Fluent Essays

1. Directions: please review the Power Point Lesson titled Thematic Analysis: Anarchy. Respond to the questions contained therein and post your responses here.Remember: Please provide a rationale for why you feel the way you do. Please refer to direct instances in the text when the question pertains to particular characters/incidents in the story. Quotes are recommended. 2. Please Review Lesson V Pt II - The Mask. The final slide features several questions you must answer for this discussion board. The lesson itself guides you through these questions, providing resources to help you navigate and reflect upon them. 3. Directions: follow the directives below and answer the subsequent questions (you may review the Culminating Lesson in the Week I folder to refresh your memory about the Psychological Approach)1. Please define id, ego, and superego in your own terms.2. If we view the entire cast of characters in V for Vendetta as entities within a single human mind, which character would most likely bea. idb. egoc. superegoBe sure to justify your assertions by including textual evidence, e.g. quotes and references to specific incidents in the text. 4.Id like you folks to take a look at a few articles relating to feminism and comic books, then weigh in on this business. What do you think? Are these folks justifiably concerned or do they need to get a grip? Why or why not? Where do we draw the line on censorship and PC?200 words minimum.http://www.fantasy-magazine.com/non-fiction/articles/the-objectification-of-women-in-graphic-novels/http://blogs.indiewire.com/womenandhollywood/marvel-ceo-doesnt-believe-in-female-superheroes-20150504http://io9.com/10-stupid-arguments-people-use-to-defend-comic-book-sex-1636381824http://www.theguardian.com/books/2015/mar/17/dc-comics-pull-batgirl-joker-cover-after-protests5. Directions: Review V for Vendetta. Pay close attention to how Evey is portrayed in the text. Do you believe Evey is a strong character, or a weak character? Give us several examples to support your assertion. If you think she is a strong character, provide us with page #s, panels, circumstances in which she exhibits that strength. thematic_analysis__anarchy.pdf culminating_lesson__critical_lens__1___psychological_approach.pdf _lesson_v_pt_ii___the_mask.pdf Unformatted Attachment Preview V for Vendetta Concepts for Reading pt. III: Order & Anarchy Anarchy ● Anarchy: departure from organized government, or an overarching source of control for a given population. What is anarchy? ● Obviously the denotation offered on the previous page only provides us with a basic understanding of anarchy. Most people have different ideas of how anarchy operates and what it means. ● What does anarchy mean to you? ● Additionally, what would an anarchistic society look like in your eyes? Anarchy ● “V” identifies himself as an anarchist. ● Do you agree or disagree? ● Why? Anarchy and V for Vendetta ● The irony of Moore’s work is that, while “V” identifies himself as an anarchist, and appears to be working to break down the system that has been established in a dystopian world, Evey describes a world engulfed by anarchy in her back story. ● What kind of world does she live in during and after the war (before the fascist regime takes over)? Anarchy and V for Vendetta ● Do you think the system (or lack thereof) of anarchy Evey describes is the same anarchy “V” is striving for through his actions? Anarchy and V for Vendetta ● What appears to be V’s notion of anarchy? ● What is his vision for a utopian society, judging from what you have read so far? (We can’t say for certain, but guesstimate). Anarchy and V for Vendetta ● V: “Anarchy means “without leaders” not “without order” ● Can anarchy be achieved without chaos? Critical Approaches Critical Approaches • Today you’ll get your first substantial look at how critical approaches work. We will discuss: • Purpose • Application Purpose • To focus research: For some, the basic critical analysis can be overwhelming. We always must narrow our focus. Don’t think about approaches in the context of quantity. Think quality. I’d rather see a well-crafted paragraph analyzing a character conflict than a shoddy paragraph trying to crunch character, plot, themes, symbols, etc. Purpose Cont • To enhance understanding: People choose critical approaches that are relevant to their lives. Most good literature can potentially be relevant to everyone’s life. However, it is not always apparent to the reader or the audience. Purpose Cont • Through the critical approaches literature becomes more relevant to our life and our interests. For example, reading Shakespeare’s Othello might be boring, but reading it in the context of feminist criticism could make it more exciting, more relevant to our lives. How do critical lenses operate? • Critical lenses are reminiscent of the concept of “filters” in anthropology. • Anyone familiar? Operation • According to anthropologists, everyone has a personal filter, a particular way that they view the world. Operation Cont • Likewise, each person is affected by a cultural filter. As Americans we see things differently than people in Iraq, for example. Religion plays into it, tradition, family values, etc. Operation • These filters also have the capacity to influence the way we read and interpret literature. This is one of the reasons literature appeals to some while not appealing to others. In order to fully appreciate a text we must find relevance to our own lives. Operation • So, initially, as a common reader of literature, critical approaches will raise your awareness about the relevance of texts in contemporary culture, and will broaden your appreciation of literature. • As scholars, critical approaches will give you the means to effectively narrowing your topic focus Rule of Thumb • less is more • If we get too broad, nothing meaningful is extracted from the text. • We must narrow our topic focus, and the critical approaches give us ample material to do so. Rule of Thumb • wide and shallow: if you skim the surface of a lot, you are doing little more than others. • Narrow and deep: If you focus and go into depth, you may cover some new territory. See how deep you can go before coming up for air. Psychological Approach • Today we’re going to talk about the psychological approach, because it is highly relevant to the Killing Joke. Psychological Approach • Quotation on following page is from X.J. Kennedy and Dana Gioias Literature: An Introduction to Fiction, Poetry, and Drama, Sixth Edition (New York: HarperCollins, 1995), pages 1790-1818. Psychological Approach ▪ Psychological Criticism: This approach reflects the effect that modern psychology has had upon both literature and literary criticism. Psychological Approach • Fundamental figures in psychological criticism include Sigmund Freud, whose psychoanalytic theories changed our notions of human behavior by exploring new or controversial areas like wish-fulfillment, sexuality, the unconscious, and repression as well as expanding our understanding of how language and symbols operate by demonstrating their ability to reflect unconscious fears or desires Application • Now you have a better understanding of what Psychological Criticism is. But how do we apply it? Application – An investigation of the creative process of the artist: what is the nature of literary genius and how does it relate to normal mental functions? Application • The psychological study of a particular artist, usually noting how an authors biographical circumstances affect or influence their motivations and/or behavior. Application • You’ll start to notice, and it will become more apparent throughout the semester, that many critical approaches bleed into one another. For example, studying the link between biography and an author’s literature is considered the “biographical approach.” Add psychological terminology, and it becomes “psychological.” Application – Another approach, the one we’ll typically focus on, involves psychological analysis of characters: – The analysis of fictional characters using the language and methods of psychology. Analysis of Fictional Characters • For example, if you wanted to compose a psychological analysis of Joker’s internal conflict, you could use Freud’s theory of “id, ego, superego.” • Anyone familiar with Freud’s theory? Internal Conflict • Id: primitive urges • Ego: mediator • Superego: Conscience Psychological Approach • In many stories different characters represent different aspects of the human mind. For example, some posit that Joker represents the ID, while Batman represents the SUPEREGO. Finally, Commissioner Gordon might represent EGO. Psychological Approach Cont Look up Erikson’s 8 stages of development. Character development, especially in coming of age stories, often parallels Erikson’s 8 stages. Application • Each stage is characterized by a conflict. Shame vs. Autonomy, Guilt vs. initiative, etc. • If the individual cannot resolve their issues they get stuck at a certain level of development. Application • For example, stage two is Autonomy vs. Shame/Doubt. • Perhaps you believe Joker does not believe in Autonomy, and is filled with shame and doubt. Therefore, Joker is stuck at stage two. Application • Look up Erikson’s 8 stages of development. Identify where you think Joker or Batman is on the scale. V for Vendetta: Masks Masks ! There are a few ways in which masks function in the text: ! 1. The mask is used to act as a symbol, a stand-in for a figurehead. ! The benefit of using a mask in this way is that the figurehead can never be killed. ! Alan Moore looks at the weakness of previous revolutions. They are always led by someone. Once that leader is dead, the revolution is over. Masks ! Beyond this function of the mask, the mask serves additional symbolic roles as well. ! 1. What could the mask signify in V for Vendetta? ! If you’re having a difficult time with the question, consider the poem on the subsequent slide. Masks ! Consider the following poem by Paul Laurence Dunbar: ! https://www.poets.org/poetsorg/poem/we-wear-mask ! What is Dunbar trying to say about the potential function of masks in our society? Does Dunbar’s poem shed any light on other ways masks might function in V for Vendetta? If not, how about considering real-life scenarios: ! MASKS ! Think about the people around you. Why do people wear masks? The following article has a few suggestions. ! ttp://www.huffingtonpost.com/tina-williamson/5-masks-we-wear-and-why-w_b_7786922.html ! The article above suggests there are many masks we choose to wear, some of which are potentially problematic. Masks – Questions for Consideration ! Who else wears a mask in V for Vendetta? ! What types of masks do you see around you? ! What types of masks do you wear? MASKS ! This concept of masks relates closely to social identity theory, which we’ll deal with more later in the semester. Ultimately, the position of social identity theory is that we shift and adapt to social groups so we can be integral parts of those groups. ! In addition to our masks or “selves” we construct to fit in with others, there are several others “selves” or masks we all have: MASKS ! We are composed of several selves: ! 1. The ideal self – the self we want others to see. ! 2. The shadow self – the self we hide from all others or most others ! 3. The composite self – the self composed of all our identities and masks, the self only we can know (also includes the shadow self). ! What is the true self? Masks ! Moreover, why do we cling so desperately to the notion of self? ! It is a survival mechanism. ! How do we take of the mask, so to speak, and become liberated from all of these conflicting selves? MASKS ! One solution V offers is Ego Death. ! Ego Death: death or loss of subjective identity, loss of sense of self Ego death can be a bad thing, such as in cults when people lose their sense of self and it is replaced by a collective sense of identity. They become slaves to the leader. Ego death can also be seen as a spiritual thing, such as with Buddhism, in which selflessness is equated with fearlessness, a liberating phenomenon. MASKS ! How does V get Evey to experience Ego Death in Book II? ! What are your thoughts about this? Questions for Discussion Board 7b ! 1. What could the mask signify in V for Vendetta? ! 2. Who else wears a mask in V for Vendetta? ! 3. What types of masks do you see around you? ! 4. What types of masks do you wear? ! 5. How does V get Evey to experience Ego Death in Book II? ! 6. What are your thoughts about this? ... Purchase answer to see full attachment