Your assignment is to write a short position paper (1 to 2 pages double spaced, or roughly 250-500 words) answering ONE of the following two questions:
(1) How much appropriation do you think is justifiable in creating new works of art which draw on previously existing source material? As case studies, consider Nina Paley’s use of Annette Hanshaw’s music in
Sita Sings the Blues
and Shepard Fairey’s adaptation of an Associated Press news photograph for his 2008 Barack Obama “Hope” campaign poster. In each case, do you feel the artist was right or wrong in the way they used the material? Were the corporate entities involved right or wrong to claim their copyrights gave them the power to suppress these works?
-OR-
(2) When an artist freely adapts material that is strongly associated with a culture other than his or her own, does that artist have a special responsibility to avoid offending some members of that culture? Would the same standards apply to an artist from within the culture? As a case study, consider Nina Paley’s contemporary retelling of the Ramayana epic in
Sita Sings the Blues
. Some Hindus condemned the film while other Hindus applauded it. When, if ever, should an artist compromise his or her vision in deference to interest groups claiming offense?
Whichever question you choose, you may argue pro or con or somewhere in between, but whatever side you are on, you should avoid emotional rants and baseless charges. Summarize each side’s position, and use specific evidence and sound reasoning to support your case. Your writing will be assessed according to the amount of time and thought you put into the work, the persuasiveness of your reasoning, and the clarity of your writing. You may refer to outside sources if properly cited, but do not copy from websites or other authors; use your own words. As always, grammar, spelling, and style count; be sure to proofread your paper for any mistakes.
.
Your assignment is to write a short position paper (1 to 2 pages dou.docx
1. Your assignment is to write a short position paper (1 to 2 pages
double spaced, or roughly 250-500 words) answering ONE of
the following two questions:
(1) How much appropriation do you think is justifiable
in creating new works of art which draw on previously existing
source material? As case studies, consider Nina Paley’s use of
Annette Hanshaw’s music in
Sita Sings the Blues
and Shepard Fairey’s adaptation of an Associated Press news
photograph for his 2008 Barack Obama “Hope” campaign
poster. In each case, do you feel the artist was right or wrong in
the way they used the material? Were the corporate entities
involved right or wrong to claim their copyrights gave them the
power to suppress these works?
-OR-
(2) When an artist freely adapts material that is strongly
associated with a culture other than his or her own, does that
artist have a special responsibility to avoid offending some
members of that culture? Would the same standards apply to an
artist from within the culture? As a case study, consider Nina
Paley’s contemporary retelling of the Ramayana epic in
Sita Sings the Blues
. Some Hindus condemned the film while other Hindus
applauded it. When, if ever, should an artist compromise his or
her vision in deference to interest groups claiming offense?
Whichever question you choose, you may argue pro or con or
somewhere in between, but whatever side you are on, you
should avoid emotional rants and baseless charges. Summarize
each side’s position, and use specific evidence and sound
reasoning to support your case. Your writing will be assessed
according to the amount of time and thought you put into the
work, the persuasiveness of your reasoning, and the clarity of
your writing. You may refer to outside sources if properly cited,
but do not copy from websites or other authors; use your own
2. words. As always, grammar, spelling, and style count; be sure
to proofread your paper for any mistakes.
