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 A105 Human Origins and Prehistory
Assignments

Assignment 3a: Media Representations of Our Ancestors

     We are constantly bombarded by a flood of media information, from news to entertainment and everything in between.  Many of us even receive a large proportion of our scientific information through the filter of the mass media.  Therefore, it is of considerable benefit to become better consumers of the media.  This assignment is designed to give you some practice in critically analyzing media portrayals of scientific information, focusing in this case upon the way human ancestors are treated.

     You will need to choose a media depiction of any human ancestor we have covered or will cover in the class, up through Neandertals and early modern humans.  This item should be EITHER a work of fiction, text or pictorial, or even video; OR it can be a visual reconstruction of human ancestors that is intended to be realistic. The specific requirements of the assignment will differ slightly depending on which sort of item you choose.  I will make available a selection of appropriate media texts, but you are enthusiastically encouraged to find others.  There will be books with these visual representations, shorter novels, and sections from longer works on reserve in the Geography and Map Library downstairs in the Student Building.

I. Visual, Nonfictional Hominid Reconstruction
        This category includes dioramas or other visual reconstructions of putative ancestral behavior, such as museum displays or illustrations in some popular books.  You may be able to find such a visual reconstruction in popular (i.e., not textbooks) or even children's books on human evolution; I will place two such books on reserve for you look at and perhaps use.  If you are analyzing an image such as these, you will need to describe the image (please attach a photocopy) first.  Then, discuss the information that appears to have been used in the creation of the image, using what we have learned in class and any information that may be given along with the image.  Is there anything left out?  What is the overall impression of the ancestor in question that you get from the image, and why?  How would you change the image to make it better or more accurate?

II. Fictional Portrayals

     This will probably be a more entertaining option.  Fictional portrayals include short stories, novels, and films.  If you choose a novel, base your analysis on one chapter (or one extended scene if chapters are extremely long).  Short stories can be analyzed as a single piece.  For films, you may either treat them on a general level, or you may present a detailed analysis of a particular scene or two.  I also have a large collection of "cave man" Far Side cartoons that you can copy.  Most of the novels and short stories I have seen deal with Neandertals and their contact with modern humans.

     As with the portrayals discussed above, your paper should begin with a summary of what you have read or viewed.  Then, critically analyze the piece, answering questions such as: What information is relied upon in creating this portrayal? Has anything discussed in class or your text been left out?  What is the effect of including some things and excluding others?  (Hint: Among other things, you will want to make a note of when these works were published.) Can you identify any particular site or sites that the selection seems to be based upon?  What impression does the reading give you of the ancestor(s) in question?  What assumptions does the author make about the intelligence and/or behavior of the hominids described?  Is it a "fair" representation, or does it go too far beyond exaggeration for the sake of drama? If it is not obvious which hominid is portrayed, briefly explain which one you think it is and why. Be sure to back up your points with examples from the reading and from the information in your texbook and lecture notes.  A brief list of possible selections is located at the end of this page, though of course you are welcome to make suggestions or find something else.

III. For All Papers
     All papers should be typed, double spaced, in a 12-point font.  You should aim for three pages.  Make sure you include the author, title, and publication date of your source.  If you use any additional references other than your textbook, cite those as well.  For a film, state the title and year it came out.  For sections of novels, include page numbers. 

Possible Media Representations to Use
  If you find other sources to use, please have me approve them before beginning work.
Novels and Short Stories
  Clan of the Cave Bear
  The Valley of Horses
  The Mammoth Hunters
  The Plains of Passage
        The above 4 are by Jean Auel; the first deals with Neandertals and modern humans, and the later three are more about moderns (Upper Palaeolithic).  I will choose and place on reserve sections from some of these books that are particularly appropriate; if you want, you may choose a different section with prior approval.  Note that the first book was made into a movie.
  Birthright
  Dance of the Tiger
  The Inheritors

I also have an anthology of short stories about Neandertals written by a variety of science fiction authors, from an anthology collection run by Isaac Asimov.  I will place my copy on reserve. As with the other fiction listed, you might be able to find a copy at local libraries as well, but the short story collection is out of print, so the reserves are your best bet for that one.

Movies
  Clan of the Cave Bear (I  have this on tape)
   Iceman (I may still have this on tape, but check video store first)
  2001 -- scene of hominids early in movie
  Quest for Fire (I also have this one on tape)
  You may also use the hominid reconstructions from documentaries we have watched in class; some have more extensive recreated scenes than we have viewed in class.  Contact me if you want to borrow one of these. 

If you find other movies, please check with me first; generally the comedies are not appropriate for this kind of analysis (no, you can't use "Encino Man" or "The Flintstones!").  I will let you borrow the films I have copies of, but only overnight (or over a weekend) out of fairness to other students.