Proposal Assignment | Homework Help Websites
Objectives
Although the word “remix” most often brings to mind music, the larger concept of remixing has
to do with taking something old and making it new. Indeed, the texts we’ve been working with
this semester—both novels and films—can be understood as remixes of Austen’s Pride and
Prejudice, reimagining the nineteenth century story in a variety of new contexts.
For this project, you can choose any of the novels we’ve read for this class and create
something new—a video, a song, some kind of visual artwork, something digital, and so on. The
goal is to think carefully about the original, or “old,” material in order to not just draw on its
superficial plot points but also convey deeper interpretations of characters, themes, symbols,
and other literary elements. In class, we’ll look at a few remixes of Austen’s novel that can give
you some ideas about how “old” and “new” come together in media like web series and video
games.
You may work on this project individually, in a pair, or in a group of three. (If you decide to work
with others, make sure to review the policies about collaboration found in the syllabus!) You will
need to complete a proposal identifying your group members (if any) and offering a brief
overview of the remix you plan to create. This needs to be submitted on Blackboard no later
than Monday, Nov. 26, though you should feel free to submit it earlier if you’d like to get started
over Thanksgiving break. If you do not get a proposal approved, I will not grade the
completed project.
While it is difficult to assign specific guidelines to creative products, your remix should reflect a
reasonable amount of time and effort, should be complete and polished, and should clearly offer
a combination of “old” and “new.”
In addition to the remix itself, you will also produce a reflection paper that offers a narrative of
your inspirations, processes, and satisfaction with the final product. How did you decide on the
form or medium? What kinds of decisions did you have to make along the way? What were
some unexpected challenges? What do you think are the strengths of the product you’ve
created? Ultimately, what interpretative work does your remix do, and how does it do this? If
you work in a pair or group, each member will write and submit their own paper—do not
collaborate on this portion of the assignment.
Guidelines
Your remix must:
• reflect a reasonable amount of effort;
• be polished and complete in execution;
• go beyond a direct retelling or summary of the source text.
Your reflection paper must:
• be 2-3 pages in length;
• address all aspects of the remix process, from inception to completion;
• follow MLA style for document design (and citations, if applicable).
Resources and Reminders
• There is no shortage of material on the internet about remix culture, and I encourage you
to read some of it. At the very least, googling “remix culture” will offer some inspiration
about the various forms your remix might take.
• Take advantage of the media lab in Pickler Library, especially if there is technology that
you’ve wanted to learn how to use—this is a great opportunity to get started!
Grade Distribution
The Remix Project is worth 20% of your overall grade. That percentage is divided among the
following components:
• Remix 15%
• Reflection Paper 5%
