Writing homework

Option A---Artist you gonna write: Ma Rainey

Choose an artist we have studied, and discuss a work or works that you did not already use for your homework, and which we did NOT study in class (by study, I mean discuss together in class. There are always extra images on the course slides that we don’t go over, and those would be fine to use).

Write a paper that analyzes how your artist engages with at least two of the following themes:

· Femininity – To what extent might this artist be perceived as engaging with traditionally female materials, shapes, thematic content? Or does this person question/ask us to think again about what female art/material/culture is?

· Artistic Equality – To what extent is this artist involved in questions of access or artistic representation (who gets to be exhibited or heard)?

· Politics – How is the artist perceived politically? Do people see “messages” in her art and if so what are they? How have the artist’s gender and race played a role in how people see her?

· Iconography – What about the singer/artist’s persona or work has gone beyond mere popularity to become internationally known/recognized, and why?

· Pioneering – Did this artist become one of the first to occupy a male-dominated branch of art? If so, how did she break in, and what was the reception to her doing so?

Please note: Within the course of your paper, you will be assessing particular strengths and weaknesses you see in the artist. (You are free to use the first person if you choose). However, do not mistake this assignment for a music/art review. Your main purpose is to analyze how the artist fits into the course themes so far – it is not to praise (or trash) the artist.

FLIP OVER FOR TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS (

Technical Specifications

· This paper should be between 3-5 full pages.

· Give your paper a unique title that expresses your main idea (not “Georgia O’Keeffe.”)

· No cover sheet is necessary. Place your name and the course number at the top of the left hand margin (see my example at the top of the assignment sheet)

· Use a professional 12 point font, such as Times Roman, and double space.

· STAPLE OR PAPER CLIP YOUR PAPER. I do not carry around a stapler to do this for you.

· You do not need outside sources or a Works Cited. If you choose to use outside reviews or sources, make sure that they are appropriately cited in either MLA or APA format.