Questions and Topics We Can Help You To Answer:

Watch the film Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks  (Links to an external site.) Links to an external site. . Summarize the film in 1-2 paragraphs. (This must be your own work and not copied from a website!) Choose one of the questions below and respond to it in 1-2 paragraphs. Upload your assignment to Canvas by 10/23/18 at 11:59pm. Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks Discussion Questions: What factors (race, class, gender, ″the times″) do you think were responsible for Henrietta′s cells being taken from her without her permission? What factors do you think were responsible for her family being kept in the dark about the many ways in which the study of her cells were contributing to medical science? In your opinion, was it ″unethical″ for researchers to take (and profit from) Henrietta’s cells without her permission? Why? Why not? (Define ″ethical″ and ″unethical″.) Should the Lacks family be given financial compensation in return for use of her cells? How would this financial compensation be determined? Who would pay? Blood cells and DNA are still collected and studied today without patient knowledge during biopsies and other procedures. How do you feel about knowing that you still do not have total control over your body once you go to see a doctor? If you discovered that tissue routinely removed from your body at some point in the past went on to significantly benefit science and research, would you feel that you should somehow be compensated? What do you think is more important – a person’s personal rights over their own tissue, or contributing to science and research for the benefit of all humankind?

Questions and Topics We Can Help You To Answer:

Write a proposal for a new television program.

Use your radical imagination without the constraints of commercial television. Pitch something you actually want to see or something you actually want to make for TV of your dreams!

Think of a few elements: Title, Genre, Format, Logline, Premise of the Show/Characters/Narrative arc, Originality (what is it similar to/how is it different from).

If you come up with a show that can be pitched to network executives, fine. Then additionally think of the potential Target audinece and Desired Distributor/Platform.

Questions and Topics We Can Help You To Answer:

Discuss at least TWO of the following films:
1. The Bad at the Beautiful
2. State and Main
3. Gentlemen Prefer Blondes
4. My Week with Marilyn

Answer the following questions in your own opinion and words. Aside from, perhaps, the jargon, there is no research required. This is simply your own reflection.
1. How does 'mise-en abyme' manifest itself in the films you have selected, in relation to the structure of the films (stories within stories) and also in the way in which the characters are represented (as endless reflections of reality - like a hall of mirrors)

2. And how does that then relate to the films' representation of the actor-characters, and of Hollywood genres of film production?

Questions And Topics We Can Help You To Answer

PLEASE FOLLOW THESE
Writing About a Photographer



Instructions 
  

Write about one of the photographers from the list below. Please find images of the photographer’s work to accompany your writing. Do not copy and paste from Wikipedia (I will be able to tell.) Please find different sources online and also search for information from the UMUC library.

William Eggleston

Diane Arbus

Robert Frank

Cindy Sherman

Duane Michaels

Rineke Dijkstra

Wolfgang Tillmans

Jeff Wall

Nikki S. Lee

Andreas Gursky



Write about your chosen artist answering each of the following bullet-points.  Write at least one paragraph for each bullet point.  You should copy and paste the bullet points below into a word document and answer them in complete sentence, paragraph form.  Please include photographs to accompany your write up and links to the sources you consulted for the write up.

•Artist’s biographical information and background: date and place of birth, family background, where he/she grew up, what schools he/she attended, what he/she studied, etc.


•First exhibitions and accomplishments as an artist: How did he/she come to be well-known?


•Inspirations and influences: What influenced the artist? This is where you can provide historical context for the artist’s work.


•Examples of work: Most artists have made a large variety of work. Choose 3 of your favorite photographs and tell us why you like them. Explain what series this photograph is part of if it is part of a larger series of work.  Copy and paste the photographs you have chosen and include them with the write-up.  (Please list the artist, title, and date of the pieces that you include.)

(ie:  Cindy Sherman is best known for her series "Untitled Film Stills" in which she dresses up restages fictitious scenes from films.)


•Working style of the artist: Where did the artist go to make these images? (Do they travel?  Set up photos in the studio?  Take self portraits?)  What kind of equipment does he/she use? (A simple camera, flashes?)  

(ie:  William Eggleston is known for photographing the Mississippi Delta region, where he is from.  He prefers to walk and roam the streets, looking for ordinary everday objects and subjects.  Very rarely does he stage a photograph.)


•Overarching concept and style of the artist’s work: Tell use more about the themes in the artist’s work. What is he/she known for?  What is he/she trying to express or comment upon in the work?  Look at reviews of the artist’s work or a review of an exhibition he has been in. Please find reviews from reputable sources (the New York Times, the Washington Post, FindArticles, etc.). 

(ie:  Robert Frank is best known for his series, "The Americans" in which he criss-crossed the United States between 1955 and 1956 trying to capture the true essence of those times, in society, politics, and culture.  He is trying to show the human condition and what it meant and looked like to exist during that time in the mid 50s.)


•What is the artist doing now: exhibitions, artwork, lectures, grants, etc. If the photographer is no longer alive, what was a recent exhibition of their work and what did it show?
  
(Ie: Diane Arbus is no longer alive, however her work continues to be shown throughout the world, a recent solo exhibition of her work was shown at FOAM, in Amsterdam and featured a retrospective of her black and white portraits of people on the fringes of society.)

To conclude: Find an interesting anecdote, fun story or quote about the artist to share and include it as the final bullet point.  


Grading Breakdown (25 pts.):
7 bullet points (3 pts. each) = 21 pts.
anecdote/story = 2 pts.
list of sources = 2 pts.

Questions and Topics We Can Help You To Answer 

The movie Guerrilla, an Impress Telefilm 2011 Bangladeshi movie based on the liberation war of Bangladesh, will be shown. This film is inspired by a novel titled Nishiddho Loban by Syed Shamsul Haque.

Bangladesh won its independence and emerged as a free sovereign state in the world on Dec. 16, 1971, from the former West Pakistan through a bloody liberation war. The brutality of the war led to millions of civilian deaths, torturing of intellectuals and raping of women. Ultimately, Bangladesh won its independence after a nine-month long war. Dec. 16, 2015, will mark the 45th celebration of the Bangladeshi "Victory Day." It is not only a day of celebration but also one of sorrow in commemoration of the Bengali freedom fighters who gave their lives to secure freedom. Victory Day symbolizes the triumph of justice over tyranny and truth over falsehood and is a very important day in the history of Bangladesh. People pay homage to the departed souls of martyrs at National Martyrs Memorial, featured pages are published in the daily news, and mosques and temples offer special prayers for the prosperity of our country.

Questions and Topics We Can Help You To Answer: 

The movie Interstellar is based on the premise of trying to find another habitable planet after ours has become inhabitable. From the knowledge you have gained from this class, discuss the following:
•What aspects of this new planet would you look for to ensure the survivability of our species? Some of the specifics you may want to discuss are: ◦Size and age of the planet.
◦Atmosphere of the planet.
◦The distance of the planet to its Sun.
◦The type of Sun the planet orbits.
◦Oceans of the planet.
◦Any life that may already be on this planet.
◦Moons of this planet.
.



Watch Video

Interstellar Movie - Official Trailer 2

Duration: (2:34)
User: interstellarmovie1 - Added: 7/31/14

YouTube URL: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rt2LHkSwdPQ

Questions and Topics We Can Help You To Answer: 

Write a short essay (one paragraph minimum) on music in film.  Choose a film or a scene from a film that is accompanied by music and discuss specifically how the music relates to and/or enhances the activity in the film.  Discuss compositional techniques such as tempo, instrumentation, style, dynamics, range, rhythm and other musical terms from class in attempting identify the composer’s intention and the influence of the music on the film.  You may choose an isolated scene from a particular film OR discuss the film and its music in entirety

Questions and Topics We Can Help You To Answer: 

This week we have discussed several black performers who continued to shape their blues performance style in the 1940s in an overt attempt to appeal to white audiences. Some of those performance styles can be linked to the lingering conventions of black-face minstrelsy. Is it fair to criticize performers from that era who continued to perform using those conventions? Do some black performers today still shape their performance styles to appeal to white audiences in a way that might perpetuate negative racial stereotypes? If so, is it fair to criticize those performers for that?

Questions and Topics We Can Help You To Answer: 

This week we have discussed several black performers who continued to shape their blues performance style in the 1940s in an overt attempt to appeal to white audiences. Some of those performance styles can be linked to the lingering conventions of black-face minstrelsy. Is it fair to criticize performers from that era who continued to perform using those conventions? Do some black performers today still shape their performance styles to appeal to white audiences in a way that might perpetuate negative racial stereotypes? If so, is it fair to criticize those performers for that?

Questions and Topics We Can Help You To Answer

In this 3-4 page report, you will be discussing at least three images with a common theme. Each image will have been made by a different photographer during different eras (an era is a minimum of 20 years between times chosen, for example: 1850s, 1870s, 1890s or 1900s, 1920s, 1940s, etc). 

Use images other than ones we have studied in any of the textbooks.(PHOTOGRAPHY: A CULTURAL HISTORY(4TH EDITION) AND Criticizing PHOTOGRAPHS (5TH EDITION)) In other words, find new images to write about. Very important, write about the influences of one photographer to another, using appropriate references that you will quote and note in a bibliography. An example of themes might be: street photography of kids, hats, landscape photographs, abstracts, celebrity portraits, the use of signs, censorship, etc. You will include a copy of all the photographs you write about. These images can come from books, magazines, or online references, but need to be at least 4” x 5” in size with enough detail so I can see the images clearly. 

Discuss why you picked this theme and what it means for each photographer. You are looking for verifiable connections and influences; that is, a reference in an interview, catalog, autobiography, etc.  Again, this is not a biography or DIET exercise. A brief biography paragraph about the photographer can be included.
  
  IMPORTANT: I am interested in how each photographer came to photograph this image        and most important: how the three images/photographers are related in style or content  and how they influenced each other, that is why you are choosing photographs from different eras. So, choose your images and photographers carefully.

Door #1: Pick 3 photographers from 3 different eras, so they are not all shooting at the same time but separated by at least 20 years or more for the work they are known for.
Example: portraits is your theme. You would not choose Avedon and Penn or Newton as they were contemporaries. You might choose Nadar, Horst, Penn.
Proof of influence involves research. Typically, a photographer might indicate their influence in an interview (books, magazines, radio, introduction to a catalog, TV interview, etc.). Quote your source in a bibliography. 
Do not assume or make up influences.
DO NOT USE WIKIPEDIA…it often has bad information. At least one photographer should influence one of the other photographers. Short bio for each photographer.

Questions We Can Help You To Answer

This paper will engage in the explication of a lived experience at a critical nexus in your life – the story of a moment that transformed your life and had some influence on your making/creative voice. Consider readings we have addressed in class and use your own creativity, poetics and research skills to detail a personal story that represents you. You might also include writing samples and imagery from your daily studio journal.

Questions and Topics We Can Help You To Answer

Papers should be typed in Times New Roman 12 pt font, double-spaced, with 1 inch margins.

Hotel Rwanda

1) Paul and his family witness his innocent neighbor dragged away by a Hutu force. They eventually decide that they could do nothing to help him. What would the various ethical theories (Utilitarianism, Deontology, and Virtue Ethics) say about this situation? What should be done according to each theory and why?

2) At one point, Colonel Oliver says:

“Unfortunately we’re here as peace-keepers not peacemakers;

we can’t take an aggressive role.”

Is this a valid distinction? What does it mean to be a peacemaker?

3) Read the following section from the film script and answer the question that follows.

TATIANA:

"You could have asked for a favor."

PAUL:

"No, I could not. What do you know about

favors Tatiana, about barter and deals?

All day long I work to please this

officer, that diplomat, this tourist. To

store up favors so that if there is a

time when my family need help I have

powerful people I can call upon. Now you

would have me waste a precious favor on a

stranger."

TATIANA:

"Victor was not a stranger, he was our

neighbor."

PAUL:

"He was not family. Family is all that

matters. Do you think if you or I were

being dragged from here, any one of them

would lift a finger to help us?"

Do special obligations to family exist in this way? If not, what should replace it realistically? If yes, are there any concerns one should have?

4) Paul stays with the Tutsis at the hotel. Is this action permissible or required in your view? Why? This question is related to the first but there is a difference in that Paul is somehow already responsible for the people in his hotel. Does this make a moral difference?