Assignment Four

Money and the Arts

Kill Money

Kill money, put money out of existence.

It is a perverted instinct, a hidden thought

which rots the brain, the blood, the bones, the stones, the soul.

Make up your mind about it:

that society must establish itself upon a different principle

from the one we've got now.

We must have the courage of mutual trust.

We must have the modesty of simple living.

And the individual must have his house, food and fire all free

like a bird.

D. H. Lawrence

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In this assignment students will work together in teams to identify and interpret "money" as a metaphor in an artistic work.

The assignment has three parts.

1. Each group must choose a work of art in which money is used as a metaphor. I recommend that groups exchange ideas by email and then meet to make their selection. The work of art may be a story, a song, a movie or part of a movie, a play or part of a play, or an example of graphic art.

2. Each group will present its chosen work to the class on November 16. Groups may perform their work or present a performance of the work. For example, groups may play a recording of a song, play a section of a video, read a poem, or act our a section of a play. Presentations will be limited to ten minutes each.

Groups should make their chosen work accessible to the class by providing members of the class with a copy of the text of the work.

3. After each presentation, the group will provide the class with its own interpretation of the work in which they explain how money is used as a metaphor in the work.

Groups:

One: Naomi, Kinsey, Matt, Danny, David Slack

Two: Nell, Jessica, Melissa, Cort, Charles

Three: Amanda, Rahul, Michelle, Jon

Four: David Strange, Justin, Michael, Patrick