Due: 4pm July 25th Value: 25% Length: 700 words (+/- 10%) plus bibliography Rese

Due: 4pm July 25th
Value: 25%
Length: 700 words (+/- 10%) plus bibliography
Research Requirements: YES
Find an issue/event/cultural product/cultural practice/etc that connects to one or two key concepts from this course. See schedule of readings and lectures for list of key concepts.
Draw from at least two sources that discuss the key concept or the issue/event/product/practice etc. These can be non-scholarly sources (blogs, newspapers, YouTube videos) or scholarly sources (peer-reviewed, published). You can use course texts as your two sources.
Scholarly Research Requirement: OPTIONAL
What is this assignment?
In this assignment we bridge the academic world of concepts and theories, and the social world of our real lives. We do this by identifying something that is going on in the world that fascinates us (or angers us) and identifying and exploring what concepts and ideas in our course are relevant to that issue.
Students write a mini essay or exegesis that makes salient connections between the issue* and one or two of the key concepts identified in the schedule of readings. Assignments should:
Clearly identify the issue* and which key concepts they are investigating
Explain how this concept is at work in this issue*.
Explain and explore what we learn about the issue* by applying this concept.
Explain and explore how our understanding of the key concept changes, is challenged by, or enriched by seeing it at work in the real world.
Draw upon at least two sources.
Have a clear introduction and conclusion (do not simply answer these questions one at a time)
*For shorthand I say “issue” but you can look to events, products, practices, politics, etc.
Examples will be presented in lecture throughout the course. Here are some more:
Concept Issue*
“Culture industries” Products: Lego’s Marilyn Monroe Art Series
“mapping” and “decolonisation” Products/Experiences: “Welcome to Country” app
“government regulation” Issue: Canada’s 2030 Emissions Reductions Plan (ERP)
“cancel culture” and “activism” Event: #CancelCanadaDay
“participatory culture” Product/Experience: Warhammer Community
“micro-celebrity” Event: What’s trending on TikTok
“persona” and “celebrity” Event: Keith Urban in concert
“discipline” Issue: John Howard Society’s 5-Point Plan to Improve
Corrections
IMPORTANT: You must approve your topic with your TA in advance.