analyzing the novel Swing Time using the framework of Feminist Criticism (Chapter 4 in Critical Theory Today) or African American Criticism (Chapter 11 in Critical Theory Today). Some women smashing the patriarchy

May 16, 2023May 16, 2023 Discipline: English

Read: Composition 3 Prompt

For your third composition, you will be analyzing the novel Swing Time using the
framework of Feminist Criticism (Chapter 4 in Critical Theory Today) or African American Criticism (Chapter 11 in Critical Theory Today).

You can focus on the novel on its own, or any you can select any “full-length” text to use a supporting source. For example, a season of a TV show, a comic book run, a movie, a video game, a play, and so on. 

Then, choose one of the questions below to focus on:

Prompts
Feminist Criticism African American Criticism
  1. What does the work reveal about the operations (economically, politically, socially, or psychologically) of patriarchy? How are women portrayed? How do these portrayals relate to the gender issues of the period in which the novel was written or is set? In other words, does the work reinforce or undermine patriarchal ideology? (In the first case, we might say that the text has a patriarchal agenda. In the second case, we might say that the text has a feminist agenda. Texts that seem to both reinforce and undermine patriarchal ideology might be said to be ideologically conflicted.)
  1.  What are the racial politics (ideological agendas related to racial oppression or liberation) of specific African American works? For example, does the work correct stereotypes of African Americans; correct historical misrepresentations of African Americans; celebrate African American culture, experience, and achievement; or explore racial issues, including, among others, the economic, social, or psychological effects of racism? Or as can be seen in the literary production of many white authors, does the work reinforce racist ideologies?
  1. How is gender constructed by the author/narrator? What signs of masculinity or femininity are used to describe people, ideas, or actions? Are more masculine or feminine terms used in positive connotations? negative connotations? how are characters rewarded or punished for following traditional gender roles? how are characters rewarded or punished for transgressing (questioning or ignoring) traditional gender roles?
  1. How is race constructed in the novel? What aspects of the characters, places, culture, or language are racialized? How do the narrator or other characters display an understanding (or lack of understanding) or race? How realistically are racial attitudes or experiences presented in the novel, and how much do they correlate with current attitudes or experiences in the current United States?

OR answer one of the questions below that combines the critical theories:

  1. How do race and gender intersect to create the narrator’s experience in the novel? What aspects of the story are specific to people with particular combinations of racial and gender identities? How do these identities impact the events and outcomes of the novel? In particular, how do patriarchy and racism impact the narrator or other characters differently based on their gender and racial identities?
  2. although race and gender both play a role in this novel, which concept has a great impact on the narrator’s life? Which aspect of her identity has a great impact on how others treat her? Which aspect has a greater impact on her own thoughts, opinions, or actions? 

Your final draft will:

-answer one of these questions directly

-apply one or both the of the critical theories directly to the novel

-be about 5 pages long

-be formatted according to MLA rules

-include a correctly formatted Works Cited page

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