You will create a group-oriented documentary film “Community Arts” final project, due for presentation and submission starting December 11; and an accompanying a 1000-1750 word (4-7 page) paper that discusses the evolution of the project in greater depth, due at the date of the final exam (December 18).

Preliminary overview: The premise of the assignment is that the four class groups have each been asked to participate in a documentary project that gives a diverse account of the creative, artistic, and cultural life of the city. Early in the term, each group will be asked to propose a central theme, also discussing how each member of the group will craft a project that develops an aspect of that theme. There is a goal of overall diversity to projects within a group, and also among the different groups. Projects that are too much like each other will not be allowed. The first round of group and individual proposals will be due in late October or early November. At this early point in the semester, begin thinking of broad themes that might be appropriate for a documentary about the creative, artistic, and cultural life of the city (and how you and others might fashion focused topics out of them), and/or of focused topics that interest you which might subsequently be part of a broader theme. Two examples of a broad theme: fashion and design in holiday and religious observances; the cultural life of city parks and playgrounds. Two examples of focused topics that could be part of a broader theme: water towers; Bonsai trees for meditation. The end result of the final project will be a screening of your documentary films as a group and a final 1000-1750 word (4-7 page) write-up.

All final projects will be embedded here for viewing.