4 Section: Each 500 Words.
Section 1:
Choose ONE of the following options for a play and a corresponding film adaptation to address this question. You might have to rent the film or find it on an online streaming service
OPTION 1: Read Romeo and Juliet and watch one of the following adaptations: Gnomeo & Juliet (2011), Chicken Rice War (2000), Romeo Must Die (2000), Romeo + Juliet (1996), Romeo and Juliet(1968), Romeo and Juliet (1966), West Side Story (1961), Romeo and Juliet (1954), Romeo and Juliet (1936).
OPTION 2: Read The Taming of the Shrew and watch one of the following adaptations: Deliver Us from Eva (2003), 10 Things I Hate About You (1999), The Taming of the Shrew (1967), McLintock! (1967), Kiss Me Kate (1953), You Made Me Love You (1933),
Now, for the play/film pair that you chose, address all parts of this question.
Clearly identify two scenes from the written play that also appear in the film (however loosely) that you think are significant to the overall story, and explain why.
Offer an assessment of how well you think the film portrayed the two scenes. In other words, was the film’s portrayal of these two scenes effective or ineffective? Why?
Use at least two / three of the terms and concepts from the Learning Resources for the module explain why the scenes portrayed in the film were effective or ineffective. For example, perhaps the film used specific music and lighting in a scene to effectively emphasize the tension of the scene. Underline or bold the vocabulary, concept or technique you use as an interpretative tool in your post.
Finally, give your overall opinion about how the themes of this play translate to our contemporary world and why you think this play has had so many film adaptations.
Section 2:
Unless your instructor specifies otherwise, choose ONE of the following questions, and give a substantive response to at least two other students.
1. THE MATERIAL DIMENSION OF MYTH
If you look at the Learning Resources for this week, you will see myths from religions paired with elements of the arts which express or are related to those myths. For example, the Jewish Passover myth is covered, and then there is a link to a Passover dance and some material decorative items used in the Jewish Passover ritual, which re-enacts the myth. Also, the Eucharistic myth is covered under Christianity, and then there are some examples of how the story of the Eucharist is expressed in the arts, including in music and poetry.
For this discussion, pick one of the five major world religions. Find a myth from that religion that you can directly connect to something in the religion’s material dimension (the arts).
Provide a link to a version of the myth and give us a very short (3-5 sentences) description of the myth.
Provide a link to the element from the arts that links to the myth and give us a paragraph that analyzes how the two are connected. For example: Is this an object that is part of a ritual? Is it used by believers to accomplish something? Does it teach believers something? Does it help a community express their beliefs? Is it something (like a work of visual art) that critiques the values/beliefs/practices etc. expressed by the myth, or offers a new perspective on the religion?
Keep in mind that a myth is: “a symbolic narrative, usually of unknown origin and at least partly traditional, that ostensibly relates actual events and that is especially associated with religious belief. It is distinguished from symbolic behaviour (cult, ritual) and symbolic places or objects (temples, icons). Myths are specific accounts of gods or superhuman beings involved in extraordinary events or circumstances in a time that is unspecified but which is understood as existing apart from ordinary human experience. The term mythology denotes both the study of myth and the body of myths belonging to a particular religious tradition.” https://www.britannica.com/topic/myth
2. THE ACADEMIC STUDY OF RELIGION
To address the following questions, consider the four approaches to religion described in the introduction to this module: exclusivism, inclusivism, pluralism and empathetic interest in other people.
Which of these four approaches do you take in your everyday life, and why?
Describe a friend, acquaintance, or relative whose approach to religion is different than yours. What approach do they take? Given your different approaches, how would you communicate with them about religion?
If you were to take a college class on religious traditions, do you think the academic study of religion might require you to adjust your approach? Explain your answer.
Section 3:
Unless your instructor specifies otherwise, choose ONE of the following questions, and give a substantive response to at least two other students.
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 /two interpretative tools 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 adaptation 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 or more interpretative tools 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
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. This project will take you to the Internet search engines, if you do it correctly.
Section 4:
Unless your instructor specifies otherwise, choose TWO of the following questions, and give a substantive response to at least two other students.
ANSWER TWO.
1. REFLECT ON YOUR OWN LEARNING. Please identify and share one of the most meaningful insights you obtained from the course. This insight must be strictly about you.
2. REFLECT ON THE ARTISTIC EXPRESSIONS OF OTHERS. From the many artistic expressions provided in the course (paintings, photographs, videos, links, etc.), choose one that identifies a meaningful experience in the course. Explain why you chose that object and why it is meaningful. If possible, paste a copy or the link. Imagine that your choice will become a part of a Course Album of Meaningful Objects and your choice will be your contribution to the album.
3. REFLECT ON YOUR LEARNING ACCOMPLISHMENTS WITH YOUR FELLOW STUDENTS. What would you tell them about your experience together? What would you say to encourage them to continue their exploration of the humanities? How might you use the tools for interpretation that you have learned about in your life or at your job?
4. PERSONAL GROWTH. Paraphrasing Einstein, a person cannot grow remaining static—it takes new ideas, fresh thoughts and inspiration to bring about transformation. This is why the humanities are important. Where do you see the humanities helping you grow as a person?
5. “DEAR JOHN…” Write a letter to a friend about the course. In 350-500 words, tell your friend why you think the course would be valuable and personally enriching. Describe what you think they would learn from taking the course, and evaluate any aspect of the course that you think would be most relevant to your friend.
5.a. In this letter, cite (and reference) the learning resources you found most useful, interesting, helpful.
6. REFLECT ON THE VALUE OF THE HUMANITIES. There is a big focus on STEM fields of studies today, science, technology, engineering and math. However, there are those who argue for STEAM, which includes the arts. What do you think the value of the humanities are to other fields? How might you convince someone in a STEM field of this value. This article from the Atlantic may be of use in thinking about your response.
7. REFLECT ON YOUR POSITION IN THE CAVE. We began this semester talking about Plato’s Allegory of the Cave. How can you use this allegory to discuss your experience of going through this class and your understanding of the Humanities? For instance, are you still chained in the cave watching shadows on the wall? Have you moved outside of the cave? Do you exist in both places now with regards to the Humanities? Do you prefer one place over another? Explain.
Last Completed Projects
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