Cultural Activities Report

Week 10 Assignment 3 - Submit HereStudents, please view the "Submit a Clickable RubricAssignment" in the Student Center.Instructors, training onhow to grade is within the Instructor Center.Assignment 3: Cultural Activity ReportDue Week 10 and worth 100 pointsAs a way of experiencing the Humanities beyond your classroom, computer, andtextbook, you are asked to do a certain type of cultural activity that fitswell with our course and then report on your experience. Your instructor willrequire you to propose an activity and get instructor approval before you do itand report on it (students should look for any instructions in that respect).Every effort should be made to ensure that this is a hands-on experience (not avirtual one), that this activity fits the HUM 111 class well, and that theactivity is of sufficient quality for this university course. The two (2) keytypes of activities are a museum visit or a performance. Note:This must not be a report on the same activity (and certainly not the samereport) as done for another class, like HUM 112. For instance, one might go tothe same museum as done for HUM 112, but this HUM 111 report will focus onentirely different works and displays.Visit a museum or gallery exhibition or attend a theater or musicalperformance before the end of Week 10. The activity (museum or performance)should have content that fits our course well. Have fun doing this.Write a two to three (2-3) page report (500-750 words) that describes yourexperience.Clearly identify the event location, date attended, the attendees, and yourinitial reaction upon arriving at the event.Provide specific information and a description of at least two (2)pieces (e.g., art, exhibits, music, etc.).Provide a summary of the event and describe your overall reaction afterattending the event.Use at least the class text as a reference (additional sources are fine, notnecessary unless required by your content). Your report should includeconnections you make between things observed in your activity and things learnedin the course and text.Note: Submit your cultural activity choice to the instructorfor approval before the end of Week 5 (earlier is even better). Look forguidance from the instructor for how or where to make your proposal. You mayalso seek advice from your instructor (provide your town/state or zip code) fora good activity in your general area.Visiting a MuseumIt makes sense to approach a museum the way a seasoned traveler approachesvisiting a city for the first time. Find out what there is available to see. Inthe museum, find out what sort of exhibitions are currently housed in the museumand start with the exhibits that interest you.If there is a travelling exhibition, its always a good idea to see it whileyou have the chance. Then, if you have time, you can look at other things in themuseum.Every effort should be made ahead of time to identify a museum that hasitems and works one can easily connect to our HUM 111 class and book. Since HUM111 covers from ancient times to the 1500s AD, it makes more sense to focus onitems from that time frame. In general, museums with artistic cultural artifactsand fine arts work better than history museums.Any questions about whether a museum-visit activity fits the course andassignment well enough will be decided by the instructor when the student seeksapproval for the activity. Any alternative activity outside the normal oneslisted here, such as for those limited by disability or distance, will bedetermined by the instructor. Generally, we do not expect students to travelover an hour to get to an approved activity.Take notes as you go through the museum and accept any handouts or pamphletsthat the museum staff gives you. While you should not quote anything from theprinted material when you do your report, the handouts may help to refresh yourmemory later.The quality of your experience is not measured by the amount of time youspend in the galleries or the number of works of art that you actually see. Themost rewarding experiences can come from finding two (2) or three (3) pieces ofart or exhibits which intrigue you and then considering those works in leisurelycontemplation. Most museums even have benches where you can sit and study aparticular piece.If you are having a difficult time deciding which pieces to write about, askyourself these questions: (1) If the museum you are visiting suddenly caughtfire, which two (2) pieces of art or exhibits would you most want to see savedfrom the fire? (2) Why would you choose those two (2) particularpieces?Attending a PerformanceCheck your local colleges to see if there are any free or low-costperformances or student recitals. Student performances are generally of almostthe same quality as professional performances, but typically cost much less.However, performances of high school level or lower will not meet thisrequirement.A performance that is relevant to a HUM 111 course is more difficult to findthan a performance that would be relevant to HUM 112 (which covers from 1600 tothe present). However, our course does cover Shakespeare and Greek tragedy anddrama, so any performances of those will work. Note: One cansometimes find music performances of music from the Renaissance or Reformationperiod, or even earlier.Any questions about whether a performance activity fits the course andassignment well enough will be decided by the instructor when the student seeksapproval for an activity. Any alternative activity outside the normal oneslisted here, such as for those limited by disability or distance, will bedetermined by the instructor. Generally, we do not expect students to travelover an hour to get to an approved activity.Unlike visiting a museum, where you can wear almost anything, peopleattending performances are often expected to dress up a bit.Take a pen or pencil with you and accept the program you are offered by theusher; you will probably want to take notes on it during or after theperformance.Turn off your cell phone before entering the auditorium. Do not use yourphone to record the music or to take pictures or videos. To play it safe, turnthe phone off.Most long musical performances have at least one (1) intermission. If thelights start blinking, it is a sign that the performance is about to begin.Look for very specific things (such as a particular pieceof music or the way certain instruments sounded at a specific time) which tendto stand out as either enjoyable or not enjoyable. Be sure to take notes of thethings which you find enjoyable as well as the things which are notenjoyable.If a student is unable to attend a cultural event in person due tocircumstances beyond the students control, then the instructor will recommendan alternate event / activity for the student to attend online. The virtualevent / activity is usually only for students who, due to their physicallocation, cannot possibly attend an event / activity in person; typically, thesestudents are stationed overseas or have no means of transportation. Experienceshows most museums and activities are modest in cost and manageable forstudents, and you will often see students from other universities there onsimilar course projects. If you are facing financial hardship, keep in mind thatmany museums have a free day each week and performance discounts are oftenavailable for students and veterans, among others. Feel free to ask yourinstructor to help with finding low-cost options. If you believe that you have alegitimate reason for attending a virtual activity, you must contact theinstructor no later than Week 5 for your request to be considered.Your assignment must follow these formatting requirements:Be typed, double spaced, using Times New Roman font (size 12), with one-inchmargins on all sides; references must follow APA style format. Check with yourprofessor for any additional instructions. (Note: Students canfind APA style materials located in the course shell for reference).Include a cover page containing the title of the assignment, the studentsname, the professors name, the course title, and the date. The cover page andthe reference page are not included in the required page length.The specific course learning outcomes associated with this assignmentare:Explain the importance of situating a societys cultural and artisticexpressions within a historical context.Examine the influences of intellectual, religious, political, andsocio-economic forces on social, cultural, and artistic expressionsUse technology and information resources to research issues in the study ofworld cultures.Write clearly and concisely about world cultures using proper writingmechanics.Click here to view the grading rubric.