Creating in the Humanities
For this assignment, you will use one specific example of literature, art, music, dance, drama, or theater that are found in the classroom resources for this class and create something of your own that imitates it or presents a new perspective on it. You can also try to use an example that was completely new to you, either because you had never come across it before or because it is from a cultural perspective or religious tradition that is not your own.
You will share your creative effort with the class in a discussion forum. Please avoid repeating something creative you may have already done in the class discussions.
Step 1: Create your work
Produce a creative piece of writing, art, music, drama, theater, video, or audio. Some examples are below. If you are unsure your idea will work, don’t hesitate to contact your instructor for feedback.
a creative rewriting of one of the poems or short stories in week 4
your own poem that imitates the rhyme scheme or that uses some of the same metaphors as one of the poems in week 4
a painting or drawing in the style of one of the artists covered in week 5
a re-creation of an artwork in Week 5 using materials found out home (a la Getty Art Challenge Getty Artworks Re-created with Household Items by Geniuses the World Over )
a video or audio of you performing your own version of one of the pieces of music from week 6
a video of you performing your own version of one of the dances covered in week 6
a video where you creatively retell a piece of literature from week 4 or where you present images to go with a one of the pieces of music from week 6
a recording or audio of you acting out a short scene from one of the plays mentioned in week 7
Please keep any videos or audio down to 5 minutes or less. Take photos of your work to share if appropriate.
Step 2: Write about your work
Once you have produced your creative work, please address the following items in a short 300 to 400-word essay.
Identify the specific piece of art, literature, drama, music, dance etc., that you were imitating. If you are imitating a specific artist or author, provide the name of one of their works. If you imitate a particular time period or type of work, identify it.
Explain why you used this example as your inspiration.
Apply several class concepts from relevant week(s). Specifically explain what elements, techniques etc., you used from the original piece in your own, what you changed or modified and why.
Provide some general comments based on what you did in this exercise about how elements from the Humanities can be incorporated into your personal and job-related creative and thinking processes.
