Week Three: Blurring the Lines Between High and Low

Gilbert Seldes was one of the first writers to celebrate a new range of arts and media that were energizing American culture in the 20th century. He called his essay Seven Lively Arts. This week we will look at several of them including Jazz, Slapstick and the Comics. 

The Reading Assignment for this week requires you to check-out and read a book of comic strip reprints from the library. I am requesting you try one of the comic artists listed on the this week's schedule on the course syllabus. 

In addition I am asking your to watch one of the silent movies available on the course resource page or one from the silent movies available on Netflix. 

For this week's writing assignment, please write a blog post of some 350 words that discusses the question of how the act reading changes when the text is comprised of both words and pictures. Please give specific examples to support your observations.