A Note About In-Depth Class Preparations

I have included a link to topics for in-depth preparations and added the names of those who have already signed up.  Those of you who haven't yet, please make sure you do so as soon as possible.  Your in-depth class preparations can take different forms.  Let's assume you had been assigned the essay on the "Golden Eagle."  You could have taken different approaches:

1.  Comparative:   Talk about the relationship between image (or images) and text.  You could begin wit a short summary:  explain the differences between the painting and the print; summarize the text.  Then ask questions:  How do we experience the painting or print; how do we experience the text?   Ask the class about differences between the two?  Is Audubon more innovative as an artist than as a writer?   The print tells a story (the bloody hare; the abandoned log in the background); whereas the text constantly asks us to see.   Make sure that you know, or ave thought about, the answers to the questions you are asking.  This need not last more than half an hour; although you would be welcome to moderate the entire class, know that I stand ready to take over after 30 minutes at the latest.

2. Analytic:  Focus on the text only.  Read and prepare the text carefully.  Identify references to sight and seeing.  Work with the rest of the class on identifying references to sight and gazing and think about their significance.  You could bring another (literary) text for purposes of comparison (let's say Poe's "The Tell[-Tale Heart").

3. Contextual:  research golden eagles in the 1830s (numbers; other contemporary books about birds including references to golden eagle--you can easily find those by going through the Lilly catalogue or nby searching googlebooks, limiting the time frame of the sources in which you are interested).  Who is Moses Kimball (from whom he acquires the bird)?  Who is Dr. Parkman?  Why was the hunter eliminated from the print?  Other plates with Audubon's self-portrait?

The last approach would require the most preliminary research.   Generally, be as creative as you would like!  These are just three ways of preparing these presentations.  No one needs to fear that he/she will have to conduct an entire class!  And I am always available to help you map our your own approach.