Assignment for Wednesday, 12.04.19

Dear Mythologists,

For Wednesday, December 4 (!!!), please do the following:

(1) Watch — via streaming service, reserved DVD, or your own copy — The Avengers: Infinity War (2018), the third film in our superhero team-up series. As before, take notes on anything that strikes you as resonating with Greco-Roman myth, especially on the What? Why? and How? spectrum of ideas. Your notes will form the basis for our discussion of the film in class.

(2) Read "Only Transform: The Monstrous Bodies of Superheroes," by Michael Kobre, a.k.a. chapter 9 of the edited volume Superhero Bodies (2018); this reading was distributed last class. As I noted then, this article pertains to comics, but we can use it as a basis for discussing the MCU. Take notes on interesting comments and insights, and be sure to bring your copy to class.

(3) The following students must recommend 3–5 minute sequences from Infinity War for close review in class: McNamara, Nelson, Peralta, Ratsimbazafy, Sajed. Please

• briefly describe the sequence;
• give approximate starting and ending times (hh:mm); and
• explain why reviewing this sequence is worth our time as it pertains to a mythical considerations of the MCU.

First come, first served. If someone has already suggested your sequence, choose another.

DC

Assignment for Friday, 11.22.16

Dear Mythologists,

As we continue our discussion of The Avengers: Age of Ultron (2015), please read the following:

• McSweeney, Terence. "'Isn't that why we fight? So we can get up and go home?': The Enduring American Monomyth in Avengers: Age of Ultron." In Avengers Assemble! Critical Perspectives on the Marvel Cinematic Universe, 186–204.

As before please take notes on anything interesting or helpful to your understanding of the MCU in mythical terms.

DC

Assignment for Wednesday, 11.20.19

Dear Mythologists,

For Wednesday, November 20, please do the following:

(1) Watch — via streaming service, reserved DVD, or your own copy — The Avengers: Age of Ultron (2015), the second film in our superhero team-up series. As you watch, take notes on anything that strikes you as resonating with Greco-Roman myth, especially on the What? Why? and How? spectrum of ideas. Your notes will form the basis for our discussion of the film in class.

(2) Print out and read "Myth," chapter 2 of Blair Davis' Comic Book Movies (2018), which is part of the Rutgers Quick Takes series on films and popular culture. Take notes on interesting comments and insights, and be sure to bring your print-out to class.

(3) The following students must use the blog comments feature to recommend 3–5 minute sequences from Age of Ultron for close review in class: Hoffman, Kelly, Lin, Lising. In your comments, please

• briefly describe the sequence;
• give approximate starting and ending times (hh:mm); and
• explain why reviewing this sequence is worth our time as it pertains to a mythical considerations of the MCU.

First come, first served. If someone has already suggested your sequence, choose another. If you're not signed in under your Google ID, or don't have one, be sure to identify yourself in the comments.

DC

Class on Friday, 11.15.19

Dear Mythologists,

On Friday you'll gather to discuss academic integrity with your Peer Mentor. As before, attendance is mandatory, and the lack of a formal assignment ought to give you time to perfect Annotated Bibliography 2, which is due on Saturday.

See you next Wednesday,

DC

Class on Wednesday, 11.13.19

Dear Mythologists,

On Wednesday, November 13, you'll be in the capable hands of our Peer Mentor, and you'll have a presentation from Skidmore's Career Development Center, or CDC for short, that will introduce you to the services that office provides. Unfortunately, students access these services far too late in their Skidmore careers. I want you to be ahead of the curve. 

While there's no formal assignment, you should be well on your way to completing Annotated Bibliography 2, whether by making edits to the first biblio, adding new sources, or both.

I know you know this, but attendance at tomorrow's class is mandatory. Further instructions from our Peer Mentor have been sent to you, so please follow them to the letter.

DC