Exploring Artistic Elements and Meaning in Multiple Works

This assignment requires students to analyze three works of art (a literary work and two non-literary works) using various elements, mood, and theme. Students will describe the non-literary works in terms of media, form, or genre, and summarize the works. They will then analyze each work's mood, theme, and meaning, and explore how these elements relate to one another. Finally, students will reflect on the analyses presented and discuss their relevance to the human experience and professional fields.

IWT Task 2
Help on this Pagelink opens in new window
Directions
Print
SUBDOMAIN 112.2 - DISCIPLINES & CULTURAL CONTEXT OF THE HUMANITIES
Competency 112.2.1: Connections Across Disciplines - The graduate recognizes and analyzes relatio
disciplines of the humanities.
Competency 112.2.2: Humanities and Culture - The graduate recognizes and analyzes the interaction
Introduction:
“Knowledgeable interaction with works of art makes life better: We see more of what can be seen, and we
From your studies, you have seen how culture, societal norms, belief systems, and past experiences affect
understanding of the overall human experience. Whether analytical skills are applied to a task at work, or a
the world help us become more aware of our perceptions and provide a deeper and more meaningful exist
In this task, you will analyze and interpret three creative works from three separate disciplines of the hum
observations and concrete information. Subjective statements are based on personal opinions, judgments,
from the humanities. You will use analytical and critical thinking skills to assess how meaning is constructe
(e.g., PowerPoint, Keynote). While the content of your presentation will focus on analyzing, interpreting, co
explain how the three works you analyze demonstrate the value of the humanities in meaningful ways.
Background:
Develop a multimedia presentation in which you analyze three creative works from three separate discipl
to a profession within your field of study at WGU. You will share with your audience how being knowledgea
First you must choose one literary work from the given list below. Choose a literary work that has a theme
profession within your field of study at WGU (Business, IT, Nursing or Teaching) will have humanistic consid
with determination, a social worker with compassion, or an engineer with integrity. It is the intent of this ta
Once you have selected a literary work, you will need to select two non-literary works from separate discip
all three works connect to the theme that you have chosen, and how that theme relates to a profession wi
disciplines: two-dimensional visual art (e.g., painting, photography, printmaking,), music or film (feature film
way, and/or evoke a strong response in you. In the presentation, you will show how exploration of the them
human experience.
Note: Your multimedia presentation should contain 25 to 30 slides. This is not a conventional PowerPoint pr
form, with some utilizing the more traditional bullet point format. You are encouraged to use first person na
information should be on the slides (do not use speaker notes). Arrange slides in a way that creates cohesi
Note: This presentation should demonstrate the depth of the analysis and reflection that you have done. Yo
that represent your knowledge and convey your unique analytical points and insights.
Select ONE work of literature from the following list (works are available online).
NOVELLAS:
Death of Ivan Ilyich by Leo Tolstoy, 1886
The Invisible Man by H. G. Wells, 1897
SHORT STORIES:
“The Package” by Kurt Vonnegut, 1952
“Johnny Mnemonic” by William Gibson, 1981
“The Lottery" by Shirley Jackson, 1948
“A Small, Good Thing” by Raymond Carver, 1983

“Silver Water” by Amy Bloom, 1993
“The Third and Final Continent” by Jhumpa Lahiri, 1999
“The Lost ‘Beautifulness’” by Anzia Yezierska, 1920
“The Veldt” by Ray Bradbury, 1950
“The Handsomest Drowned Man in the World” by Gabriel García Márquez, 1968
POEMS:
“That the Science of Cartography is Limited” by Eavan Boland, 1994
“A Brave and Startling Truth” by Maya Angelou, 1995
“Invictus” by William Ernest Henley, 1888
“If” by Rudyard Kipling, 1895
“Praise Song for the Day” by Elizabeth Alexander, 2009
“Let America be America Again” by Langston Hughes, 1935
ESSAY:
“A Talk to Teachers” by James Baldwin, 1963*
* While the essay title addresses teachers, this work has themes that can apply to all professions.
Select two creative works from the following disciplines (each work must be from a different discipline):
• Two-dimensional visual art (e.g., painting, photography, or printmaking)
• Music
• Film (feature film or documentary)
Note: Please do not select a film, artistic, or musical adaptation of your literary choice as one of the non-lite
common theme, it is equally important to include variety in your choices. For example, you should not choo
Gatsby.
Task:
Develop a multimedia presentation (suggested length of 25-30 slides) in which you do the following:
A. Introduce the three works from three different disciplines you will be analyzing (suggested length of
1. Create an introductory slide for each of the three works that includes the author’s or artist’s nam
2. Provide a thesis slide that identifies the common theme that connects all three of your works and
B. Provide an objective analysis* (suggested length of 6-7 slides) by doing the following:
1. Describe the literary work. Your description should include:
• Form (short story, novel, etc.)
• Summary of the work (4-5 sentences)
a. Choose four of the elements of literature outlined in Module 1.09 of the learning resource a
elements. Mood and theme will be assessed in Part C.
2. Describe the first nonliterary work of art. Your description should include:
• Media, form, or genre
• Summary of the work (4-5 sentences)
a. Choose four of the elements outlined in the learning resource and describe how they are use
4.19; if it is a film, use the elements of film in Module 4.11; if it is a painting or photograph
and theme from your description of the elements. Mood and theme will be assessed in Part C
3. Describe the second nonliterary work of art. (This should be from a different discipline than the w
• Media, form, or genre
• Summary of the work (4-5 sentences)
a. Choose four of the elements outlined in the learning resource and describe how they are use
4.19 if it is a film, use the elements of film in Module 4.11; if it is a painting or photograph,
theme from your description of the elements. Mood and theme will be assessed in Part C.
C. Provide a subjective analysis* (suggested length of 6-7 slides) by doing the following:
1. Explain each of the following in the literary work:
a. The mood(s) (see Module 11.04) of the literary work. Provide relevant details and examples fr

b. The theme(s) (i.e., overarching ideas or concepts) you see in the literary work. Provide releva
c. Your interpretation of meaning found in the work. Provide relevant details and examples from
2. Explain each of the following in the first non-literary work:
a. The mood(s) of the first nonliterary work. Provide relevant details and examples from the wor
b. The theme(s) (i.e., overarching ideas or concepts) you see in the first nonliterary work. Provid
c. Your interpretation of meaning found in the work. Provide relevant details and examples from
3. Explain each of the following in the second non-literary work:
a. The mood(s) of the second nonliterary work. Provide relevant details and examples from the w
b. The theme(s) (i.e., overarching ideas or concepts) you see in the second nonliterary work. Pro
c. Your interpretation of meaning found in the work. Provide relevant details and examples from
D. Analyze the relationship between the 3 works (suggested length of 3–5 slides). Include the following:
• Similarities and/or differences in mood in the three works.
• Similarities and/or differences in theme in the three works.
1. Explain how the process of analyzing the relationship between the works expanded your underst
E. Reflect on the analyses presented (suggested length of 3–5 slides), by describing the following:
1. How your analysis of these works has enhanced your understanding of the human experience (i.e
2. How these themes and meanings relate to you, as a professional within your field of study.
3. How a general knowledge of the humanities is valuable for professionals within your field of stud
F. Summarize your main points in a conclusion (suggested length of 1-2 slides).
Note: Your conclusion could include revisiting your thesis slide and should bring closure to your presentatio
G. When you use sources to support ideas and elements in a paper or project, provide acknowledgeme
source information includes in-text citation noting specifically where in the submission the source is
• Author
• Date
• Title
• Location of information (e.g., publisher, journal, or website URL)
* Objective statements about a work of art are based on simple observations and concrete information. Su
Note: The use of APA citation style is encouraged but is not required for this task. Evaluators will offer feed
citation style. For tips on using APA style, please refer to the APA Resources web link found under General
Note: No more than a combined total of 30% of a submission can be directly quoted or closely paraphrased
the level of detail or support called for in the rubric refers to those bulleted points.
Note: For definitions of terms commonly used in the rubric, see the Rubric Terms web link included in the E
Reference List:
Note: This reference list refers only to direct citations in the task instructions above.
Sporre, D. J. (2009). Perceiving the arts: An introduction to the humanities. 9th ed. Upper Saddle River, N