Posting Assignment #5 (due Sunday 11/17, 11:59 P.M.; comment by Monday 11/18. 11:59 P.M.) Finding Pandoras (The Romantic in everyday life)

[Double rainbow.  'Oh wow, oh wow, oh wow!']

(Go HERE if you want to hear 'Yosemite Bear' again)

or as Wordsworth writes:

'My heart leaps up when I behold a rainbow in the sky'

We've spent the past week exploring how 'Romanticism' (big R) shapes the way we see ourselves and the world.  It may feel totally 'natural' to many of us (meaning, it's become hegemonic), but in fact it was invented at a particular time in history (the mid-1700s through the mid-1800s), motivated by specific historical forces (industrialization, urbanization), and active in many cultural products (poetry, philosophy, novels, painting, urban design, parks, recreation—and lots more).  It's still around, and it explains why so many of us feel so compelled by Avatar, and especially its representation of Pandora and the Navi.  We've spent a lot of time analyzing Pandora, what makes it 'Romantic,' and how these Romantic elements make so many people's 'hearts leap up'.  Now, in this post, you'll find another Pandora-like thing and do the same analysis of it.

OK, here's the theoretical background:  We claimed that 'The Romantic'  gave us (at least) three 'theories' about the world and the humans in it:

1.  A Theory of Knowledge: basically, that we can get to Truth via our feelings or emotions.  We can do it alone, as 'radical individuals.'  And we really don't need education.  In fact, maybe the more sophisticated, complex, education we have, the more of our pure, clear childhood innocence we lose.  Pickup trucks in Minnesota often sport 'Garage Logic' stickers—the product of local radio personality Joe Soucheray, who claims that any problem worth discussing can be solved in the garage.  He's a 'traditional-values' guy.  He's suspicious of 'eggheads' (Robin, for example).  Men just know, you know; they use their guts and feelings.  One of many examples.  Recall Charlton Heston's evocation of the patriot / farmer's sense of right and wrong.  'The child is father to the man.'  'Natural piety.'  'Humble and rustic life.' 
2. A Theory of Politics: a model of how we should live together as humans (and it looks A LOT like Pandora!): tribal, simple, even primitive—based on feelings and instincts.  Pretty unstructured.  Rural ('manners of rural life germinate from..elementary feelings'). Independent. Lots of 'freedom.' Maybe something like the guys camped out at Occupy.  Maybe a bit of anarchy combined with some some common ownership.
3. A Theory of the Beautiful, or what we call an (a)esthetics: emotional. Originating in, and stirring 'powerful feelings.' Imaginative, and throwing over everday life a 'colouring of the imagination.' Dealing with the commonplace.  Really honest, pure, simple and untutored.

Scavenger Hunt:  Go Find Some

1)  Find an example of the ROMANTIC IN ACTION—ads, songs, consumer goods (North Face, Patagonia), movie scenes, political appeals and platforms, activities (the Minnesota Rovers, Widgiwagan), public spaces (parks, Vertical Endeavors, golf courses, gardens, planned suburban communities and the ads for them), organic food ads in the Co-Op, 'preper' or 'survivalist' websites, and so on, which is anchored in the 'Romantic.'  Try for the small, clear and unexpected.  Post the image, quote the words, offer a link.  

2)  Analyze the RHETORIC and POLITICS.  How is 'the romantic' constructed in the example you found?  And what political / ideological position is it advancing? 

3)  Based on evidence from your analysis, make an ARGUMENT about the 'message' your example conveys.  What does it make people feel, and how — exactly — does it do that?  Make sure you can DEFEND every point you make with specific, detailed evidence from your analysis. 

4)  Do it with EXPLICIT use of our work, specifically you must use at least one concept from Wordsworth's 'Preface to the Lyrical Ballads' or Jean Jacques Rousseau's 'Discourse...on Inequality.'  Quote.  Explain in everyday English.  Apply it.  Want to go further?  Sure, you can.  Putting in a poem or 2, talking about a Hudson River School painting, or using the most anti-romantic philosopher there is (Tomas Hobbes) won't hurt at all, take a shot; we'll reward you.  We want to see this one look like serious, supported, advanced college writing.

* 400 words or more – again, you'll need some space for this.
* Specific use of our material required -- and (as we've been illustrating in class) you can range over the entire course.

Happy hunting.  Welcome to talk with your Team Member as you get ideas shaped up.