For this Assignment, you will have an opportunity to see how creative expressions can broaden your perspective. You will write a 500-word descriptive essay reporting on your experience with a work of art or creative expression and how it taught you something new.
Select a work of art, literature, film, music, architecture, theatre, dance, food, or photography from another country or culture. Aim to challenge yourself in this Assignment to go beyond countries or cultural artifacts that you already enjoy or know well. The goal of the Assignment is to see how a creative expression can change you and give you more capacity to see things through the eyes of others. So the more foreign your selection is to you and your experience, the more likely you can complete the Assignment successfully. Your viewpoint and purpose should be clearly established and sustained.
I. Give an introduction to the paper and to what you will complete in the Assignment.
Introduce your selection and explain why you have selected it. Why was this artifact interesting? Why are you interested in learning more about this country or culture? Use and cite a source to help introduce the artifact, to explain its significance, and to demonstrate your ability to incorporate outside information into your investigation.
II. Explain the experience of engaging with this work of artistic expression. If you watched a foreign film, talk about what you felt was unique in the filmmaking, storytelling, music, plot, or characters. If you decided to eat a different type of food, talk about the sights, sounds, smells, and taste. Be descriptive about your first impressions, your apprehensions or stereotypes, and your perspective during the encounter.
III. Reflect upon what you learned and how it may help you to better understand the perspective of others. How might this be useful at work in a specific task you have to complete? How might this help you in your life, community, or group of friends? Wrap up with a conclusion as well.
The paper should be written in a logical order following the instructions above, as well as original and insightful. You may label each part of the project to help clarify where you are addressing these elements of the paper, but you should also be writing a cohesive, descriptive essay.
