The paper should be at least 650 words long.

The paper should be at least 650 words long. As stated in the Syllabus, these papers will allow you to bring together different types of material presented in the course and find connections between historical and current practices and attitudes. These will receive standard letter grades.

The excerpts from the Duchan chapter discuss both normative practices and specific issues connected to gestures and the performance of gender and sexuality. I’ve posted four videos by UCSB a cappella groups, including groups that identify as all-female, all-male and all gender. Pick at least two videos and discuss elements of the performances that either illustrate Duchan’s points, or that perhaps seem to be exceptions to them. Please draw at least one example from each section of the Duchan chapter (that is, you’ll discuss general performance practices, something about specific gestures, and something about the performance of gender and/or sexuality).

Your basic task is to identify relevant examples, and explain why they are good examples of Duchan’s points. The best papers will go beyond locating and labelling, and explain how gestures and performance practices create meaning for audiences. For instance, when Duchan discusses “gestures of engagement” (starting on p. 116), he identifies specific gestures (reaching towards the audience, opening arms), finds examples (the illustrations), and suggests the gestures “allow audience members to feel like they are part of [the] performance.” That last step is what I mean by “creating