The Syndicate

See the syllabus here.

Grading scale: 1-10 (whole numbers only).

1. The Great Gatsby

Take me to Gatsby’s mansion today, old sport. What might I hear in a contemporary setting? I’m looking for something in the 21st century that would fit right in a party at East Egg.

2. Good Country People

Find me a good country song. That’s all, y’all. Be good country people.

3. Elmer Gantry

A silver-tongued evangelist who leads a secret life of indulgence? Unheard of! Find something with a musical mood that is belied by its lyrical content (or the other way around).

4. Of Mice and Men

Our best-laid plans oft gang awry. Choose a piece that reflects a personal failure in your own life, or, if you prefer, one that reflects on failure in general.

5. Thanatopsis

We should not fear death, as we return to that from whence we came and by which we were sustained. Find the inner Romanticist within and select a piece that highlights the importance or role of nature.

6. House of Sand and Fog

Conflict seems inevitable when cultures clash, especially where real estate is concerned. Show that such differences can coexist harmoniously- at least musically. Choose a piece that highlights elements of two or more ethnicities at the same time.

7. Snow Falling on Cedars

The path of moral responsibility is often cold and lonely. Provide something that depicts that frigidity and isolation.

8. The Waste Land

A monumental work dizzying in its depth, this multi-faceted poem displays the breadth of the author’s literary and historical awareness. Supply something musically complex. Interpret this however you like (unusual orchestration or instrumentation, key or time signature changes, odd rhythmic structures, studio effect trickery or anything else).

9. A Prayer for Owen Meany

“O God—please bring him back! I shall keep asking You.” YOU ARE TO SUBMIT A SONG FROM A MUSICIAN NO LONGER WITH US THAT YOU WISH STILL WAS AROUND.

10. Cathedral

Provide a piece that gave you an epiphany- a moment in which you attained a sudden understanding of something that had once eluded you. “It’s really something.”

When is the assignment due, Mr. Epignosis?

No due date yet. Let's see how things go. I'm very busy with rehearsals right now. I'm not in a hurry.

Oooh these are really interesting prompts.

Since I’m unemployed right now, I have time for this. Here’s to hoping I don’t compound my misery by failing at this too.

Let's shoot for a week. So Sunday next.

I'm so excited right now.

[mention]MacDougall[/mention], you didn't want to miss the next installment.

Looks like I’ll have to dig deep to satisfying professor epi this time around

[mention]Epignosis[/mention] could you provide examples for each category please?

I'd rather not.

If you have a specific question, feel free to ask though.

Epignosis wrote: ↑Mon Nov 18, 2019 9:31 am If you have a specific question, feel free to ask though.

I don't understand category 1 at all.

I worded something incorrectly.

The point of #9 is to be a musician no longer with us (i.e., a dead person).

Nobody has sent anything yet, so I'm going to update it to reflect my original intention.

Epignosis wrote: ↑Tue Nov 19, 2019 7:17 pm I worded something incorrectly.

The point of #9 is to be a musician no longer with us (i.e., a dead person).

Nobody has sent anything yet, so I'm going to update it to reflect my original intention.

Well darn and also EXCUUUUUSE you, I already sent all of the things. Even #1 which I'm not entirely sure about.

Aaand it's not showing up in my sent messages.

speedchuck wrote: ↑Tue Nov 19, 2019 7:20 pm

Epignosis wrote: ↑Tue Nov 19, 2019 7:17 pm I worded something incorrectly.

The point of #9 is to be a musician no longer with us (i.e., a dead person).

Nobody has sent anything yet, so I'm going to update it to reflect my original intention.

Well darn and also EXCUUUUUSE you, I already sent all of the things. Even #1 which I'm not entirely sure about.

Are you sure? My inbox doesn't have anything from anybody regarding this. The last PM I have is dated November 16, and I posted the original post here the day after.

I thought you were joking about #1. Sorry about that.

For #1, I'm looking for something that could go with any of these images for example, but was produced in the 21st century:

Alright, fixed and sent (hopefully successfully)

[mention]sprityo[/mention]
[mention]nutella[/mention]
[mention]Lunalee[/mention]
[mention]Turnip Head[/mention]
[mention]JaggedJimmyJay[/mention]
[mention]G-Man[/mention]
[mention]Sloonei[/mention]

See the clarification here. I apologize for any inconvenience.

That's the interpretation I went with anyway, for 9.

Have about half of mine chosen so far, will get them to you soon!

I ain't done shit yet.

JaggedJimmyJay wrote: ↑Tue Nov 19, 2019 7:51 pm I ain't done shit yet.

That's the spirit.

Do we have to send our list in via the sock account or can we send it to you directly?

G-Man wrote: ↑Tue Nov 19, 2019 10:28 pm Do we have to send our list in via the sock account or can we send it to you directly?

Directly is fine.

[mention]Keldeo[/mention] [mention]Texas Cloverleaf[/mention] [mention]Dragon D. Luffy[/mention] [mention]dunya[/mention] [mention]birdwithteeth11[/mention] just makin sure you guys see this in case you want to participate

I can extend the deadline if need be. I'm not married to this Sunday. Just let me know anyone.

I wouldn't mind having a couple weeks to submit. I only had two days last time and it definitely affected the quality of my submissions.

Epignosis wrote: ↑Fri Nov 22, 2019 12:18 am I can extend the deadline if need be. I'm not married to this Sunday. Just let me know anyone.

i would appreciate an extra week or even just an extra couple days, I've got my final for my class due on sunday

How do I send in without spoiling you?

MacDougall wrote: ↑Fri Nov 22, 2019 9:13 am How do I send in without spoiling you?

When you send the YouTube links via PM, take out the https://

I’m pretty sure that’s how it sends only the link and not the video in the PM

sprityo wrote: ↑Fri Nov 22, 2019 10:31 am

MacDougall wrote: ↑Fri Nov 22, 2019 9:13 am How do I send in without spoiling you?

When you send the YouTube links via PM, take out the https://

I’m pretty sure that’s how it sends only the link and not the video in the PM

Oops too late

MacDougall wrote: ↑Fri Nov 22, 2019 10:34 am

sprityo wrote: ↑Fri Nov 22, 2019 10:31 am

MacDougall wrote: ↑Fri Nov 22, 2019 9:13 am How do I send in without spoiling you?

When you send the YouTube links via PM, take out the https://

I’m pretty sure that’s how it sends only the link and not the video in the PM

Oops too late

Same.

He's getting around 100 songs, though, I doubt he'll know who they all belong to after sorting.

And hey, half of mine are obviously me anyways.

You can also just put [ url][ /url] tags around the link and it won't embed

I'd also appreciate some added time before the deadline. I'm flying home tomorrow and it'll be a busy weekend.

That's fine. I'll come up with another date later.

sprityo wrote: ↑Fri Nov 22, 2019 10:31 am

MacDougall wrote: ↑Fri Nov 22, 2019 9:13 am How do I send in without spoiling you?

When you send the YouTube links via PM, take out the https://

I’m pretty sure that’s how it sends only the link and not the video in the PM

I surrounded the list of links with np tags which I assumed was noparse but doesn't quite seem to be based on the fact that it made my text blue. worked anyway.

What's the point of being so secretive with our submissions?

iaafr wrote: ↑Sat Nov 23, 2019 1:40 am

sprityo wrote: ↑Fri Nov 22, 2019 10:31 am

MacDougall wrote: ↑Fri Nov 22, 2019 9:13 am How do I send in without spoiling you?

When you send the YouTube links via PM, take out the https://

I’m pretty sure that’s how it sends only the link and not the video in the PM

I surrounded the list of links with np tags which I assumed was noparse but doesn't quite seem to be based on the fact that it made my text blue. worked anyway.

no that's Not Playing

G-Man wrote: ↑Sat Nov 23, 2019 11:05 am What's the point of being so secretive with our submissions?

To keep bias out of it i presume

Epignosis wrote: ↑Sun Nov 17, 2019 10:14 pm
2. Good Country People

Find me a good country song. That’s all, y’all. Be good country people.

I'm telling you all right now i only know one country song and i despise country music so you're gonna get what you get

I was gonna send in a Tupac song for #9 but my guy is still alive out there.

sprityo wrote: ↑Sat Nov 23, 2019 11:24 am

G-Man wrote: ↑Sat Nov 23, 2019 11:05 am What's the point of being so secretive with our submissions?

To keep bias out of it i presume

Eh, I sent my song list directly to Epi. Bias be damned.

Hard deadline is Wednesday, November 27, 2019. That gives me the bulk of Thanksgiving break to process submissions.

If I haven't sent something by Tuesday night, kick me in the ass. I'll get on it.

JaggedJimmyJay wrote: ↑Sun Nov 24, 2019 10:48 pm If I haven't sent something by Tuesday night, kick me in the ass. I'll get on it.

Do you need more time than that? I don't mind accommodating.

Epignosis wrote: ↑Sun Nov 24, 2019 10:52 pm

JaggedJimmyJay wrote: ↑Sun Nov 24, 2019 10:48 pm If I haven't sent something by Tuesday night, kick me in the ass. I'll get on it.

Do you need more time than that? I don't mind accommodating.

No, it's fine. No matter when it's due, I'm likely to back-burner it while I deal with work. So Tuesday is as good as any other day.

sprityo wrote: ↑Sun Nov 24, 2019 3:24 pm

Epignosis wrote: ↑Sun Nov 17, 2019 10:14 pm
2. Good Country People

Find me a good country song. That’s all, y’all. Be good country people.

I'm telling you all right now i only know one country song and i despise country music so you're gonna get what you get

Generally, I despise country music. But there are some real gems in there, especially if you dig back to 18+ years ago. (Even better if you go to 25 or 30 years.)

Just a reminder to get your stuff in by tomorrow.

alright, finally doing this now

[mention]Turnip Head[/mention]