WORLD CULTURE PAPER

Assignment 3: Cultural Activity Report

3-4 PAGES 
IN 24 HOUR !!

Due Week 9 and worth 100 points

As  a way of experiencing the Humanities beyond your classroom, computer,  and textbook, you are asked to do a certain type of “cultural activity”  that fits well with our course and then report on your experience. Your  instructor will require you to propose an activity and get instructor  approval before you do it and 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 a virtual one), that this  activity fits the HUM 111 class well, and that the activity is of  sufficient quality for this university course. The two (2) key types of  activities are a museum visit or a performance.
 Note:  This must not be a report on the same activity (and certainly not the  same report) as done for another class, like HUM 112. For instance, one  might go to the same museum as done for HUM 112, but this HUM 111 report  will focus on entirely different works and displays.

Visit  a museum or gallery exhibition or attend a theater or musical  performance before the end of Week 9. 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 your experience.

Clearly identify the event location, date attended, the attendees, and your initial 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 after attending the event.
Use  at least the class text as a reference (additional sources are fine,  not necessary unless required by your content). Your report should  include connections you make between things observed in your activity  and things learned in the course and text.

Note:  Submit your cultural activity choice to the instructor for approval  before the end of Week 5 (earlier is even better). Look for guidance  from the instructor for how or where to make your proposal. You may also  seek advice from your instructor (provide your town/state or zip code)  for a good activity in your general area.
Visiting a Museum

It  makes sense to approach a museum the way a seasoned traveler approaches  visiting a city for the first time. Find out what there is available to  see. In the museum, find out what sort of exhibitions are currently  housed in the museum and start with the exhibits that interest you.
If  there is a travelling exhibition, it’s always a good idea to see it  while you have the chance. Then, if you have time, you can look at other  things in the museum.
Every effort should be made ahead of  time to identify a museum that has items and works one can easily  connect to our HUM 111 class and book. Since HUM 111 covers from ancient  times to the 1500s AD, it makes more sense to focus on items from that  time frame. In general, museums with artistic cultural artifacts and  fine arts work better than history museums.
Any questions about  whether a museum-visit activity fits the course and assignment well  enough will be decided by the instructor when the student seeks approval  for the activity. Any alternative activity outside the normal ones  listed here, such as for those limited by disability or distance, will  be determined by the instructor. Generally, we do not expect students to  travel over an hour to get to an approved activity.
Take notes  as you go through the museum and accept any handouts or pamphlets that  the museum staff gives you. While you should not quote anything from the  printed material when you do your report, the handouts may help to  refresh your memory later.
The quality of your experience is  not measured by the amount of time you spend in the galleries or the  number of works of art that you actually see. The most rewarding  experiences can come from finding two (2) or three (3) pieces of art or  exhibits which intrigue you and then considering those works in  leisurely contemplation. Most museums even have benches where you can  sit and study a particular piece.
If you are having a difficult  time deciding which pieces to write about, ask yourself these  questions: (1) If the museum you are visiting suddenly caught fire,  which two (2) pieces of art or exhibits would you most want to see saved  from the fire? (2) Why would you choose those two (2) particular  pieces?

Attending a Performance

Check  your local colleges to see if there are any free or low-cost  performances or student recitals. Student performances are generally of  almost the same quality as professional performances, but typically cost  much less. However, performances of high school level or lower will not  meet this requirement.
A performance that is relevant to a HUM  111 course is more difficult to find than a performance that would be  relevant to HUM 112 (which covers from 1600 to the present). However,  our course does cover Shakespeare and Greek tragedy and drama, so any  performances of those will work. Note: One can sometimes find music performances of music from the Renaissance or Reformation period, or even earlier.  
Any  questions about whether a performance activity fits the course and  assignment well enough will be decided by the instructor when the  student seeks approval for an activity. Any alternative activity outside  the normal ones listed here, such as for those limited by disability or  distance, will be determined by the instructor. Generally, we do not  expect students to travel over an hour to get to an approved activity.
Unlike  visiting a museum, where you can wear almost anything, people attending  performances are often expected to “dress up” a bit.
Take a  pen or pencil with you and accept the program you are offered by the  usher; you will probably want to take notes on it during or after the  performance.
Turn off your cell phone before entering the  auditorium. Do not use your phone to record the music or to take  pictures or videos. To play it safe, turn the phone off.
Most  long musical performances have at least one (1) intermission. If the  lights start blinking, it is a sign that the performance is about to  begin.
Look for very specific things (such as a particular piece  of music or the way certain instruments sounded at a specific time)  which tend to stand out as either enjoyable or not enjoyable. Be sure to  take notes of the things which you find enjoyable as well as the things  which are not enjoyable.

If a student is  unable to attend a cultural event in person due to circumstances beyond  the student’s control, then the instructor will recommend an alternate  event / activity for the student to “attend” online. The “virtual” event  / activity is usually only for students who, due to their physical  location, cannot possibly attend an event / activity in person;  typically, these students are stationed overseas or have no means of  transportation. Experience shows most museums and activities are modest  in cost and manageable for students, and you will often see students  from other universities there on similar course projects. If you are  facing financial hardship, keep in mind that many museums have a free  day each week and performance discounts are often available for students  and veterans, among others. Feel free to ask your instructor to help  with finding low-cost options. If you believe that you have a legitimate  reason for attending a “virtual” activity, you must contact the  instructor 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-inch margins on all sides; references must follow APA style format.  Check with your professor for any additional instructions. (Note: Students can find APA style materials located in the course shell for reference).
Include  a cover page containing the title of the assignment, the student’s  name, the professor’s name, the course title, and the date. The cover  page and the reference page are not included in the required page  length.

The specific course learning outcomes associated with this assignment are:

Explain the importance of situating a society’s cultural and artistic expressions within a historical context.
Examine  the influences of intellectual, religious, political, and  socio-economic forces on social, cultural, and artistic expressions
Use technology and information resources to research issues in the study of world cultures.
Write clearly and concisely about world cultures using proper writing mechanics.