Cultural Activity Report

1. Visit
   a museum or gallery exhibition or attend a theater or musical
   performance before the end of Week 10. The activity (museum or
   performance) should have content that fits our course well. Have fun
   doing this.
2. 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 HUM111 class and book.  Since
  HUM111 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. Normally
  we do not expect students to travel over an hour to get to an approved
  activity.
• Make
  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 or three
  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 HUM111 course is more difficult to
  find than a performance that would be relevant to HUM112 (which covers
  from 1600 to the present).  But, our course does cover Shakespeare and
  Greek tragedy and drama, so any performances of those will work. 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. Normally
  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 make 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
  make notes of the things which you find enjoyable as well as the things
  which are not enjoyable.