Visual Culture and Class Exclusion: Analyzing Documentary and Artistic Representations of Social Inequality
Overview
This term paper assignment requires students to analyze visual culture artifacts or historical moments with visual documentation in relation to course topics on class, exclusion, and social inequality. Students develop a thesis examining how representations in film, art, photography, or other media illuminate themes of economic disparity, racism, and social division through frameworks discussed in class.
What this coursework covers
- Topic selection from course material (e.g., class exclusion using Roger and Me as model)
- Case study selection from visual culture or documented historical moments with brief description and images in appendix
- Analytical essay integrating at least two course readings and two outside academic sources using recognized citation style
Preview
Term Paper Guidelines
Words: 2000
Step Choose Topic from the final 6 weeks of class:
Country Clubs for Some, Unemployment for Others: Roger and Me (1989)
Step 2: Choose a Case Study from Visual Culture (a photo, artwork, film, documentary, TV program, video game, advertisement), or a Historical Moment (protest, speech, conflict) that has some visual documentation you can analyze:
For example, we addressed the racism surrounding the "living museum display" Sarah Baartman, the South African woman taken to Europe and shown nude. You may select a single Case Study, or up to 3 smaller Case Studies, ie. 3 photos, memorials, works of art, television episodes . Selecting 3 major works (ie, entire novels or entire films) is not advisable since it may create too much work. For major works like movies or novels or biographies, selecting 3-4 scenes would be wise. You may build upon a 1 pg Film Analysis you have submitted for class.
*For topic 8, you may choose to do a distinct analysis of Roger and Me, meaning it is different from Bernstein’s analysis or even challenges it. You can mention the same scenes, but need to provide more analysis than what he offers. You are encouraged to select another documentary about class and exclusion from any decade, perhaps focusing on workers’ rights (Harlan County USA, American Factory) or simply focusing on rich and poor (Generation Wealth, The Queen of Versailles).
Develop a Thesis by thinking about your Case Study in conjunction with your Topic.