Choosing from one of the prompts below, compose an analytic essay, complete with a formal introduction, evidenced body paragraphs (in-text citations)–a conclusion is optional.
Your essay should draw from both texts, and should answer the specifics of the question–with as much precision, depth, and argumentative objectivity as possible.
Prompt choices:
1) In the lecture on Oedipus (Week 13). there is a general explication of the theory of tragedy. In “i got some bad ideas in my head,” by Cynthia Fuchs, the author explores the tragic themes Scoresese found significant, and expressed, in his film.
In your essay, first provide a working definition of tragic storytelling, drawn broadly from the lecture. Once you have provided this definition of tragedy, as your thesis, then select two core concepts, from the ‘Basic Tragic View’ section (pg.4-5) of the lecture, which you think particularly apply to the narrative of Taxi Driver. That is, how does Scorsese’s film achieve a modern rendition of classical tragic storytelling. For support, you may draw from either Fuch’s text or the Taxi Driver screenplay. The goal of this essay is to forward a working definition of tragedy, while underscoring two of its most basic conceptual elements, and then using the story of Taxi Driver to illustrate how these elements help communicate the tragic worldview–via storytelling and character representation.
2) In Bill Keller’s “Is Glenn Greenwald the Future of News?,” a core critique Greenwald poses, of a specific journalistic tendency, is what he calls the “X says Y” formulation. Greenwald emphasizes that journalists often write in a way which claims that “‘X says Y’ rather than X says Y and that’s false'” (2). In “Free Thought and Official Propaganda,” by Bertrand Russell, the author asserts that in order to avoid the problem of propaganda, in any democracy which values free-speech, the remedy is essentially two-fold: “better education and more skeptical public opinion” (8).
In your essay, analyze the dialogue and connection between these two critiques–that of Greenwald and Russell. That is, first, what do each of these critiques mean? Then, how does Greenwald’s critique of the “X says Y” formulation, and Russell’s solution to the problem of propaganda, relate fundamentally to one another? In other words, in what ways do these sentiments depend on one another, or form a mutual support for one another, as essentially democratic principles.
3) In “The Library of Babel,” Jorge Luis Borges explores ideas surrounding the foundations of language. Borges discusses the cultural and situational invention of symbols, and the way symbols come to have meaning between individuals. Ultimately, in his article, Borges’ suggests “this solution to the ancient problem: The Library is unlimited but periodic” (118). In his article on “Nasty Emotions,” Robert Solomon discusses the core differences between five foundational emotions–and how although there is overlap between specific emotions, there are also important differences.
In your essay, first explain Borges’ thesis, in terms of language. That is, unpack in detail, how is language essentially ‘unlimited’ and how is language necessarily ‘periodic?’ Once you have explained this distinction, having to do with how language forms and functions, apply this difference to how Solomon unpacks the varying emotions. That is, what do you think Borges would say about what Solomon does in his article, and/or what do you think Solomon would say about Borges’ understanding of how language works–given his explanation of theories of emotional intelligence.
4) In Daniel Kahneman’s article “Keeping Score,” the author explains this fundamental tendency and pattern of mental accounts. Kahneman argues that the mind, in limitless contexts, will attempt to keep track of distinct phenomena, with the intention of providing to one’s self a mental record of all events.
In Michael Talbot’s The Holographic Universe, the author explores the inexplicable nature of images, and how the metaphor of a hologram could be a more accurate way to represent the fundamental nature of reality. Throughout his speculative text, Talbot provides a number of distinctive examples, all with the purpose of supporting his hypothesis, that considering the way holograms work provides insight into a realm not typically discussed.
In your essay, first provide an explication of Kahneman’s article. That is, what does he mean by the act of score keeping and what are its consequences in considerations of how individuals notice patterns and virtually build arguments. Then, how does Kahneman’s thesis relate to Talbot’s speculation regarding the holographic universe? Specifically, what does Talbot mean, as best you can gather, with this notion of the metaphor of the holographic view? Then, how does Talbot depend upon score keeping to present or try to make a case for his essential argument.