This assignment is part fieldwork and part research paper. Ideally,
these two sections would be seamlessly integrated with one
another—your research informing your field work and your field
work informing your research. One suggestion to help facilitate this
goal would be:
Make your
initial visit to the site of your choice.
Collect field
notes, first impressions, and questions.
Use your field
notes, first impressions, and questions to direct your
secondary-source research.
Having
completed your research from academic sources, return to the initial
site guided by the new insights gained from your readings and the
course work.
Collect new
field notes and impressions.
The fieldwork will
consist of one or more trips to one or more cemeteries in your area
(wherever that may be). Most cemeteries are public spaces, so access
should not be a problem in most cases. When you visit, please be
respectful and take detailed notes on the cemetery and your
experience there.
Pay close
attention to the concept of space.
How is it laid
out?
What fills it?
How is it
separated from the space outside?
How does it
relate to the surrounding spaces?
What are the
aesthetics and landscape of the space?
Are there
subdivisions of the space (i.e. special sections set apart for
different religions, groups of people, etc.)?
How are the
graves and/or tombs marked?
Are people
using the space for purposes other than death-related activities?
Pay attention
to history.
How old is
this space?
What is the
oldest marker you can find?
What is the
newest?
Pay attention
to family.
Are there
large groupings of related persons?
Are there
family sections?
Is there
evidence of the living interacting with the dead?
Do you see
anyone visiting particular gravesites?
Pay attention
to folklore.
Are there any
local legends that deal with the space?
Pay attention
to yourself.
How does the
space affect you? Physically? Psychologically? Emotionally?
What is the
weather like?
Could weather
affect your perceptions?
You do NOT have
to include every one of these details in your paper. Use them as
guides to craft the best version of your paper, but focus on
the aspects of the cemetery that draws your interest the most.
Then, there is the
research component. In addition, you will be responsible for finding at least three
outside sources about cemeteries. They should be academic in nature,
peer-reviewed journal articles are a safe bet here. Go the library
website and search for articles and books that will help you
understand the cemetery you selected and the history and functions of
cemeteries in general. You will be expected to cite these sources
throughout your paper (at least one citation per source) and include
them in a formal bibliography (not included in the page requirement).
In the bibliography, also include any readings that you may not have
cited but used to help in your research.
Expectations:
Six
double-spaced pages with standard fonts and margins.
Properly
formatted bibliography (not included as one of the six pages)
At least three
academic sources from outside of the course readings
Cite however
you feel comfortable (in-text, footnote, or endnote)
Create a
creative title for the paper
Make sure you
give the name of the cemetery and its location in the paper!