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Ribalto- you say the critical analysis should not be about a popular piece of "teen material". However, I decided to go out on a limb and do an essay on a rap song. I had hoped that would be interesting, and I'm passionate about music. Does that sound feasible, at least?
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that's a great idea! definitely do it. the reason i cautioned against Rand is because it's a pretty conventional choice among teenagers when it comes to talking about something philosophically oriented. but i doubt many applicants would choose something like a rap song to analyze. as long as you've got interesting stuff to say about it, you'll be a-ok.
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I wouldn't do that if I were you? I'm applying this year as well and I just don't think a song is academic enough and isn't showing an intellectual interest in literature. Just my two cents though.
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no no no. please don't think your choice has to be "academic enough" or that is has to showcase your "intellectual interest in literature." if you're the academic type and things like cultural relativism and existentialism are what get you going, then yes, you should talk about them. but if you're not that kind of person, writing about those things is a bad idea. write about what you're comfortable about discussing--both in a conversation and in an essay. and it can be anything at all, as long as it's meaningful to you.
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But to previous TASPers, is there any specific argument we're supposed to make about our choice of literature? Like are we to argue the implications and development of a theme or analyze the validity of our choice? I just have no idea what exactly to say.
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they purposely word it ambiguously to leave you some room to decide. take whatever direction you'd like, but you'll need to do two things no matter your strategy: (1) discuss the substance and significance of the work (to yourself, society, or both), and (2) talk about how it affected you personally (the way you think, your perspective on something, etc.)