Assignment task:
Choose an artifact and then analyze it (in 2-3 pages) using the four steps provided for analyzing artifacts. Build your problem-solving skills by following the steps to analyze cultural artifacts and articulate your own self- and social awareness by looking at the experiences of yours and others. Need Assignment Help?
The calling of the humanities is to make us truly human in the best sense of the word. -J. Irwin Miller, Industrialist
What makes humans human? Part of the answer lies in the very different ways we express ourselves and our experiences (through art, architecture, music, religion, literature, and more). With over 7.6 billion people on planet Earth, understanding how those expressions connect and distinguish us from one another is a critical part of becoming better citizens of the world (U.S. Census Bureau, n.d.).
Just a few generations ago, the odds of people interacting from completely different backgrounds or communities were small. But in today's digital world, we have instant access to communities and cultures unlike our own. As we all come together to live, work, and share experiences, it is becoming even more important that we understand our perspectives and the perspectives of others so that we can all collaborate when facing complex issues.
In this course, you'll explore how different cultures and groups demonstrate their unique perspectives on what it means to be human. As you do, you'll discover how broadening your perspective will help you better collaborate with others and solve problems in today's global world. Overall, you'll develop three skills that will help you adapt to a global world. They are:
- Problem-solving: As you examine the art, literature, and music of other cultures, you'll use critical thinking to frame problems, explain other people's viewpoints, and create solutions informed by diverse and ethical perspectives.
- Relationship building: While learning about cultures across different time periods, you will discover that even the earliest humans understood the importance of working with others.
- Self-awareness and social awareness: Recognizing your thoughts, emotions, and intentions is a uniquely human trait, which is why it is fundamental to the study of humanities. By managing your responses to unfamiliar experiences and being open to new perspectives, you will better understand the people you encounter in your personal and professional life.
As you use these skills together, you'll become better equipped to build collaborative relationships and solve diverse problems in a global workplace. You'll also gain the awareness you need to recognize how social and cultural differences may impact the ways you interact with others.
In this assessment, you'll learn more about the benefits of studying humanities and discover how you can strengthen your problem-solving, relationship-building, and self and social-awareness skills in this course and beyond.
If you change the way you look at things, the things you look at change. -Wayne Dyer, author, and motivational speaker Tacos or lasagna. Sushi or curry. Pickles or kimchi. The foods we were exposed to as kids - by our families, communities, religions, and geographical locations-shape our preferences as adults. And it's not just about food. Our backgrounds influence the perspectives we have on music, literature, television, art, and more. By acknowledging this influence, we become better able to consider how the perspectives of others with different cultural backgrounds might also differ from our own.
In this assessment, you will also strengthen your problem-solving and self- and social awareness skills by exploring strategies that will help you examine artifacts from other cultures more objectively. Being able to recognize how perspectives affect the way we see the world will also help you better understand other points of view so you can tackle the challenges you face at home, work, and school and make the best decisions for your future.
Changing your perspectives will not only transform you but also the whole world. -Ji-Hae Park, violinist
Who was your favorite musician when you were a child? Are you still a fan of that artist today? You may still be an avid admirer, or you may cringe at the music you used to love.
Either way, your perspective of that artist has probably changed over time. Your perspectives on music, art, culture, and more are constantly evolving as you grow, meet new people, have new experiences, travel, and learn more about the world around you.
Lastly, in this assessment, you will also continue to strengthen your problem-solving skills as you examine the personal and cultural experiences that influence the choices you make. You'll also hone your self- and social-awareness skills by learning how to manage your reactions to things that may initially surprise you. As you explore more about your perspectives and how they are influenced by your experiences, you'll be better able to consider new perspectives, look at cultural artifacts objectively, and navigate through difficult issues at work or with friends.
Now get ready to explore other cultures, broaden your perspective, and discover what makes humans human.
References:
BrainyQuote. (n.d.). Ji-Hae Park quotes.
BrainyQuote. (n.d.). J. Irwin Miller quotes.
BrainyQuote. (n.d.). Wayne Dyer quotes.
Throughout the assessments in this course, you will have opportunities to analyze cultural artifacts and/or works of art. A cultural artifact is something created by human beings reflective of their society, such as an article of clothing or ancient pottery. A work of art refers to something created by an artist (amateur or professional), such as a painting, sculpture, film, poem, or photograph. You are encouraged to choose something meaningful to you. You can select cultural artifacts or works of art of interest to you in general. The optional text for this course, Exploring Cultures, also has many works of art and artifacts that you may select.
For this assessment, you will write a 2-3 page paper that analyzes your artifact using the strategies you've learned in this course. By using these strategies, you'll:
- Practice your problem-solving and self/social-awareness skills as you consider how your personal experiences and perspective influence your analysis of artifacts that illustrate diverse and ethical perspectives.
- Be better equipped with information to help you make more objective and informed decisions.
- Solve complex problems and think through situations related to diversity and ethics.
As you follow these steps to analyze a cultural artifact or work of art, you are actively practicing the process of thinking through a problem and breaking it down into its parts.
Additionally, self-awareness, social awareness, and articulation are critical in navigating the workplace and working with others, whether at work or home. This assessment will leverage what you have learned about the human experience to help you understand what perspectives you hold and how they affect the decisions you make.
For this assessment, first, choose a cultural artifact or work of art, and then, in 2-3 pages of writing, analyze it using the strategies you've learned from the provided resources.
1. Start by writing an introductory paragraph that describes which artifact you chose.
a. Provide a brief description of the artifact itself, including identifying details such as the type of artifact, the artist or musician, when it was created, and the materials used.
b. Explain why you chose this artifact. In other words, what about the artifact appeals to you?
2. Describe the historical and artistic contexts of the artifact or work of art.
a. Describe the historical context, such as the time period, the place, and the reasons the artist might have had for creating the artifact.
b. Describe the artistic context, such as the visual and aural techniques and symbols.
Include reasons that explain why these techniques were used.
i. Consider how the artistic context was shaped by the historical context at the time the artifact was created.
3. Explain the cultural values conveyed through the artifact or work of art.
a. Identify two cultural values that you believe the artist was trying to convey through the artifact or work of art.
b. Explain how these cultural values are portrayed, reflected, or demonstrated in the artifact.
i. For example, how might an anti-war song from the late 1960s or early 1970s portray or reflect American culture at that time? Similarly, how might a French Impressionist painting reflect beliefs about modern life in the second half of the 19th century?
4. Reflect on the way culture shapes your perspective and impacts the decisions you make about the meaning of the cultural artifact or work of art.
a. Relate the artist's cultural values to your own. Examine the similarities or differences that you see between your cultural values and the artist's cultural values.
b. Explain how your cultural perspective shaped your response and connection with the artifact or work of art.
5. Write in a well-organized and concise manner that adheres to the rules of grammar, usage, mechanics, citations, and formatting.
Our submission should meet the following requirements:
- Length: 2-3 pages of text, in addition to a title page and reference page.
- Written communication: Written communication should be free of errors that detract from the overall message.
- Formatting: Format your submission according to APA style, with a title page, double spacing, and a reference page.
- Citations: Cite at least two sources; these can be course materials, library sources, or credible internet sources. Cite sources according to APA rules. Review Evidence and APA for more information on how to cite your sources.
By successfully completing this assessment, you will demonstrate your proficiency in the following course competencies and scoring guide criteria:
Competency 1: Analyze personal cultural bias.
- Describe the artifact or work of art and its personal appeal.
Competency 3: Analyze cultural differences and similarities of people globally.
- Explain the cultural values conveyed through the artifact or work of art.
Competency 4: Analyze the role of culture and artistic expression in human thought and behavior.
- Describe the historical and artistic contexts of the artifact or work of art.
- Reflect on the way culture shapes perspective and impacts decisions made about the meaning of the cultural artifact or work of art.
Competency 5: Address the assignment purpose in a well-organized text, incorporating appropriate evidence and tone in grammatically sound sentences.
- Write in a well-organized and concise manner that adheres to the rules of grammar, usage, mechanics, citations, and formatting.