Discussion Board

From Fiction to Fact

Comparing Legend with Reality

The purpose of this assignment is to compare the New Orleans portrayed by popular media such as books and movies with the day-to-day reality of the city. During the course, you will read one novel (by novelist James Lee Burke) and view one film (The Big Easy) that will portray New Orleans in a way intended by the writer of the book and the producer of the film. Your task is to identify a theme of interest about the city, consider how the two popular media sources approach that theme, and either validate or dispute it by conducting your own research. For example, both popular media sources will portray New Orleans as a high-crime city; is that really the case or does your own research say something different? Through this assignment you will be able to select a topic that appeals to you and then expand your research and knowledge about it. The first assignment (due February 22nd) worth 10 points is simply a writing plan (no more than one page) that will synthesize/outline your topic and research question for the final assignment. The final assignment is worth 100 points and is due on the final day of class.