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Week 7: Connections

HUMN 100 6981 Introduction to Humanities (2215) OO

Connections

Without fear, we are able to see more clearly

our connections to others. Without fear, we

have more room for understanding and

compassion. Without fear, we are truly free.

—Thich Nhat Hanh

Constellation: Toward the Rainbow by Joan Miró

Metropolitan Museum of Art Open Access “The Met Collection”

—

Overview
We’ve been exploring a wide variety of fields in the humanities. For the sake of simplicity,

each of these fields has been treated in isolation. But people do not make creative works

in a vacuum, and our talents grow and bloom when we share ideas, skills, and artistic

expressions. We turn now to the subject of connections in the humanities—connections

among the creative endeavors; connections between the arts and the skills people use in

daily life; and connections among the people who create and experience the products of

the human imagination.

Connections Among Creative Endeavors

You’ve doubtless noticed connections between some of the arts discussed in this course:

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A poem read aloud becomes a performance. A poem becomes lyrics when set to

music. The song and music may be integrated with dance.

A short story or novel may be adapted for the theater or film, and within the play

or the film, other arts may be represented, including music and dance.

With the aid of technology, traditional visual arts become less static. Paintings and

drawings can be animated. Sculptures move with the wind, or with mechanical aid.

Who Are We? Why Are We Here? Where Are We Going?

These are the big questions of philosophy—existential questions about the meaning and

purpose of life. These questions underlie many myths and religions, and have inspired

countless works of literature and art. At the same time, religious images and teachings

draw from myths, as well as contribute to them.

Cross-Fertilization in the Humanities

Cross-fertilization facilitates the creation of new, sometimes controversial, art forms. In

the United States, the two main public organizations that support and encourage efforts

in the humanities, including cross-disciplinary efforts, are the National Endowment for the

Arts (NEA) and the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH).

Connections in Everyday Life

If you imagine the visual arts as belonging in museums, the performing arts as confined to

theaters, and literature stuffed onto library shelves, then the humanities may seem distant

from the concerns of everyday life.

However, this course may have sensitized you to the ways that the arts permeate people’s

lives. The music you hear in public places or through your headphones, the built

environment of architecture, the film adaptation of a great work of fiction—these

manifestations of the arts are so omnipresent that we take them for granted.

Technology

Technology facilitates easy, inexpensive reproduction of art works. This means that art no

longer refers exclusively to original writings, performances, images, and sculptures. The

implications for the future of the arts—including concerns about ownership and copyright

—have engaged cultural critics since Walter Benjamin’s 1936 essay, “The Work of Art in

the Age of Mechanical Reproduction.” In many societies, “old” technologies such as the

printing press, photography, recording technologies, and film have been supplanted by

electronic media that permit near-instantaneous sharing of writing, music, and the visual

arts, not to mention ideas, opinions, facts, and fallacies.

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The humanities also enhance everyday life in ways that are practical, economically

important, and have major implications for career development. For example, employers

place high value on humanities students’ skills, including clear and systematic thinking,

ethical judgment, cultural sensitivity and fair-mindedness, openness to new ideas,

effective communication, honesty and humility, courage and perseverance, and creative

problem solving.

Human Connections

The arts help people heal, they facilitate personal, spiritual, and emotional development,

and they foster community well-being. By nature, the performing arts are collective

experiences that bring together performers and audiences. Creating and supporting the

arts nurtures communities, both traditionally, such as through collective religious rituals,

and in new ways made possible only by advanced technology, such as crowd funding for

arts projects. Finally, the arts connect us not only to the rest of humanity, but to our own

deepest human desires for meaning, connection, and self-expression.

Learning Outcomes

Following is a list of the Week 7 outcomes, mapped to the corresponding course

outcome. The course outcomes give “the big picture,” and the weekly outcomes provide

more detailed information that will help you achieve the course outcomes.

Week 7 Outcomes

Describe and investigate connections between the fields in the humanities (1).

Identify the relevance of the arts and humanities in everyday endeavors (1).

Identify and describe controversies regarding the cost and the value of humanities

(1).

Explain the role of arts and letters in cross-cultural communication (1, 3).

Explain the role of arts and letters in healing and personal development (3, 4).

Course Outcomes Met in Week 7

1. Describe and analyze the way human culture is expressed through works of

literature, performing and visual arts, philosophy, and religion in order to appreciate

the depth and breadth of the humanities disciplines.

2. Use basic vocabulary, concepts, methods, and theories of the humanities disciplines

in order to describe and analyze cultural and artistic expressions.

3. Identify and apply criteria in order to evaluate individual and collective cultural

accomplishments.

4. Examine individual and cultural perspectives in the field of humanities in order to

recognize and assess cultural diversity and the individual’s place in the world.

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Week 7 Checklist
Checklist

Week 7 Study Guide
Web Page

Week 7 Learning Resources
External Learning Tool

Week 7: QUIZ
Quiz

WEEK 7 DISCUSSION: Making Connections
Discussion Topic

0 % 0 of 6 topics complete

Read the Weekly Overview & Learning Goals

Read, View, Review all of the Learning Resources & Links

Participate in our Discussions

Take the Quiz

Complete & Submit your Cultural Experience #2

Take the quiz before you post to the discussions.

Please use the Learning Resources from this module to answer the quiz questions. You

may take this quiz up to five times. Questions you have answered incorrectly will be

shown to you after each attempt. Your best grade will be recorded in the grade book.

GENERAL INSTRUCTIONS FOR DISCUSSIONS: Your contributions should be thoughtful

and developed. Answer all parts of the question and use concepts from the course

materials. Use a professional style of communication, with attention to grammar, spelling,

and typos; cite your sources.

Unless your instructor specifies otherwise, choose ONE of the following questions, and

give a substantive response to at least two other students.

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1. YOU, THE ARTIST

Write a poem or a brief essay, draw or paint a picture, make a carving, compose a song,

take a series of photographs. Consider doing a self-portrait in any artistic medium or

literary form, representational or abstract. To get started, you might look at “Project Art-

a-Day” at http://projectartaday.blogspot.com/2013/03/lesson-value-self-portraits.html

Include images or audio files of your creative efforts in your response. Then reflect on

your experience and use one interpretative tool from the semester to say something

about your work. Make sure refer to the Learning Resource for the tool and which week it

is from either in your narrative or as a citation. Underline or bold the vocabulary, concept

or technique you use as a interpretative tool in your post.

2. CROSS-FERTILIZATION

Present and discuss an example of cross-fertilization between two or more art forms. For

example, you might compare a theater presentation with a film adapation of the same

play, or discover and describe how a poem can be illustrated as a drawing or painting.

For this discussion, you might also compare art forms between two different cultures. For

example, you might compare how religious images or music differ between religious or

cultural groups.

Be sure to include images and links so everyone can see or hear what you’re discussing,

and make sure to use one interpretative tool from the semester to say something about

the things you are comparing. Make sure refer to the Learning Resource for the tool and

which week it is from either in your narrative or as a citation. Underline or bold the

vocabulary, concept or technique you use as a interpretative tool in your post.

3. REVIEW A TED TALK

TED stands for Technology, Entertainment, and Design. The TED organization sponsors

global presentations on “Ideas Worth Spreading.”

Go to the website https://www.ted.com/ . Find a TED talk that addresses the value of

one of the humanities fields covered in this course or a controversy in one of the

humanities disciplines.

Write a review of the presentation. First, identify the name of the speaker and the

presentation, indicate when it was presented, and give a link to the talk. Second, describe

the main points of the TED talk. Finally, offer a critique —your assessment of the

speaker’s ideas and the presentation overall.

4. DISCUSS FUNDING FOR THE ARTS

http://projectartaday.blogspot.com/2013/03/lesson-value-self-portraits.html

https://www.ted.com/

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Cultural Experience Report #2
Assignment

Due August 3 at 11:59 PM

Although most people appreciate the arts as part of their everyday lives (perhaps,

especially, music and film), the arts often are first to go when public school funding is

tight. Use the educational resources for this week as a starting place to explore the pros

and cons of public funding for the arts and funding for art and music in public schools.

You will not see any other postings until you post your own.

Initial posts are due by Saturday at 11:30PM ET and at least two responses to fellow

classmates are expected by the end of the academic week on Tuesday by 11:30PM ET.

Cultural Experience Field Report #2

Note: This assignment has been adapted to adhere to the current guidance from the CDC

for social distancing because of the COVID-19 pandemic.

For this assignment, you will choose a virtual cultural venue from the instructions below

to visit online and write a short 500-800 word report about your visit.

Purpose

The purpose of this assignment is to introduce you to the process of
engaging with the cultural venues and communities. This will inform you
personally of the Humanities and groups that support it.

Skills

This assignment will help you practice the following skills that will be useful
to you in your professional and personal life beyond school.

Identify cultural venues and inform you with deeper knowledge about

the cultural form chosen.

Organize reflections about engaging with a cultural experience and community

Use concepts and skills learned in class to describe and interpret cultural

experiences and communities

Use appropriate and proper grammar, organization, and academic-
style formatting in order to communicate

Knowledge

This assignment will help you become familiar with the following important
content knowledge in the Humanities.

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Available virtual cultural venues and communities

Methods of interpretation within the Humanities

Instructions

For your report, choose one virtual venue from this pre-approved list that
most interests you, or contact your professor for approval of your own
online choice. If your choice below has both a website and a video, make
sure you examine both. If you need special accommodations to complete
this assignment, please inform your instructor and contact the Accessibility
Accommodations office for guidance.

Please watch the entire performance or thoroughly explore the venue you choose.

THEATER PLAY

Shakespeare

First Encounter: King Lear (adapted for children)

The Tragedy of Richard II

A Midsummer Night’s Dream

The Importance of being Earnest by Oscar Wilde

NEW MA by Dora Dee Hunter

Watch a full performance of one of the plays on this list of full length plays available

on Youtube. https://www.youtube.com/playlist?

list=PL4UvHdqgzgxyW8nqcnS5NU1FhIkL3NRyC

Watch a full performance of a Broadway musical that is available for streaming on various

paid services. A list is available here: https://www.playbill.com/article/15-broadway-plays-

and-musicals-you-can-watch-on-stage-from-home

POETRY OR BOOK READING, AUTHOR EVENT, OR SPOKEN WORD PERFORMANCE

Author interviews

https://www.umgc.edu/current-students/student-life-and-support/accessibility-accommodations/index.cfm

https://www.playbill.com/article/15-broadway-plays-and-musicals-you-can-watch-on-stage-from-home

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Toni Morrison on “The Bluest Eye” and “Paradise”

Inside the Imagination with China Miéville

William Gibson: Technology, Science Fiction & the Apolcalypse

A conversation with Ursula K. Le Guin

George R.R. Martin On Strombo: Extended Interview

Salman Rushdie on Storytelling

Alice Walker

Poetry Readings

Joy Harjo

Leslie Marmon Silko

Rita Dove

Naomi Shihab Nye

Arthur Sze

Heather McHugh

Juan Felipe Herrera

An Evening with Robert Pinsky

Poetry Festivals, Slams and Spoken Word

The BreakBeat Poets

The Last Word Festival- Poetry Slam Final 2018

The Last Word Festival –Poetry Slam Final 2017

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Louder than a Bomb (Millennial Stage)

Henry Rollins “Up for It” spoken word performance (includes some obscenities)

https://youtu.be/e0cMviFOknk

Kate Tempest spoken word performance on KEXP

FILM COMMENTARY BY A DIRECTOR OR CINEMA EXPERT

Watch an entire DVD/Blue Ray film with the “audio commentary” special feature as long

as the commentary is by or includes the director or a film historian/expert, not just the

actors/actresses or commercial film critics.

Examples of a few films on DVD/Blue Ray with director’s commentary:

Get Out, commentary by Jordan Peele

Lord of the Rings films, commentary by Peter Jackson

Taxi Driver, Raging Bull, GoodFellas, commentary by Martin Scorsese

Pan’s Labyrinth, commentary by Guillermo Del Toro

Das Boot, commentary by Stephen Spielberg

National Treasure: Book of Secrets, commentary by Jon Turteltaub

A list of older films with DVD/Audio commentary is available here, just make sure you are

listening to directors and film experts: http://www.ratethatcommentary.com/top100.php

Listen to a director’s commentary on a film on this podcast: Watching

With…..by NetFlix: https://podcasts.apple.com/podcast/id1464225558

RELIGIOUS SERVICE, CEREMONY OR RITUAL

Your choice should be different from one’s own religion, if practiced. Please view all

videos under the ritual, service, or ceremony you choose.

JUDAISM

Passover Seder Meal

The Passover Seder: What to Expect

Model Passover Seder

Yom Kippur

https://youtu.be/e0cMviFOknk

http://www.ratethatcommentary.com/top100.php

https://podcasts.apple.com/podcast/id1464225558

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What is Yom Kippur?

Yom Kippur Neilah (Concluding) Service

Yom Kippur Ritual: Kaparot in Israel

CHRISTIANITY

Baptism rituals

Catholic Baptism

Evangelical Full Immersion Baptism

Baptists in India

Baptist Ceremony
https://youtu.be/e5Pqfz0Xew0

Rituals of the Eucharist

Catholic Sacrament of the Eucharist 101

Orthodox Communion

Baptist Communion Service

Evangelical Communion Service

ISLAM

Ramadan

The Adhan: Call to Prayer during Ramadan

What is Ramadan?

Welcoming Ramadan: Shaykh Abdul Moez Nafti

https://youtu.be/e5Pqfz0Xew0

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Hajj

Hajj: BBC News

Hajj: real footage from Mecca to Medina

Bosnian Hajj Pilgrims (transcript/translation of speakers in video
notes)

HINDUISM

Upanayana Ceremony

Upanayana Adhar: A Rite of Passage

Upanayana: Thread Ceremony example 1

Upanayanam ceremony example 2

Puja

Why is Puja necessary to maintain Hinduism?

Daily Puja ritual example

Puja Temple Service

BUDDHISM

Heart Sutra Ritual

Heart Sutra Chanting

How to Chant the Heart Sutra Mantra: Robert A.F. Thurman

Heart Sutra Translation
https://plumvillage.org/about/thich-nhat-hanh/letters/thich-nhat-
hanh-new-heart-sutra-translation/

Ordination Rite

New Heart Sutra translation by Thich Nhat Hanh

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Ordination and Closing Ceremony

Becoming a Buddhist Monk

Ordination Procedure in the Theraveda Tradition
http://www.buddhanet.net/e-
learning/buddhistworld/ordination1.htm

Restrictions: The experience should be viewed during the current semester. If this is

impossible, contact the instructor to arrange for alternatives. You may not report on a

cultural experience viewed prior to this class.

Write a report after you have explored or viewed the online resource.

Your report should include the following information. Include photos or links that help

convey the information. As always, be sure to document all sources you consult in

preparing your work. This includes any learning resources from the class, or information

from the websites that informed you about the particular item you explored.

Name and location of event or name and director of the film, writer’s name etc. If

there is on-line information about what you viewed, be sure to include a link to it

within the text of your essay in an appropriate place.

Type of event. For example is it a film, ritual, service, ceremony, poetry reading,

festival, author interview etc. Make sure to include the name of the authors,

directors, producers, speakers, author of your favorite poem (if poetry festival or

event).

Briefly describe the general setting by talking a bit about the location (you can

research the location online) and the general overall “vibe” of the place or places

viewed.

Describe at least one aspect of what you viewed that you found especially

interesting. For example, you might write about the different ways the same ritual

is conducted by different groups, a poem you really liked from the reading or

poetry festival, something an author or direct said that really struck you. Explain

what impressed or affected you, and why. Your reaction can be positive or

negative, as long as you offer an explanation.

Identify and use at least two tools, concepts or methods that you have learned

about in this class in the Learning Resources to talk about your viewing. For

example, if you view a director’s commentary, you might point out what the

director says about lighting or the set, or if you view to a ritual, talk about the myth

http://www.buddhanet.net/e-learning/buddhistworld/ordination1.htm

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the ritual is based on, or if you watch a spoken word or poetry reading, you can talk

about specific literary language or imagery. Make sure you are explicit in identifying

the tools/concept/methods you are using and the specific learning resources they

come from. Be sure to inform the reader about the tool/concept/method through a

quote or paraphrase from the learning resource. Then, make sure to tell the reader

how you interpret and/or analyze some elements of what you experience with the

tools.

Be sure to cite the learning resources you have used in MLA format. Please

see http://sites.umgc.edu/library/libhow/mla_examples.cfm

Reflect on the relevance–if any–of your viewing to your everyday life. How did

the experience engage your feelings or emotions, if at all? What does this tell you

about human culture, and/or about yourself?

STOP: Before you hand in your assignment, ask yourself the following questions:

1. Have I clearly provided identifying information about what I viewed in terms of

who was involved and where it took place and provided the URL, if

applicable? Have I done what I could to describe the setting and/or vibe?

2. Have I identified and explained an especially interesting aspect of the experience

and used examples to illustrate reflections and to explain why this aspect was

interesting?

3. Have I identified and applied two tools, concepts or methods of interpretation from

learning resources to concrete and specific examples from visit?

4. Have I used examples to clearly explain the relevance of my visit to at least one of

the following: 1) emotion 2) human culture 3) self-identity 4) cultural identity?

5. Have I used Learning Resources from the class and provided a list of
resources, and do all of my citations conform to MLA 8th edition
guidelines?

6. Have I proofread this assignment for grammatical, structural, and
spelling errors that might impede someone from understanding what I
am trying to say?

This assignment is due by the end of the seventh week of class on TUESDAY by 11:30PM

ET.

http://sites.umgc.edu/library/libhow/mla_examples.cfm

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