HUM112 Week9 Strayer Creative Works Museum Report

/in /by

Assignment 3: Cultural Activity Report
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 112 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 111. For instance, one
might go to the same museum as done for HUM 111, but this HUM 112 report
will focus on entirely different works and displays.

  1. Visit a museum or art gallery
    before the end of Week 9. If you are unable to get to a museum or
    gallery within your area, then a “create your own museum” assignment can
    be completed in its place (see Option 2 details below). The museum or
    gallery 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 museum or gallery.
    • Provide specific information and a description of at least ten (10) pieces by a minimum of five (5) different artists.
    • Provide a summary of the pieces and describe your overall reaction after viewing them.
    • Use the class text as a
      reference (additional sources are fine, but 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
museum or art gallery 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.

Option 1: 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 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 traveling
    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 112 class and book. Since HUM 112 covers from
    1600 AD to the present, it makes more sense to focus on items from this
    time frame. In general, museums with 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.
  • 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 ten (10) works of art by five (5)
    different artists who intrigue you
    and then considering those works in leisurely contemplation. Most
    museums 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?

Option 2: Create and Curate Your Own Art Museum

For this paper, you will select and
curate ten (10) works of art to include in your own Art Museum. Use the
text and online sources to help you find these works of art. This
assignment is an alternative option for visiting a museum or art gallery.

After researching, answer the
following questions by writing a two to three (2-3) page report,
(750-800 words) that describes your experience.

  1. Select ten (10) works of art from
    at least five (5) artists from different time periods discussed in the
    text, 18th century to modern times.
  2. Provide a brief description of each piece and a picture if possible, explaining why you chose each piece.
  3. Describe where and how you would display each piece, whether individually or grouped together.
  4. Describe the museum attendees,
    the admission charges, the advertising programs, and your role as
    museum founder and curator. Give your museum a name and a location.