Portfolio: Pop Culture Writing & Post Modernism; Gothic Literature & Dracula
Lab:
Please read/note the following information:
Post Modernism (the literary period you are in at the moment) is characterized by some of the following elements:
Gothic refers to the Goths (members of a Germanic people that overran the Roman empire), as well as relating to their civilization, or their language.
Goth is a musical genre from the 1980's, inspired and influenced by the Punk movement.
Goth is also a subculture derived from people who listen to "goth" music, but now also industrial music, or death metal. Goths are identified by wearing make-up regardless of gender role identity, and wearing black clothing. Goths tend to be inclusive of marginalized groups and represent counter culture.
Gothic architecture developed in northern France from the middle 12th century to the early 16th century. It is characterized by pointed arches, vaulting, and the converging of weights and strains at isolated points upon slender vertical piers and counterbalancing buttresses. Take a look at our courtyard for an example of neo-gothic architecture.
Gothic literature usually includes one of a variety of the following themes and styles:
Other Gothic Romance authors include:
6. V.C. Andrews, Poppy Z. Brite (transgender), Angela Carter, Neil Gaiman, and most horror, fantasy writers.
Gothic fervor in style and taste influence various authors including Edgar Allan Poe, Charlotte Bronte, Emily Bronte, Charles Dickens, Wilkie Collins, Bram Stoker, Oscar Wilde, Charlotte Perkins Gilman, H.P. Lovecraft, and a whole host of romantic writers of the 20th and 21st centuries (see above).
A Glossary of Gothic Terms
Use the information above, from the handout, and from your own reading, and create a gothic romance short story for this marking period's portfolio. This will be a required assignment along with something from popular culture.
How Did Dracula Become The World's Most Famous Vampire (TedX animation)
Let's get you into Dracula. Please read along as you listen to part 1 of chapter 1:
Please read/note the following information:
Post Modernism (the literary period you are in at the moment) is characterized by some of the following elements:
- Often views nationalism, politics/government, religion, war, etc. as primitive
- Loss of confidence in a corrupt Western world largely due to Capitalism & adherence to ancient traditions/beliefs about religion or the environment; The Western world is outdated and hidden behind faceless and uncaring bureaucracies
- The West's claims of freedom and prosperity continue to be nothing more than empty promises; there is a cheap, jaded, cynical sense of public and private life
- Truth and ethics (right & wrong) is for an individual to determine for herself
- Nationalism and Capitalism build walls, create enemies, destroy natural resources, and create unbalanced, unjust societies of "have and have nots"
- There is no truth, no pure, no absolute. No one has the authority to define meaning for others
Therefore:
- Multicultural voices are important
- There is no distinction between art and craft; good or bad; high or low culture
- Fiction tends to be self-referential; a pastiche of style (uses all literary time periods to allude to)
- The use of allusion (calling something to mind by reference...) infuses the writing
PROMPT: Write a post-modern story. Use pop culture references or allusions as a way of informing your reader of deeper meanings. Remember that popular culture is not always contemporary culture...contemporary writers are often inspired by everything...from ancient myths to Shakespeare to 19th century novels...
PROMPT: Write a zombie story. Inspired by "Sally's Big Adventure" & "A Zombie Walk for Timmy" (see zombie handout collection from last class), write your own zombie story. Feel free to create your own puzzle or game or fake news article or play or creative essay or poem, etc. inspired by the packet reading.
PROMPT: Inspired by "A Thing Built to Fly is Not a Promise" choose a well-known popular cultural historical figure (someone real who everyone knows) and tell a story the reader wouldn't know about that person...in other words, make it up. Feel free to throw in metaphorical, figurative or magical realist elements as you deem necessary.
PROMPT: Inspired by "These Are the Fables" start a linear narrative with a common or ordinary problem, but along the way "surprise" your reader by complicating the situation more and more to the level of absurdity or comedy or parody. By the end of your narrative, return to the common or ordinary problem.
PROMPT: Inspired by the short story "Hollywood!" write a story about your image of Hollywood (or any city).
PROMPT: Inspired by "Because My Father Always Said He Was The Only Indian...at Woodstock", write a story or essay that incorporates a marginalized culture in our society buying into the popular culture of the masses (or the Hegemony). Consider the conflict involved with an outsider taking on the trappings/culture of an insider group--or a different culture that is foreign to the outsider's peers. Ex. A Korean girl who learns how to yodel.
Period 2: Dracula by Bram Stoker & Gothic Literature.
Characteristics of Gothic Literature
Gothic refers to the Goths (members of a Germanic people that overran the Roman empire), as well as relating to their civilization, or their language.
Goth is a musical genre from the 1980's, inspired and influenced by the Punk movement.
Goth is also a subculture derived from people who listen to "goth" music, but now also industrial music, or death metal. Goths are identified by wearing make-up regardless of gender role identity, and wearing black clothing. Goths tend to be inclusive of marginalized groups and represent counter culture.
Gothic architecture developed in northern France from the middle 12th century to the early 16th century. It is characterized by pointed arches, vaulting, and the converging of weights and strains at isolated points upon slender vertical piers and counterbalancing buttresses. Take a look at our courtyard for an example of neo-gothic architecture.
Gothic literature usually includes one of a variety of the following themes and styles:
- violence
- desolation
- decay
- wild passions
- suspense
- the threat of evil and the primitive or irrational overcoming good or civilization
- events often occur in distant and remote places
- madness
- threatened virginity or chastity
- supernatural events (ghosts, mesmerism, transformation, enchantment or charms, prophecy, etc)
Other Gothic Romance authors include:
1. Ann Radcliffe (Mysteries of Udolpho) 17945. Contemporary writers include Anne Rice (Interview With the Vampire)
2. Matthew Gregory "Monk" Lewis (The Monk) 1796
3. Mary Shelley (Frankenstein)
4. Charles Maturin (Melmoth the Wanderer) 1820 (uncle to Oscar Wilde)
6. V.C. Andrews, Poppy Z. Brite (transgender), Angela Carter, Neil Gaiman, and most horror, fantasy writers.
Gothic fervor in style and taste influence various authors including Edgar Allan Poe, Charlotte Bronte, Emily Bronte, Charles Dickens, Wilkie Collins, Bram Stoker, Oscar Wilde, Charlotte Perkins Gilman, H.P. Lovecraft, and a whole host of romantic writers of the 20th and 21st centuries (see above).
A Glossary of Gothic Terms
Use the information above, from the handout, and from your own reading, and create a gothic romance short story for this marking period's portfolio. This will be a required assignment along with something from popular culture.
How Did Dracula Become The World's Most Famous Vampire (TedX animation)
Let's get you into Dracula. Please read along as you listen to part 1 of chapter 1:
- Dracula, Audiobook (complete) read by Alan Cummings, etc.
HOMEWORK: Complete chapters 1-4 for Wednesday (9-55). Bring your books back with you next class. Complete the gothic literature tropes handout notes for chapters 1-4.
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