English 314J
Fall 2006
Jim Brown
Due Date
Thursday, December 7
Your final assignment for this class is to present the Myspace page that you've created. You will have 5 minutes to present your Microserfs Myspace pages. During these presentations, you can show us some of the different ways you've created an online identity for your character. You may also want to talk about things that, given more time, you would have done to the page.
In addition to this information, you must present at least one portion of your page that demonstrates our three different unit concepts. Here's how you'll do this:
1) Discuss your page in terms of representation. How is your character represented? What expected representations of a computer programmer does your page either conform to or disrupt? How does your page work, in terms of Mitchell's discussion of representation?
2) What subcultures might your character be a part of? What subcultural references does your page make, and how might those references be read differently by those within the subculture and those outside of the subculture? How could you discuss your page in terms of Hebdige's discussion of subculture?
3) Provide a brief close reading of your own page. What part of this text might be a candidate for a close reading? What kind of quirk or strange moment does it contain? What might we make of that quirk?
You may want to glance back at the Mitchell, Hebdige, and Miller readings to jog your memory about each unit. Also, you only have 5 minutes for this presentation (we need to make sure everyone has enough time to present). So, as you prepare, please keep this time constraint in mind. This is not the most formal presentation, but it will require preparation and organization.
As always, I won't be "grading" these presentations in the traditional sense. However, I will be taking notes and looking for evidence of the following:
1) The presentation is organized and shows evidence of thoughtful preparation
2) Your ability to apply the concepts we've talked about in each of our three units.
3) Evidence of a thoughtfully developed Myspace page.
