First Longer Essay: Henry James, Nathaniel Hawthorne, and Me

James and Hawthorne present us with two very different characterizations of artists in their stories. What do each of these artists represent in the world of their stories? What do they represent as ideas in the world at large? Which of these two artists most closely resembles you? If both of them do, explain. If neither of them do, explain. Feel free to address related questions. Be sure to have a clear central argument (a/k/a thesis) that you present in the first or second paragraph. Can you point to it? If the answer is no, keep trying. 

Due: Noon on October 10. Upload to Populi. 

This assignment is our first longer and layered one of the semester. Please pay close attention to the directions. Close knowledge of Henry James's "The Real Thing" and Nathaniel Hawthorne's "The Artist of the Beautiful" will be necessary for a successful essay. In other words, you'll need to read the stories more than once. Please use the Hathitrust links that I have provided, not ones that you have found on your own. 

You are required to incorporate textual evidence directly from the stories. It is recommended that you use short quotations rather than long, and that you embed the quotations in the middle part of your paragraphs. Don't forget to include the page number. You, the author of the essay, should finish the paragraphs. Remember: The quotations don't speak for themselves. You are also free to read secondary criticism about these stories and their authors, but it's not required for this assignment. If you choose to incorporate secondary sources, you need to cite them correctly. We'll be talking about this next week, but you can go ahead and consult the Purdue OWL's MLA formatting material to get a head start. 

Your double-spaced "standard" college essay must have at least ten developed paragraphs (between 5 and 12 sentences is a good but not ironclad guideline). This should result in approximately 4-5 double-spaced pages. Be sure to give your essay a meaningful title, and proofread it carefully before uploading it.   

Questions?  csmith@dcad.edu

Humorous Summary of "The Real Thing"

 

I think this video is funny. Do you agree? Why or why not?

Reading Assignment for Thursday, September 28: Hawthorne's "The Artist of the Beautiful"

Here is a Hathitrust link to a 1894 edition of Nathaniel Hawthorne's short story collection, Mosses from an Old Manse. "The Artist of the Beautiful" is the second to last story.

Read this story for our next class meeting. No writing homework this week. 

Here is a link to the Librivox audio recording of the story. 

Lastly, here is the link to the paired scholarly article.

Chat GPT 3:5 "Writes" an Essay

Below you'll find the output of my Chat-GPT prompt. What do you think of it as an essay? What are its strengths and weaknesses? Does it have a main point? How would you describe its style? 

Maybe it's lousy as an essay but not bad as an idea-generator that would later lead to an original essay. Remember, even the company that created this technology "Open AI" admits that its output doesn't produce reliably truthful results. Click here. 

Write a college-level essay about the role of the artist in Henry James' story, "The Real Thing"

Title: The Role of the Artist in Henry James' "The Real Thing"

Introduction

Henry James, renowned for his intricate exploration of human psychology and social dynamics, often delves into the lives of artists and the challenges they face in the pursuit of their craft. In his short story "The Real Thing," James provides a compelling examination of the role of the artist in society. Through the characters of the unnamed narrator, the struggling artist, and the idealistic Miss Churm, James presents a nuanced portrayal of the artist's struggles, aspirations, and the tension between art and reality. This essay explores the multifaceted role of the artist as depicted in "The Real Thing," highlighting how James scrutinizes the artist's quest for authenticity and its impact on personal and societal dynamics.

I. The Struggling Artist: Aspirations and Limitations

The central character of the story, the unnamed narrator, is a successful writer who grapples with the dilemma of finding authentic models for his illustrations. He represents the artist's aspiration to capture genuine human experiences and emotions in their work. The narrator's artistic endeavors are underpinned by a desire to transcend mere appearances and access the real essence of his subjects. However, his struggle to find suitable models who possess both the aesthetic qualities and the depth of character he seeks highlights the artist's limitations in translating life into art. This struggle mirrors the inherent challenges artists face when trying to represent the complexities of the human condition.

II. The Idealistic Miss Churm: Artistic Objectification

Miss Churm, an aspiring actress who models for the narrator, embodies the tension between art and reality in the story. She is idealized by the artist as the "real thing" he seeks to capture, and yet, she is objectified through the process. Miss Churm's role as a model underscores the artist's tendency to reduce individuals to mere subjects of their work, reducing their humanity in the process. James, through Miss Churm, critiques the artist's propensity to exploit the lives of others for the sake of their creative pursuits.

III. The Artist as Observer: A Critical Lens on Society

James also uses the artist as a perceptive observer of societal norms and values. The narrator's keen eye for details and his awareness of the social hierarchies and pretensions that surround him position him as a critical commentator on the world he inhabits. His role as an artist enables James to scrutinize the façades that individuals present to the world and the disconnect between appearances and underlying truths. Through this lens, James illustrates the artist's capacity to reveal the complexities and contradictions of society, making them a mirror through which society can introspect.

IV. The Conflict Between Art and Reality: Sacrifice and Authenticity

The conflict between the artistic pursuit of authenticity and the demands of reality is a central theme in "The Real Thing." The artist's relentless quest for the genuine often comes at a personal cost, as it requires sacrifices and compromises. In the narrator's case, his commitment to his craft strains his relationships with his wife and even his own artistic integrity. James raises questions about the extent to which artists should be willing to blur the line between art and life in their pursuit of authenticity, and what they might lose in the process.

Conclusion

In "The Real Thing," Henry James presents a complex portrayal of the artist's role in society. Through the characters of the struggling artist, Miss Churm, and the perceptive narrator, James examines the artist's aspiration for authenticity, the objectification of subjects, the critical lens artists provide on society, and the inherent conflicts between art and reality. This story highlights the challenges, sacrifices, and moral dilemmas that artists face in their quest to capture the essence of the human experience, making it a thought-provoking exploration of the artist's multifaceted role in the world. Ultimately, James prompts readers to contemplate the price artists pay for their commitment to the pursuit of the "real thing" and the enduring significance of their creative endeavors.

Henry James, "The Real Thing": Audiobook link

 

Henry James' story "The Real Thing" is available as an audiobook at this link.

The reading takes an hour and five minutes. Please read along with the voice; you'll learn so much more. Or maybe gather together with classmates and read it together. Crazier things have happened. 

We're going to have a discussion and debate about ideas in the story next Tuesday. It will be obvious if you didn't read it or haven't thought about it. This is college. 

MLA In-Text Citation

 The only thing incorrect about this video is the use of the term "Bibliography." In MLA format, this is called "Works Cited."

Your essay for Thursday needs to include at least one direct quotation from each of the three stories. 

This page from the Purdue OWL is also helpful. 

Excavating (Mining) a Text: Dickens, Moore, and O. Henry

Today we are going to divide the class into three groups: one group for each of the stories.

Each group should choose one member to be the typist. Everybody is a detective collecting evidence. Or maybe it's better to think of yourself as a miner looking for rare gems or diamonds. Most of the "stuff" in a mine is not valuable.

Where in your story does the author write directly about art and artists? Capture this information and put it directly into a discussion board post on our Populi page. Make a list of these instances. Be sure to copy the excerpt exactly. In Latin, this is called verbatim.  Also, remember to include a page number in parentheses following your quotation.  Please post your findings no later than fifteen minutes before the conclusion of class.