Popular Culture Analysis | 35%
Deadline: December 16, 2022
Word count: 2000-2500
Instructions and Rubric
In this assignment, you are required to write an essay that demonstrates your ability to
critically engage with themes of popular culture in the SWANA region. You will be required to
build your essay by asking framing questions. Strong questions will guide you to more
focused writing. You are asked to choose ONE popular culture item in the broad context of
SWANA and diaspora, and analyze it through the varied themes that we explored throughout
this course.
Most cases and contexts we looked at in this course were from the geographical context of
the SWANA, and the majority centred around Arabic-speaking countries. In this assignment,
you are encouraged to examine anything related to the SWANA region and beyond. For
example, you can look at visuals done by South West Asians or North Africans (Arabs or
non-Arabs) who live in Europe or North America and other diasporic geographies.
You can find such examples online or if you attended an art gallery that might be of
relevance.
Criteria of the popular cultural item:
? Current or historical
? Film (it cannot be any of the films listed in the Film Review assignment)
? Television related (a TV show, soap opera, commercial)
? Music video
? Song
? Visual or conceptual art
? Performance art or dance performance
? Social media (TikTok, Instagram, Twitter, Facebook, YouTube)
You are asked to locate the chosen popular culture within larger conversations in SWANA
politics or histories or other social dynamics (like identity, gender, class, race) and examine
its significance to cultural change, revolutions, politics or other pressing issues that you
choose to examine. You must use 4 academic references from the syllabus, and a minimum
of 2 academic and peer-reviewed published texts outside the syllabus. You must use a
consistent referencing style and a final comprehensive bibliography.
The rubric is on the next page.
Rubric Criteria:
Grade
Framing the essay through one or more questions.
3
Relevance of chosen popular culture case to the region.
Choose ONE popular culture case.
3
Description of the context and significance of the case study
(popular culture) you choose
6
Description of the popular cultural item you choose (what is it
about?)
5
Examine, analyze and link the popular culture item to at least
2 themes discussed in the course
5
Incorporate 4 academic textual references from the course
and 2 peer-reviewed outside the course in analyzing the
popular culture item
6
Critical thinking and originality
3
Language and coherent structure
2
In-text references and bibliography (any style – just keep it
consistent)
2

Purchase answer to see full
attachment