Assessment 2 Instructions: Comparative Analysis and Reflection... 20/02/2023, 07:31

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Assessment 2 Instructions: Comparative Analysis and

Reflection

Analyze the differences and similarities between two cultures using your selected cultural artifacts. Choose from

two lenses with which to examine these cultures: how these cultures approach decision-making and problem-

solving or their customs and traditions.

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Look at situations from all angles, and you will become more open.

–– DDaallaaii LLaammaa,, ssppiirriittuuaall lleeaaddeerr

Have you ever had a problem, such as a leaky faucet, an issue with a family member, or a school assignment,

that you just couldn’t solve? You might have tried and tried to come up with an answer, growing more frustrated

as time went on. Perhaps, you then asked someone else for help, and they immediately came up with the

perfect solution. Baffled, you may have thought to yourself, “How did they do that?” The answer is often that

the other person simply looked at the problem differently. And many times, a different point of view is exactly

what you need to find a solution.

In this assessment, you will further develop your problem-solving skills by exploring how different people and

cultures approach making decisions and resolving conflicts. By looking at a single problem from multiple

perspectives, you will find more creative solutions to complex issues at home, school, and work. You will also

continue to improve your self- and social-awareness skills as you explore how your perspective may be biased

and how that bias affects the way you process information.

Most of my important lessons about life have come from recognizing how others from a different culture

view things.

–– EEddggaarr HH.. SScchheeiinn,, oorrggaanniizzaattiioonnaall ppssyycchhoollooggiisstt

If you’ve ever wondered why people from different cultures think and do things differently than you, here’s your

chance to satisfy your curiosity about customs, traditions, religious beliefs, and more. While you work through

this assessment, you’ll strengthen your problem-solving and self- and social-awareness skills by exploring

cultural similarities and differences, which will allow you to understand where other people are coming from.

Exploring and thinking critically about how friends, peers, colleagues, and even strangers from different

backgrounds view the world can make you more empathetic and understanding. And applying this empathy and

understanding will ultimately help you build the successful, collaborative relationships that are critical to your

personal and professional success. You’ll continue to cultivate your problem-solving skills as you compare and

contrast cultures around the world and develop critical thinking strategies to understand the perspectives and

behaviors of others. You’ll also strengthen your self- and social-awareness skills by exploring how your personal

and cultural experiences influence your opinions and choices.

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The universe is made of stories, not atoms.

–– MMuurriieell RRuukkeeyysseerr,, ppooeett

Storytelling transcends all cultures, time periods, and geographic regions. That’s why the ancient Greeks built

huge amphitheaters and why you find yourself saying “just one more episode!” as you devour the new season

of your favorite TV show. So it’s not surprising that understanding the stories we tell is a critical part of the study

of humanities.

In all of this, you will further develop your problem-solving skills by exploring stories from different cultures. By

learning about common storytelling themes and values (and their differences and similarities), you will discover

more ways to think critically about perspectives.

References

BrainyQuote. (n.d.). Dalai Lama quotes. https://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/dalai_lama_446750

Goodreads. (n.d.). Edgar H. Schein quotes. https://www.goodreads.com/author/quotes/43958.Edgar_H_Schein

Wikiquote. (n.d.). Muriel Rukeyser. https://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/Muriel_Rukeyser

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This assessment will look more closely at the means of expression.

There is a tradition of artistic interpretation that stresses expression as the main goal of artworks. Whether it’s a

painting, a film, a novel, a play, music, or a piece of sculpture, an artwork can give expression to ideas and

emotions that can be difficult to express in ordinary words. We’ve seen that artworks convey aspects of culture

and family tradition. But they can also express and communicate religious ideas and feelings, or political

struggles. And a work of art can express the personal experiences and inner life of the artist who created it. A

work of art can do all of this in a way that connects the viewer or audience to the artist. Some see this type of

connection as the closest we can get to experiencing the inner life of another person.

For example, to get an idea of the means artworks have available for expression, consider how a

representational painting conveys much more than what’s directly represented (for example, a human figure or

mountainscape). A painter can use color, line, shading, and composition (arrangement of forms) to express ideas

and emotions about what’s depicted in the painting.

For this assessment, first, choose an artwork to analyze as a means of expression. You should choose an artwork

different from the one you selected for Assessment #1. You may select artwork of your preference or any

artwork from the Exploring Cultures text. Remember, a work of art can be a painting, a poem, a film, a piece of

music, a story, or more.

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Once you select your work of art, write 2–3 pages in which you complete the following:

Describe the selected work of art through a historical context.

What form does it take (music, painting, short story, etc.)? Be sure to name the artist (or artists)

and say something about the historical context of its creation.

Describe what is depicted in the work of art.

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If the work depicts a subject or event (like representational paintings, sculptures, stories, or films

do), describe what is depicted.

If the artwork is non-representational (like an abstract painting or sculpture, music, or architecture),

you can simply say that it is non-representational.

Explain two or three things that the artwork expresses, beyond whatever is directly depicted in the work

(if it is representational).

What ideas, moods, emotions, feelings, hopes, aspirations, or states of mind do you think the

artist is trying to express? If the work is representational, perhaps the artist is expressing certain

feelings about what’s depicted (e.g., grief, anger, or joy).

You can also focus on qualities like color, line, shape, composition, light, shading, sound, and so

forth. These are the aspects of the work that do the job of communicating to the viewer or listener

something that can't easily be expressed in ordinary language.

Explain how your cultural perspective shapes your interpretation of the art.

Describe any cultural biases that may influence this explanation.

Describe how the work of art reflects the culture of the artist.

How do you think the artist's culture is reflected in the work of art?

Was the art a result of a collaborative goal, such as a genre of music or literature, or was the work

of art an individual representation?

ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS

Your 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 in APA style, with a title page, double spacing, and a reference

page.

Citations: Properly cite sources according to APA rules. Review Evidence and APA for more information

on how to cite your sources.

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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.

Explain how your cultural perspective shaped your response and connection with the artifact.

Competency 3: Analyze cultural differences and similarities of people globally.

Explain two or three things that the artwork expresses.

Competency 4: Analyze the role of culture and artistic expression in human thought and behavior.

Describe the selected work of art through a historical context.

Describe what is depicted in the work of art.

Competency 5: Address assessment 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, and formatting.

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SCORING GUIDE

Use the scoring guide to understand how your assessment will be evaluated.

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VIEW SCORING GUIDE

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