class time, you'll be completing an online peer review exercise on your blogs this week. YOU HAVE UNTIL FRIDAY, 2/19, to complete this exercise.

I've compiled the following peer trios.

Tyler, Adam, James

Alana C., Dakotah, Chaimaa

Edmund, Cassie, Mark

Paata, Joann, Alana M.

Fawzi, Khadija, Nick

Briana, Lily, Tiffany

Jess, Malkijah, Shivani

Each of you will post your rough drafts on your blog, and it will be the job of your peer partners to comment on your draft, in the form of a blog comment.

When you're commenting on your peer partners' drafts, please provide complete answers to the following questions:

1) Locate what you believe to be the author’s thesis statement. Rewrite it in your own words.

2) Why does this thesis either fail to or succeed at making a debatable assertion? Why is it interesting? What could the author do to improve?

3) How does the paper talk about the topic brought up in the thesis? How does the argument develop throughout the paper?  What does each paragraph add to the argument? What could the author do to improve?

4) Think back to the author’s thesis statement as you read the paper’s conclusion—in what ways do you think the author has refined/stated their thesis throughout the paper? Are you convinced? Provide ONE potential (constructive) point of criticism—what would you want to see more of, or add?

Additionally, I've invited you all to a Google Doc where you can sign up for your conference times for this week. Remember, if you fail to meet with me, that'll be counted as a week's absence.

Please complete these peer reviews, and I'll see you at your conference.

--Greenlee

For Tuesday: Readings on Oscar Pistorius

Hi all,

Please read the following articles for Tuesday. Each of these articles concerns Oscar Pistorius' arrest for the murder of his girlfriend, Reeva Steenkamp. Each piece is concerned with the extent to which Pistorius' disability influences how we discuss him, both in terms of his career persona and his crime.

Kevin Sullivan: "South African Paralympian Pistorius faces murder charges in shooting of girlfriend"

s.e. smith: "The Curious Case of Reeva Steenkamp's Boyfriend"

And bring the following to class:

-type up, or write down, 2 or 3 quotes from either piece that you think emphasize or complicate the arc of the piece. Feel free to write up discussion questions instead of quotes, if that suits you.


See you then,

Greenlee

H. Cassils' "Cuts: A Traditional Sculpture," and Your First Paper Prompt

Hi all,

For Thursday, please read the article and watch the video by H. Cassils, entitled "Cuts: A Traditional Sculpture." You can access both the article and the video here:

H. Cassils: "Cuts: A Traditional Sculpture"

As always, it will be very helpful if you take notes on the particulars/points of gravity for these pieces.

I've put the description for the first paper below, so you'll always have a way to access it.

FIRST PAPER PROMPT

So far, we’ve been concentrating on portrayals and illustrations of “health” and “perfection” that allow us to question how these states are defined: Patrick Bateman and Raymond H. of “Hard Bodies” use routine workouts and wealth to project a social persona; Roxanne Edwards uses steroids and bodybuilding to achieve a “peeled” physique; through weightlifting, Kathy Acker is able to control the “failure” of her muscles to both create strength, and remain aware of her body as something which will inevitably end; and for H. Cassils, achieving a body that cannot be clearly categorized as either male or female is the objective. Do these bodies challenge the notion of "health"? Or do these bodies align with the notion of "health"? IN WHAT WAYS?

Pick AT LEAST TWO examples of excessive bodies that we've talked/read about so far.

Here are some questions to consider and discuss as you make your decision: 
What factors are most important in clearly defining the state of "health"? Is there a form of "health" that applies to everyone?

What reasons do these people give for working their bodies?

What is the relationship between a spectator (i.e., you) who looks at images of these people, and the people themselves?

Do these people's activities have private (individual only to them) repercussions, or public (affecting a wider social audience) repercussions?

Available sources:

American Psycho- Mary Herron, dir. Christian Bale, performer

"Hard Bodies"-Stuart Ewen
"Against Ordinary Language: The Language of the Body" by Kathy Acker

"Roxanne Edwards is Superhuman"- Roxanne Edwards, S. Adrian Massey (interviewer)

"Cuts: A Traditional Sculpture"-Heather Cassils

"Bodybuilding"- Brian Finke (access that HERE)

Your paper should be 3-5 pages, in 12 pt font, using MLA citation.

ROUGH DRAFT DUE Thursday, 2/11

FINAL DRAFT DUE Tuesday, 2/23

Any questions, email me.

See you Thursday,

Greenlee