Unconventional Artists – Essay
Several of the writers we have studied this semester are considered iconoclastic or avant-garde for a number of reasons; some developed new genres of writing, while others took unique approaches to their craft. Consider Rousseau, for example, who developed what we now consider the modern autobiography. The deeply personal content and his introspective approach was unheard of in his day, but we have come to expect those very features in modern autobiographical works.
Wordsworth shared intense personal experiences in his poetry—again, an unusual effort at the time, but something we consider typical today. Voltaire, Dickinson, Keats—these writers experimented with form, theme, and perspective, and their genius, to some extent, was not completely recognized or appreciated in their time. Emily Dickinson was, perhaps, the most unconventional poet of her era, and her talents are still recognized today.
Compare Dickinson’s works and approach to an artist from another era and/or medium. You can write about a painter, poet, songwriter, performer, producer, director, or even an athlete or an architect who has been considered “ahead of his/her time” or who has approached his/her craft from a new and unique angle. The options are practically unlimited.
Compare the two artists and show that in every art form, and in every era, artists have come along who defy expectations and introduce new forms to their field.
Sometimes those new forms are embraced immediately, while others take a bit longer to become accepted. Later, we look back and realize how ground-breaking those individuals’ efforts were.
Your paper should include the following:
an introduction paragraph with a clearly stated thesis that sets up for a comparison or discussion of the two artists;
a body paragraph that discusses one or two of Dickinson’s poems covered this semester, with an explanation of how she was unique or different, supported by examples and details from her writings;
a body paragraph (or two) describing another artist or performer, with an explanation of how he/she is/was unique or different, supported by examples and details from his/her works or writings or performances, etc.;
a conclusion paragraph that wraps up your paper and brings it to a close.
Your paper should be 2 – 2 ½ pages, typed, double-spaced, with one-inch margins and 12 point font. You must cite your sources according to MLA format (both in-text citations and Works Cited entries).
