Module 2: Genre Conventions and O Henry's "The Last Leaf"

 

Module 2: Genre Conventions and O Henry's "The Last Leaf"

 

In this module we're going to examine a key concept in college writing: understanding genre conventions. Whenever we write something, we are (almost) always writing for an audience that has certain expectations. For instance, a writer could accurately depict an event in two totally different ways, yet keep faithful to what happened in that event. Case in point: You go to a really fun party. You might send a text to your best friend. You might tweet about it. You might post an Insta. You might make a FaceBook post (no, only old people use FaceBook). You might write a snap. You might write a standard email message. You might write a postcard. You might write a traditional, old-fashioned letter. All of these different formats bring with them their own "rules" or expectations. These are called genre conventions.

In this next essay (draft due Sept 21, final due Sept 23), write about how these different versions of O. Henry's short story, "The Last Leaf" operate. They all tell the same basic story, but they do it in wildly different ways. Which version do you prefer? Why? Is the original always the best? Do adaptations always lose something? Or do they add relevance to contemporary culture? The questions above are suggestions to get you started; they are not a list of questions you must answer. Find your own angle of approach. 

Use the same two-column format with an image in the top left corner that we used in our first brief essay. For this essay, the image should be an actual leaf (drawn, photographed, scanned, appropriated, etc.). You can include the branch it's clinging to or not. If you want to make it a conceptual idea of "leafiness", go for it.

Questions? As always: csmith@dcad.edu

Here's an article about Genre Conventions to get us started. 

Links Below to 15 Versions of "The Last Leaf" 

First Appearance, 1906, page 198

Original Story

Film Version

Longer Film Version

Mormon Film Version

Children's Animation

Learning English

Audiobook

Japanese Anime Version

1963 Pop Song

Tom Waits & Keith Richards Version

Storyboard Comic Version

Quasi-Documentary Version

Reader's Digest Version

I did not include a link to the version by heavy-metal band, Monolord. Curious students can easily find it with a Google search, but it's too disturbing for general consumption.