Week 9: Our World - writing

Purpose

You will complete one of the writing prompts below, and: 

• Demonstrate your understanding of the information in this and previous modules by using the concepts and definitions correctly. 
• Demonstrate critical thinking by analyzing, conceptualizing, synthesizing, and communicating the concepts in this and previous modules through your writing.

Task

You are to complete ONE of the writing prompts listed below.

Specifications

1. Answer all of the questions under the prompt you choose.
2. Meet the writing specifications:
   
   • 1.5 line spacing
   • 12 point font

Writing Prompt #1: Nature and Technology

Look at Chris Jordan (Links to an external site.)’s digital images. Include images from his various themes; Midway, Running the Numbers, Intolerable Beauty and In Katrina’s Wake. Describe how you think his work reflects the ideas about nature, knowledge, and technology. In addition, make a comment about the aesthetic nature of his work. Can we find a sense of beauty in the underbelly of consumer societies? What about in destruction and over-consumption? Be specific in your answers. Give additional examples or references if you want.

Writing Prompt #2: Compare and Contrast Form and Content

The theme of ‘Mother and Child’ is common to most world cultures, but the form and content within the theme changes. View the two examples from this theme below, then compare and contrast them in terms of their forms and the content they reflect. Read the descriptions about each of the works to help you determine any difference, but use your own words to describe the works. Be specific in your answers. Your descriptions should include:

• Subject matter: What does the work represent?
• Formal qualities of each work and their visual effects on the viewer
• Areas of focus: What’s included and what isn’t?
• Issues of content: what meaning do you get out of each work? Is it different for both or the same? Why? Why not?
• What context is each work seen in? Does that make a difference in the content?

Find a third image from this theme on your own and include it in your discussion. Make sure your choice represents a different culture than the first two (African and western European). Be sure to embed the image of your choice in your document and include proper citation for any source material you refer to.

Here are links to the first two works:

• Mother and Child (Links to an external site.) sculpture from the Bamana culture of Africa
• Mary Cassatt’s Maternal Caress

Criteria

You will receive all 40 points by meeting the specifications and the deadline.