For this essay, you will be required to think deeply about how a “text” taken from American popular culture reflects, depicts, or conveys the American experience/identity to an audience. The primary “text” that you choose could be an example of one of the following genres: an advertisement (TV, print, or billboard ad); an episode of a television show; a comic book character; a dramatic film; a work of art (such as a painting, a sculpture, a multi-media piece, a poster); a music video; a piece of literature (poem, short story, etc.). Your job will involve interpreting the significance of your chosen primary text, its theme/message, and the implications of what and how your primary text depicts the American experience/identity.
For example, you may want to choose a car commercial that plays upon our desire to achieve the American Dream. Think about how the product, the car itself, represents a status symbol, the use of patriotic music, and key images. If you enjoy comics, you could examine Superman, who interestingly fights for American ideals despite the fact he comes from another planet and that his powers/identity keeps him separate from others. You may want to take a look at a quintessential American image from one of Ansel Adams’ photographs or one of Norman Rockwell’s paintings. In your analysis you should not rely simply on general observations of your primary text. Focus on specific examples and details from your primary text in order to fully develop and illustrate your analysis of the text. Due to the essay’s relatively short length, choose no more than one comic book character, one television episode, one advertisement, one work of art, one music video, one piece of literature, etc.
Purpose:
The purpose of this essay is to analyze, evaluate, and reflect on the possible meanings, intended or unintended, of your primary text. Ask yourself the following questions: Does the text rely on almost mythic ideas of what it means to be American? What symbols or motifs does it use? Does it utilize stereotypes (class, race, ethnicity, gender)? What messages—implicit or explicit, accurate or not so accurate—does this text produce or promote concerning American experience/identity? What language and/or visual images are incorporated into this text and for what effect? Who are the characters presented in the text, and who/what do they represent? Does the primary text celebrate being American and present a positive depiction? Is the text’s message jingoistic? Does the text convey a negative image and criticize what Americans stand for? Is such a criticism valid and what is its source? Overall, what does the text reveal about the American experience/identity (or its author’s understanding of it)?
Essay Structure:
Your essay should be clearly and logically organized and thoroughly developed.
Introduction: It is important that your opening paragraph introduce and briefly summarize/describe your primary text. It should also convey why your primary text is representative of the American experience/identity. The introduction should end with a thesis statement that controls the focus of your essay and makes a claim about what insights your primary text makes about the American experience/identity.
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