3 | Final Project

Assingment 3 | Final Project (35%)

Syrian exiled sculptor Khaled Dawwa (top) with the help of relatives of people who disappeared in Syria, destroy his giant art work The King of Holes, depicting a potentate with a massive body, as part of a protest on the occasion of International Day of the Disappeared, in front of the United Nations offices in Geneva. – AFP

You may choose one of three options for your final project, due April 11, 2025 at midnight—these can be emailed to me. The final project can be done individually or in collaboration with 2-3 students. This has worked extremely well in the past when the group works on an outline and a clear division of labour ahead of time. You must present a coherent project (so read and revise each other’s voice). If you choose to work in a group, each student will receive the same grade.

Late policy:  Usually i am flexible, but as these are graduating classes I need to have the grades in by a specific date in April.   If you need an accommodation please contact me.  Assignments that are late without accommodation will be read, but I may not be able to provide written feedback.

Option 1 | Policy Brief

You are to come up with a written report that identifies a thematic topic related to the course that requires policy attention. The written report should be no shorter than 3,000 words and include:
1. Identification of an emergent contemporary policy issue and its policy relevance is clearly discernible,
2. Clear, convincing and realistic recommendations addressed to specific audiences,
3. Sufficient and convincing evidence to provide the target audience with information to make a decision,
4. A 200-300 word executive summary, and
5. At least 12 sources.

The following will be a guide to grading the paper: Content (60%)—including identification of policy issue, soundness of argument and analysis; Format and Presentation (20%)—including use of any figures, tables or appendices;
Writing (20%).

Option 2 | Creative Memory Project
In this option, you will choose a topic related to memory and justice create a personal or public/memory project engaging with some of the themes and topics explored in class (for example, curation as care, queer archives, participatory witnessing, joy as methodology, post-memory). This should be based on a subject that is meaningful to you and involves research of the topic (an event, a family history, a missing subject, etc.). This is your opportunity to address something you want to explore further or was not covered in class.  The project must include your conceptualization and analysis in an 1,000-1200 word written reflection on the piece using sources (with 10-12 citations) from the class.

Memory projects can take the form of a campaign, podcast (see for instance, Gone with a Trace), a virtual archive/website, a memory book or zine (if it is physical, you may want to photograph/scan and pdf), a design of a memorial or website (a model, a set of plans, a drawing), or a concept for an artistic exhibit. See samples of other final projects on the course website.

The  creative memory project must identify and include:
1.  A theme clearly connected to the class topic,
2.  A minimum (no maximum) 1,000-word piece that explains the concept of the memory project, the intentions and decisions you made in how it was designed, and the methods and process of its creation. You should cite at least 10-12 authors from the course materials and include a reference list, and
3.  A clear, compelling, and engaging statement of the piece and its intention (200 words, much like an executive summary).

The following will inform the evaluation of the creative project:
Content (50%);
Format (20%); Writing (10%);
Design/Visuals (20%)
Other considerations in the evaluation of the project are: 
Clarity of ideas, originality of ideas/vision, coherence of content/images/visions (for creative projects), and proper balance and integration of readings/ideas from the course.

Option 3 | Review
The third option is to visit a site of memory (museums, exhibits, artworks, marches, or memorial events), attend an event (a play, a protest), or engage with some other cultural product on memory (a book, a documentary) and write a review applying  concepts explored in the class to build on and develop your understanding of them. See three recommendations from below.

You should draw from the references we used throughout the semester, with a minimum of 12 sources. You are strongly encouraged to contact me about your review topic. This option should meet the expectations of an academic paper, including references and an abstract of 100 words. It should be a total of 4,000 words if written by one person, 5,000 if written by two, and 6,000 if written by three.  Photos or graphics encouraged.

The following will inform the evaluation of the review:
Content (50%)—including identification of an argument and conceptual approach and analysis; Presentation, Organization and Coherence of the Paper (20%);
 Referencing (10%); Clarity of Writing (20%)

Recommended topics:

  1.  The 14th Annual Women’s Memorial March, downtown Vancouver, every Feb. 14th
  2. The book, We the Kindling, by Otoniya Juliane Okot Bitek (and book launch, March 27, Liu Institute, 5pm)
  3. Documentary:  Nostalgia for the Light (Chile)

Option 4
An academic paper on a theme or topic of the class, reaching academic standards and reaching 6,000 words in length plus 12-15 references.

photo: https://www.gulf-times.com/article/689655/international/syrian-artist-destroys-statue-outside-un-in-political-message