Four Mile Creek Operetta

This topic submitted by Neborak,Brinkley, cheney, Daugherty, Thompson on 2/14/03. Additions were last made on Saturday, March 1, 2003. Section: Blaisdell/Wolfe

Dear John, Zoe, Katheryn-Anne, Dustin, and Jason,

We have read your proposal and are concerned about the vagueness and lack of detail. Although we support the rock opera format, it is not a substitute for substantial content in scientific, social and cultural dimensions. When a project starts with the form or format and the research protocol is designed later there can be tension between the form and the content of the project. LetÕs work on this now so that the tension can be minimized. Thus we are asking you to make extensive and substantial revisions of your proposal and resubmit it to this Web site no later than midnight on Thursday February 20. We suggest that you rework every section of the proposal and annotate your bibliography. A realistic timeline is an absolute key to success.

The scientific dimension of this project is especially vague. If you would like to focus on habitat then how should it be assessed? There are plenty of specific examples in your reader Ð but you didnÕt draw on any of them. Obviously the lyrics should be related to your specific scientific research projects. Do you want to sing about habitat? That could be cool, but you really need to learn about that habitat to pull it off. The meeting you have before you resubmit should focus quite a lot of attention on this matter. You might think through the role of the operetta itself and of the booklet that will accompany the music.

The idea of interviews is fine, and it is good that you plan to look at the Keats interviewing guide. Nonetheless, there are no research questions or specific hypotheses for these interviews. It may be better to focus the social and cultural dimensions more on history such as the Black covered bridge, the De Witt cabin, and the decision to create Acton Lake. The operetta needs to really reflect Four Mile Creek specifically to fulfill the assignment. A "generic" rock opera that throws in a few references to Four Mile Creek will not do. Thus, you need to really learn about the creek. Ditto.

This project seems to be a big gamble. If you pull it off you will have something to be really proud of. If itÕs poorly done then you run a real risk of failing this big part of the course. We like the rock operetta idea and encourage you to "go for it." But please understand that this will require more work than a traditional project, not less. The social, scientific, and cultural dimensions must be clear and they must be integrated into the final product. We look forward to having something to pop into our CD players for years to come. Consider the audience for your work. Is there a role for your creation beyond our class? [Certainly the people interviewed might be interested.] Is this music more nearly a celebration or a call for change? There are several environmental groups active in our area is this for them? Perhaps we could invite TMCT and see how they respond to your point of view. LetÕs see if you canÕt sharpen up your proposal some and work out a design for the research and let the music emerge naturally from that learning. Best wishes.

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