II. 8 short critical responses (120 points total)
Critical responses are brief write-ups responding to the readings of the week, where students should review/analyze the readings and connect them to relevant “real world” examples. You are responsible for writing a total of eight (8) critical responses over the course of the semester. Responses should not exceed two (2) double-spaced pages (Times New Roman font, 12-point font size, 1” margins).
Your responses should have three parts:
1) a brief summary and critical commentary (analysis) concerning the main points of the readings;
2) two to three critical questions about the readings, of the kind you might ask to encourage deeper discussion of the major issues in class
3) discussion/analysis of a current issue or phenomenon related to the topic/readings for that week. You will find and discuss a relevant news item, article, commentary piece, blog, social media post, YouTube video, etc., concerning the issue(s) in question. You must provide the link to the media you found at the end of this section.
Responses are due by 11:59 p.m. on Friday of each week, submitted via that week’s assignment link on the course Blackboard site (found in the “Critical Responses” content area). Late papers will be scored on merit, and then reduced one letter grade per class session that has passed after the assigned due date.
If you wish to improve your total points for this portion of your grade, you may write ONE additional essay (your 9th); I will then drop the lowest score out of your nine total assignments.
Week 13: Labor and Status
Mon 4/11
– Markovic, Alexander. 2013. “Beat that Drum! Exploring the Politics of Performance among Roma Brass Bands in Vranje, Serbia.” Forum Folkloristika 2 (Winter). URL: https://eefc.org/post-folklorista/beat-that-drum/
Wed 4/13
– Van Nieuwkerk, Karin. “Honor and Shame.” In A Trade Like Any Other: Female Dancers and Singers in Egypt. Austin: University of Texas Press. Pp. 116-140.