Artist Persona Essay

In this assignment, you write about a particular artist's self-presentation. What kind of persona do they create?
This essay is driven by a thesis (your argument and your term for the artist’s self-presentation).

Focusing on one artist (likely a singer or rapper), write an essay that examines music, visuals, and
lyrics from two official videos. (In addition, you may talk about an official photo/image, such as a CD cover.)
(Do not use a live performance video.)

The essay will have a one-paragraph introduction and four body paragraphs - around 1000 words.
The number of BPs is more important than the word count. Note: The essay will NOT have a conclusion paragraph.

Your essay will analyze their self-presentation in terms of their musical genre and issues of masculinity and/or femininity.
Is their self-presentation typical and/or atypical of the genre’s artists? How so?
*For a male performer, analyze how the elements you discuss add up to the portrayal of a distinct type of masculinity.
(As discussed in class, you will come up with a specific and informative name for that type of masculinity.)
*For a female performer, analyze how the elements you discuss add up to the portrayal of a distinct type of femininity.
(As discussed in class, you will come up with a specific and informative name for that type of femininity.)
*If an artist doesn't identify as male or female, you can discuss their non-binary self-presentation.

Things to look for and discuss: settings (places and moods), objects, clothing, facial expressions, physical gestures, poses,
roles played by other people (especially other genders), lyrics, vocal performances, instrumental performances,
sounds, etc. What values are endorsed by each? How do these elements relate to each other? Are they typical and/or atypical
of those found in the genre’s music, lyrics, and/or videos? How so?

While staying focused on your one artist, you may compare and contrast them (in a very specific way) to two or three peers
in this genre (contemporary or historical): Is their self-presentation typical and/or atypical of the genre’s artists? How so?

Describe and analyze. No impressions, no opinions, judgments, or evaluations. Be specific; avoid vague generalizations.
NO RESEARCH!  NO NEEDLESS FACTS about the artist etc.
 
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Note: Your introductory paragraph should name the form of masculinity or femininity (or other type) and describe it.
It should name the artist's genre. (Be specific in the ways we discussed.) Name the videos you will discuss.
Begin in a compelling way by describing a relevant scene or lyric in detail.
Your essay title should name the artist and include some key terms, maybe some key lyrics that echo your claim.

Note: Each body paragraph (BP) should center on a specific claim about a limited amount of evidence; for example, one BP
might analyze two objects; another might analyze a few facial expressions in terms of a line or two of lyrics; etc. . .
[See this information on body paragraphs - and this page on BP Topic Sentences and their connection to the Thesis. ]

Note: This is not a two-artist comparison paper - every paragraph focuses on your main artist. You might bring in the
comparisons at the beginning or end of a BP as a way to reinforce a point about your main artist.

Note: If you make a contemporary and/or historical comparison, be sure to identity each artist's specific genre.
Note: Eliminate all biographical and historical facts - stay focused on the artist's self-presentation in the songs/videos.
Note: As always, if you plagiarize, you will get a zero for this assignment and perhaps fail the course.
Note: As always, follow all instructions very carefully, such as the formatting requirements below.
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Use 12 point Times New Roman font. For line spacing, use double space or 1.5 spacing.
Type and center your informative title where a typical paper title would be. Don't use bold or italics for this title.
Put the song's title in quote marks whenever it appears. Staple the signed plagiarism/cheating contract to the BACK of the assignment.
In the upper right hand corner of the first page, single space the following information in the following order:   
 Your first and last name   
 Assignment title 
 Assignment due date in this form: Month day, year (for ex., March 17, 2019)  
 Your word count

Remember, the rest of the assignment should be in double or 1.5 line spacing.
You must insert page numbers via the INSERT function in Word - do not hand write them.
You must staple all sheets together. 
Click here for help with format directions. Match the spacing on this example.