Assignment: Write a 3-4 page essay (at least 1000 words) in which you consider how patterns or themes among songs represent or express different aspects of someone's life, personality, or character by finding or creating a soundtrack and discussing those patterns or themes found among the songs. You can create this soundtrack in a variety of ways, which I’ll discuss below. Essentially, though, you will need to do the following:
Step 1: Choose a person (other than yourself)
Step 2: Find/create a soundtrack for that person
Step 3: Analyze patterns/themes among the soundtrack
Step 4: Discuss how the patterns/themes relate to your person
Your essay should consider patterns or meanings among the songs and discuss those underlying themes and what they might suggest about your chosen person's musical and personal identity. This essay is not an extension of the theme song essay. I don’t want to know why you or yourchosen person picked these songs for this soundtrack. I want to know which patterns exist among the soundtrack and what those patterns suggest about your chosen person. For example, when analyzing the song choices, do you find that all of the songs include lyrics that use a particular word?
Do all or most of the songs fall into one or two specific genres (e.g., rap, country, jazz, folk, alternative, heavy metal, classic rock, pop, classical, etc.)? Do all of the songs discuss (or at least insinuate) one specific theme (e.g., partying, romantic love, moving, strength, etc.)? Do all of the songs sound upbeat or sad? Do all or most of the songs include guitar solos? Why do you think this might be? And, most importantly, what do these patterns suggest about your chosen person's character, personality, demeanor,
appearance, etc.? In other words, who do you picture based on that specific list of songs and what does that suggest about your chosen person?
Please note: Your soundtrack, which is separate from the essay (see the textbox above), should include at least five but no more than seven songs. Again, avoid creating a theme based on romantic relationships, unless you have something new or creative to add, in which case you should talk to me first—or, unless your chosen person’s soundtrack truly does include all or mostly romantic songs (if that person, however, is your significant other, you might want to choose someone else).
Step 5: Discuss Rentfrow and Gosling’s article that we’ll read for class during this Unit Additionally, I would like you to discuss Rentfrow and Gosling’s article and how it relates to your analysis of your chosen person, given the patterns that you found. I want you to practice incorporating and integrating one or two specific quotes from Rentfrow and Gosling’s article and including proper in-text and ending citations, according to your major’s citation preferences (MLA, APA, Chicago, etc.).
Option 1 – Someone You Know You can choose to write about patterns or themes among songs that belong to a soundtrack for someone you know. Compile your chosen person's soundtrack by asking your chosen person what his or her favorite five or six songs are or by looking at your chosen person's iPod or iTunes account to see which five or six songs are played most frequently. Look for patterns or themes among the songs (repeated words, similar themes, the same genre or sound, all male or female artists, etc.) and discuss what those patterns or themes suggest about your friend. Remember, we stereotype people based on their music, so, according to this person’s soundtrack, how is he or she stereotyped and is it accurate?
Option 2 – A Mystery Person
Ask a friend to compile or find five or six songs chosen by someone that your friend knows but whom you do not know. Your job is to look for patterns among those songs, discuss those patterns, and discuss what those patterns suggest about this mystery person. Look for patterns or themes among the songs (repeated words, similar themes, the same genre or sound, all male or female artists, etc.) and discuss what those patterns or themes suggest about your friend. Remember, we stereotype people based on their music, so, according to this person’s soundtrack, how is he or she stereotyped and is it accurate? You could even ask your friend how close your analysis is once you’re finished.

Assignment: Write a 3-4 page essay (at least 1000 words) in which y...