For your project, you will create an artistic piece that explores and discusses some aspect of forbidden love that we have covered in the readings/homework/discussions from this class. 

As a reminder, we’ve covered what love is, different kinds of love, and the cultural messages we get about love, Valentine’s Day and the commodification of love, the nuclear family and alternative relationship structures, masculinities, queer and trans love, interracial love, cross-caste love, age and consent, love and disability, and love in activism.

You can complete this project in just about any form, as long as it explores some element of forbidden love. We have read nonfiction books and essays (Adrienne Rich’s “Compulsory Heterosexuality,” excerpts from Pleasure Activism, Queer (In)Justice, Caste, All About Love, and more), scientific and academic articles (“What Happens in Your Brain When You’re in Love?,” “Does the OverCommercialization of Valentine’s Day on Social Media Leave Us Living in a Sadder, Material World?”), watched episodes of television (Love on the Spectrum), watched films (May/December, Ajeeb Daastans), listened to songs (your “What is Love” song assignment) and podcasts (The Multiamory Podcast, APA Podcast on Men’s Mental Health) and read personal essays (from the New York Times’ Modern Love series), manifestos and lists of principles (“Six Sexual Health Principles,” Mutual Aid), and even walking tours (Close Friends Collective’s Queer History Walking Tour) that could serve as inspiration for your creative projects. You can use any of these forms (or others that inspire you!). 

You should have real INTENTIONS about your creative process and final piece. Begin by thinking about what it is you want to explore about forbidden love. We’ve watched, read and listened to a lot of material in this class-  what thoughts are you left with? What do you want to explore? What do you feel passionately about? Then- think about how you can communicate that creatively. What medium suits these ideas best? If you’re writing a story, for example, don’t just throw a bunch of plot elements together — plus some star-crossed lovers– and call it a day. You must know what your project has to say about forbidden love, why and how the creative medium you chose helps us reflect about it in a different way. 

Whatever form you choose, you’ll also need to submit an artist statement. Here, you’ll explain your creative process, what you were trying to do with the work, and how to “read” your piece. Why was this the most effective medium to explore your ideas? How are you using the ideas from class in your final project? What materials from our class are you drawing on as inspiration (either in ideas or form)? You should cite at least two specific materials from our class syllabus. Your artist statement should be approximately 600 words. 

Final Project Timeline: 

• Project Proposal | 5 points | Due in Class on Tuesday April 22
• Final Project Draft | Bring to Class on Tuesday May 6 
• Final Project Submission | Creative Project (10 points) + Artist Statement (5 points) | Due on Brightspace on Monday May 12 by 11:59 pm | 
• Final Project Presentation | In Class on Tuesday May 13 | 5 points