Mittwoch, 4. Juli 2007

To read...and write: Notes on the Term Paper

Alright then. Some pointers...hmmm...

As I see it, no one will want to to write their essay on Michael Wigglesworth, right?

1) How about the poetry of Edward Taylor (1642-1729)? As a poet, as an artist he was way more accomplished than Wigglesworth & in fact is more interesting to read. A small selection from his works are here. You could read some (2-3 to them) to analyze how he gets the second generation Puritan experience (the decay of the Puritan belief - the war(s) with the native population - the Puritan community in danger - and so on) into verse. Or you could concentrate on his unlikely revival in the 1930s - when his manuscripts were re-discovered...and link it with the general revival of interest in Puritan colonial times, pioneered by, among others, Perry Miller of Harvard University. Possible working titles like "The Puritan Revival: 1920-1960" come to my mind here.

Sound exciting? Or not yet exciting enough?

2) The apocalyptic Fringe

Throughout American history, apocalyptic cults have had a considerable influence - think of the Millerites, a highly influential 19th century religious group, or, more recently, the Branch Davidians, who went down in flames in Waco, Texas? What elements (of their belief, of their position in society, of their cult actions, etc.) did they share, what happened to them, what influence do they have on modern American society? You would have to work with their texts, mind you - pdf copies of the Millerite Journal, The Midnight Cry, are even available online.

3) Apocalypse now...and over the last 30 years, or so.

Ever since the 1970s, apocalypse has been a hot topic in American culture, thanks also to evangelical media-preachers like Hal Lindsey. The Left Behind - series of Tim LaHaye and Jerry Jenkins has had and still has an amazing success - what do they do with the end of the world? Are their novels religious novels? Why do they appeal to such a wide readership? What view of the world do they present - what are the historical and socio-political constellations? You would have to read at least one of the Left Behind-novels, which I realize is a punishment, but one that is worth it.

4) California Apocalypse

We read Jack London - with him in mind, you could read George R. Stewart's Earth Abides - a fascinating 1949 novel on a post-apocalyptic world being (sort of) recolonized once again? What happens to society? Education? What is going on with the countrysite and how does Stewart write about it? Will civilization return? Why was Stewart writing a novel like this at the time he did?

5) Ecological Apocalypses


You might not think of it this way, but ecological thought (as in "Greenpeace" or "Green Party") also may be interpreted as a reaction to the final days to come, to nature's apocalypse. You could read John Christopher's No Blade of Grass (1956), an interesting novel describing the final days after an unwholesome virus plague has practically destroyed the worldwide stock of grass seeds - the world is starving to death. What concerns does the book talk about? Have any of them come true? How is the apocalypse treated, what do the protagonists do in the final days? Is there an echo of the pastoral tradition?

6) Apocalypse now, now, now!

You might want to read and analyze Cormack McCarthy's The Road (2006) - what is his view of civilization? His style in describing its downfall? What tone does the novel have? What is the character constellation and what effects does it have on the plot? The book is on hold in the library, just in case you're wondering.

7) Apocalypse Now - but now for real

You're all familiar, I guess, with the 1979 movie of the name. You could analyze the movie (and its literary backdrop - Joseph Conrad's The Heart of Darkness, which you would have to read - and try to understand and describe the apocalypse presented there? Where is it happening in the book, where in the movie? When is it happening? Does the movie describe the Vietnam War as an apocalyptic experience? What role does race play as an issue? Are there religious undertones?


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Some more approaches that came to my mind...


8) Apocalypse and Heroism

Ever seen movies like Armageddon? Or The Core? Or The Matrix? Or 12 Monkeys (Bruce Willis again)? You could base your term paper on a reading of these movies (or any other disaster movies you might know and enjoy), but I would insist that you resort to at least one written apocalypse, of your choice - for example, Matthew P. Shiel's The Purple Cloud, a short and very exciting turn of the century novel: how is heroism used and portrayed there? How is it used in these more modern movie apocalypses? What relation do the characters have or build toward the planet? What are their motives? Their ethics, their religion? How do they handle the end of the world?


9) Nuclear Apocalypse

After 1945, nuclear apocalypse was an actual option, and it was soon adapted into fiction. We read, last time, on July 4, Lovecraft's The Colour out of Space, an early nuclear apocalypse (long before the Manhattan project was completed) - other famous novels of that genre include Neville Shute's On the Beach, a pretty scary and intimidating novel. How is the apocalypse treated here? How is hope (for survival, among other things) dealt with? What stand does the novel take on science and on progress? On history, in general? What stylistic devices does the author use to write his apocalypse, what atmosphere does he manage to create?

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