Ashford University American Identity Questions

CHOOSE ONE OF THE FOLLOWING QUESTIONS:

• Modernism and Postmodernism
  • How does the view of technology and/or what is new change from modernism to postmodernism? Use Eliot (modernism) and Delillo (postmodernism) to compare and contrast modernism and postmodernism.
    • You may want to consider: What is modernism? What is postmodernism? What do modernism and postmodernism say about technology and/or what is new? How does the literature demonstrate your ideas? How do these movements shape human character in the works (Prufrock and Jack/Heinrich)?
    • (Use quotes and examples from both works of literature.)
• American Identity
  • Develop an argument to explain the role of money in 2 of the following: Do the Right Thing, “What You Pawn I Will Redeem,” or “Recitatif.” How and why is money important in these works?
    • What are standard views of money and work? Who has money and who doesn’t? Who owns businesses/property and who doesn’t? How does having or lacking money impact the characters (particularly Mookie and Sal; Jackson Jackson; and/or Twyla and Roberta). How does American culture value money?
  • NOTE 1: Your paper should have a clear argument that runs throughout. Each point that you make should be related to this argument. 
  • NOTE 2: Remember to use (and explain!) quotes from the readings/films. Engage in a dialogue with the texts.