Instructions: With a minimum of 900 words, write an essay that answers the prompt in depth and in detail. Consider all three Lessons 1, 2, and 3 as you address each part of the question. Make connections between your thesis statement and each paragraph, providing examples from the resources to illustrate your argument. Please write your name at the top of your essay. Your essay will be graded on your ability to demonstrate understanding of the course materials through fully developed, concisely-expressed ideas. There is no text box. You will need to upload a document to this page. NOTE: You will be asked to watch the video of Stormy Weather. This video is approximately 1 hour and 15 minutes. Your essay must describe dances, people, themes and concepts from the course. These must be selected from the Lesson resources. No outside research or quotes are needed and should not be used. Select two examples from different Lessons. Examples b. and c. (see instructions below) may be switched if your c. example is shown first in the movie followed by your b. example. Video is accessible below the prompt. —-BEGIN QUESTION TEXT—- Question (30 points): This assignment is a cold reading of a dance. When you see this piece, you should see it with your own eyes and through the lens of your own experience. Although it may be tempting, do not research this piece outside of course material. With a minimum 900 word essay, please: a) Write an introduction that explains your own personal experience of watching Stormy Weather, describing your expectations before watching the film, your thoughts as you watch it, and providing a thesis about this film. If you need help with a thesis then you could explain, from your perspective: how the dances illustrates the American experience and in what ways; how the movie illustrates the history of American dance. b) Themes example: Choose a dance scene from Stormy Weather and describe it. What makes this scene significant for you? How does it develop your thesis? As you describe this scene, compare it to themes, concepts, people, and dances from/including: Broadway themes or Modernist/Puritan themes. How are these themes represented in the film and/or in the dance scene? Which one(s) is represented and how? Form, technique and structure involved in this one scene. (consider technique as performing a cultural tradition, not about who taught it.) What movements and gestures are part of this dance? What technique(s) seem to be present? Who is represented? How the dance illustrates or contradicts your thoughts on the American identity and how it compares or contrasts to dances from Lessons 1, 2, or 3; c) History of dance example: Choose a second dance scene from Stormy Weather and describe it. What makes this scene significant for you and your discussion? How does it further develop your thesis? As you describe this scene, compare it to themes, concepts, people, and dances from other Lessons including: Form, technique and structure involved in this one scene. (consider technique as performing a cultural tradition, not about who taught it.) What movements and gestures are part of this dance? What technique(s) seem to be present? Who is represented? Compare it to themes, concepts, people, and dances from Lessons 1, 2, or 3. For instance, how does this dance mark a certain period of time and portray the culture that surrounds it? How does this dance illustrate cultural fusion or conservation of traditional dances or cultures? How does this dance compare to social dance or performance dance from the lessons? How the dance illustrates or contradicts your thoughts on the American identity and how it compares or contrasts to dances from Lessons 1, 2, or 3; d) Develop a conclusion that summarizes your thoughts on the film. Develop your thesis further by comparing both of the dance examples (b and c). What does the dance or film illustrate about society for its historical era. Examine these two examples and any other scenes or dance sections from Stormy Weather that stood out to you. Examine the differences between America in the era of the film and the present and what that says about dance and American values. Grading for Final Essay is based on: Analysis of the dances. Development of your thesis within each paragraph (or make a thesis that supports your analysis). Synthesis of course materials into your explanations. Use of form, technique, and structure. Inclusion of themes and concepts found in the Lessons. How you address the prompt, using only course material to support your interpretation of the dances. Refer back to the resources a minimum of 3 times for each section B and C (meaning a minimum of 6 times total).
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