Instructions
Cultural Experience Field Report #2
Note: This assignment has been adapted to adhere to the current guidance from the CDC for social distancing because of the COVID-19 pandemic. 

For this assignment, you will choose a virtual cultural venue from the instructions below to visit online and write a short 500-800 word report about your visit. 

Purpose
The purpose of this assignment is to introduce you to the process of engaging with the cultural venues and communities. This will inform you personally of the Humanities and groups that support it.

Skills
This assignment will help you practice the following skills that will be useful to you in your professional and personal life beyond school.

Identify cultural venues and inform you with deeper knowledge about the cultural form chosen.
Organize reflections about engaging with a cultural experience and community
Use concepts and skills learned in class to describe and interpret cultural experiences and communities
Use appropriate and proper grammar, organization, and academic-style formatting in order to communicate
Knowledge
This assignment will help you become familiar with the following important content knowledge in the Humanities.

Available virtual cultural venues and communities
Methods of interpretation within the Humanities
Instructions
For your report, choose one virtual venue from this pre-approved list that most interests you, or contact your professor for approval of your own online choice. If your choice below has both a website and a video, make sure you examine both. If you need special accommodations to complete this assignment, please inform your instructor and contact the Accessibility Accommodations office for guidance. 

Please watch the entire performance or thoroughly explore the venue you choose. 

THEATER PLAY

Shakespeare 

First Encounter: King Lear (adapted for children)
https://youtu.be/zP_g-ODJ2SM 
Hamlet
https://youtu.be/XSfRZmNPHoE
Othello
https://youtu.be/LZAElnmqpiw
The Tragedy of Richard II
https://youtu.be/e1fkiixQbeM
A Midsummer Nights Dream
https://youtu.be/6naZxb2KwTE
The Importance of being Earnest by Oscar Wilde
https://youtu.be/6naZxb2KwTE

NEW MA by Dora Dee Hunter
https://youtu.be/tT5-Ra6filk

Watch a full performance of one of the plays on this list of full length plays available on Youtube. https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL4UvHdqgzgxyW8nqcnS5NU1FhIkL3NRyC

Watch a full performance of a Broadway musical that is available for streaming on various paid services. A list is available here: https://www.playbill.com/article/15-broadway-plays-and-musicals-you-can-watch-on-stage-from-home

POETRY OR BOOK READING, AUTHOR EVENT, OR SPOKEN WORD PERFORMANCE

Author interviews

Toni Morrison on The Bluest Eye and Paradise
https://youtu.be/eSLbTtMiEzY
Inside the Imagination with China Miville
https://youtu.be/GaaFun09At0
William Gibson: Technology, Science Fiction & the Apolcalypse
https://youtu.be/4dlvle5YBv4
A conversation with Ursula K. Le Guin
https://youtu.be/ovZ6qgTy3SE
George R.R. Martin On Strombo: Extended Interview
https://youtu.be/fHfip4DefG4
Salman Rushdie on Storytelling
https://youtu.be/ud5Wu_D2kVE
Alice Walker
https://youtu.be/AH25fUzeTpQ
Poetry Readings

Joy Harjo
https://youtu.be/F-YWoOuVU5c
Leslie Marmon Silko
https://youtu.be/M3OhZXki6Xo
Rita Dove
https://youtu.be/2wS3AOEKcdI
Naomi Shihab Nye
https://youtu.be/4ZEBfQjh6lU
Arthur Sze
https://youtu.be/gwfWoywcB3o
Heather McHugh
https://youtu.be/8F2ylB0LpVM
Juan Felipe Herrera
https://youtu.be/KwzgVyqYrVU
An Evening with Robert Pinsky
https://youtu.be/v9fIGpBT75Y
Poetry Festivals, Slams and Spoken Word

The BreakBeat Poets
https://youtu.be/orimkwA5qOg
The Last Word Festival- Poetry Slam Final 2018
https://youtu.be/aRJdUK9LB0w
The Last Word Festival Poetry Slam Final 2017
https://youtu.be/3k8qf5FZIOs
Louder than a Bomb (Millennial Stage)
https://youtu.be/8d6mpNGE4aM
Henry Rollins Up for It spoken word performance (includes some obscenities)
https://youtu.be/5dAMiuTMs0Q
Kate Tempest spoken word performance on KEXP
https://youtu.be/Ype63tsMMTw

FILM COMMENTARY BY A DIRECTOR OR CINEMA EXPERT

Watch an entire DVD/Blue Ray film with the audio commentary special feature as long as the commentary is by or includes the director or a film historian/expert, not just the actors/actresses or commercial film critics.

Examples of a few films on DVD/Blue Ray with directors commentary:

Get Out, commentary by Jordan Peele
Lord of the Rings films, commentary by Peter Jackson
Taxi Driver, Raging Bull, GoodFellas, commentary by Martin Scorsese
Pans Labyrinth, commentary by Guillermo Del Toro 
Das Boot, commentary by Stephen Spielberg
National Treasure: Book of Secrets, commentary by Jon Turteltaub 
A list of older films with DVD/Audio commentary is available here, just make sure you are listening to directors and film experts: http://www.ratethatcommentary.com/top100.php

Listen to a directors commentary on a film on this podcast: Watching With…..by NetFlix: https://podcasts.apple.com/podcast/id1464225558

RELIGIOUS SERVICE, CEREMONY OR RITUAL 

Your choice should be different from ones own religion, if practiced. Please view all videos under the ritual, service, or ceremony you choose.

JUDAISM 

Passover Seder Meal

The Passover Seder: What to Expect
https://youtu.be/LzsuL9U1a_k
Model Passover Seder
https://youtu.be/rG8G4OmPh04
Yom Kippur

What is Yom Kippur?
https://youtu.be/4oqBzg8wCUg
Yom Kippur Neilah (Concluding) Service
https://youtu.be/KChQ1nDHVnk
Yom Kippur Ritual: Kaparot in Israel
https://youtu.be/x9dwPADN4ss
CHRISTIANITY

Baptism rituals

Catholic Baptism
https://youtu.be/pD7kE8qUz5A
https://youtu.be/2zgmLiXtyI0
Evangelical Full Immersion Baptism
https://youtu.be/KoPEMVTAl9M
Baptists in India
https://youtu.be/coHFPvbEF08
Baptist Ceremony
https://youtu.be/e5Pqfz0Xew0
Rituals of the Eucharist

Catholic Sacrament of the Eucharist 101
https://youtu.be/qdGkTdv4Dt4
Orthodox Communion
https://youtu.be/WPj7z72VgT0
Baptist Communion Service
https://youtu.be/itWcKO7-sTY
Evangelical Communion Service
https://youtu.be/gQx4Xp1pE5E
ISLAM

Ramadan

The Adhan: Call to Prayer during Ramadan
https://youtu.be/_n5PFtW9jDc
What is Ramadan?
https://youtu.be/7kM27b-iaBg
Welcoming Ramadan: Shaykh Abdul Moez Nafti
https://youtu.be/rnJro6ykqZ4
Hajj

Hajj: BBC News
https://youtu.be/VMWgeSuHKhs
Hajj: real footage from Mecca to Medina
https://youtu.be/HOnv1Zo9ub0
Bosnian Hajj Pilgrims  (transcript/translation of speakers in video notes)
https://youtu.be/KrhHBdlZs3c
HINDUISM

Upanayana Ceremony

Upanayana Adhar: A Rite of Passage
https://youtu.be/4F4KgEK8SZw
Upanayana: Thread Ceremony example 1
https://youtu.be/vfZSgXzgLJM
Upanayanam ceremony example 2
https://youtu.be/HTKTWkfYWJc
Puja

Why is Puja necessary to maintain Hinduism?
https://youtu.be/sjFATI2FvJI
Daily Puja ritual example
https://youtu.be/_8EkW71NdWo
Puja Temple Service
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HqeCSiq95Dc
BUDDHISM

Heart Sutra Ritual

Heart Sutra Chanting
https://youtu.be/RAcE8U8SWlo
How to Chant the Heart Sutra Mantra: Robert A.F. Thurman
https://youtu.be/jyXRN5bbbdc
Heart Sutra Translation
https://plumvillage.org/about/thich-nhat-hanh/letters/thich-nhat-hanh-new-heart-sutra-translation/
Ordination Rite

Ordination and Closing Ceremony
https://youtu.be/bYo2sDXvCgA
Becoming a Buddhist Monk
https://youtu.be/MpKzoH0mTDU
Ordination Procedure in the Theraveda Tradition
http://www.buddhanet.net/e-learning/buddhistworld/ordination1.htm

Restrictions:  The experience should be viewed during the current semester.  If this is impossible, contact the instructor to arrange for alternatives.  You may not report on a cultural experience viewed prior to this class.

Write a report after you have explored or viewed the online resource.

Your report should include the following information. Include photos or links that help convey the information. As always, be sure to document all sources you consult in preparing your work. This includes any learning resources from the class, or information from the websites that informed you about the particular item you explored.

Name and location of event or name and director of the film, writers name etc. If there is on-line information about what you viewed, be sure to include a link to it within the text of your essay in an appropriate place. 

Type of event. For example is it a film, ritual, service, ceremony, poetry reading, festival, author interview etc. Make sure to include the name of the authors, directors, producers, speakers, author of your favorite poem (if poetry festival or event). 

Briefly describe the general setting by talking a bit about the location (you can research the location online) and the general overall “vibe” of the place or places viewed.

Describe at least one aspect of what you viewed that you found especially interesting. For example, you might write about the different ways the same ritual is conducted by different groups, a poem you really liked from the reading or poetry festival, something an author or direct said that really struck you. Explain what impressed or affected you, and why. Your reaction can be positive or negative, as long as you offer an explanation.

Identify and use at least two tools, concepts or methods that you have learned about in this class in the Learning Resources to talk about your viewing. For example, if you view a directors commentary, you might point out what the director says about lighting or the set, or if you view to a ritual, talk about the myth the ritual is based on, or if you watch a spoken word or poetry reading, you can talk about specific literary language or imagery. Make sure you are explicit in identifying the tools/concept/methods you are using and the specific learning resources they come from. Be sure to inform the reader about the tool/concept/method through a quote or paraphrase from the learning resource. Then, make sure to tell the reader how you interpret and/or analyze some elements of what you experience with the tools. 

Be sure to cite the learning resources you have used in MLA format. Please see http://sites.umgc.edu/library/libhow/mla_examples.cfm

Reflect on the relevance–if any–of your viewing to your everyday life.  How did the experience engage your feelings or emotions, if at all? What does this tell you about human culture, and/or about yourself?

STOP: Before you hand in your assignment, ask yourself the following questions: 

Have I clearly provided identifying information about what I viewed in terms of who was involved and where it took place and provided the URL, if applicable? Have I done what I could to describe the setting and/or vibe?
Have I identified and explained an especially interesting aspect of the experience and used examples to illustrate reflections and to explain why this aspect was interesting?
Have I identified and applied two tools, concepts or methods of interpretation from learning resources to concrete and specific examples from visit?
Have I used examples to clearly explain the relevance of my visit to at least one of the following: 1) emotion 2) human culture 3) self-identity 4) cultural identity?
Have I used Learning Resources from the class and provided a list of resources, and do all of my citations conform to MLA 8th edition guidelines?
Have I proofread this assignment for grammatical, structural, and spelling errors?