Social, Political, and Cultural Influences
Many people within a country may recognize how social, political, and cultural influences have an impact upon them. At the same time, social, political, and cultural influences may be such a part of daily life that they seem merely “the way things are.” For example, when reading that America is an individualistic culture, you may not understand how life could be any different. Exposure to ideas from other ways of living can broaden your perspective and open your imagination to different philosophies of life.
Identify one social, political, or cultural influence from the assigned reading that you believe would be difficult to identify if you were a part of that culture. Why do you believe this influence would be difficult to notice? What is its impact upon the people?
Next, introduce one artistic expression that may help one to express individuality, independence, and creativity. What can the act of artistic expression do to open up the experience of the individual? How can it expand the perspective of the artist and possibly the whole country or culture?