Wise Geek says

New Historicism evaluates how the work is influenced by the time in which it was produced. It also examines the social sphere in which the author moved, the psychological background of the author, the books and theories that may have influenced the author, and any other factors which influenced the work of art. All work is biased.

In this assignment you are to

• Pick a single reference from the book Oryx and Crake.
• Identify several places in the book where it is used.
• Then try and identify actual historical events or things that might have led the author to use this reference.
• Many times the actual reference is distorted or exagerated to create the literary referenence. Was this done? if so how?
• Sometimes several events or things are combined. Was this the case?
• Write one page report. Identify the literary reference. Identify as many actual references as you can that may have led to the literary reference.
• Explain how the actual references were "morphed" in to the literary one.
• Speculate about why the author chose that reference.

I have identified several references I have found interesting. Feel free to choose your own or use one of mine. The ones listed are only a guide to the kind of things that might be appropriate.

• Martha Graham Academy
• Created animals. Rakunks (pp 38, 49, 51, 59), Wolvogs (pp 39, 109), pigoons.
• The OrganInc Compound (pp 26)
• The statement "a for harvest child or two stashed away in some illegal baby orchard." (pp. 23)
• Online games. Extictathon (pp 40), Kwiktime Osama (pp 40), Barbarian Stomp (pp 77), Blood and Roses (pp 78, 80).
• Franken Food. SoyoBoyBurgers (pp 74) ChickieNobs
• Web sites. Noodie News (pp 82), shortcircuit.com, deathrowlive.com (pp 83), nitee-nite.com (pp 83).

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