Beatitudes & Art Response Assignment Study Notes
Beatitudes & Art Response Assignment Overview
Assignment Focus
The assignment emphasizes the practice of empathy and the pursuit of cultural humility through the arts.
Faculty from art, music, and/or theatre are exploring a weekly beatitude through various artistic disciplines and their curated works.
Assignment Format
Students must select one work of art, music, or theatre/film from a curated list available on Canvas.
Responses must be composed directly in a Google Doc template provided for the assignment.
The completed Google Doc must be shared with the professor upon submission to allow visibility into the writing process.
The use of AI is prohibited for this assignment.
Assignment Structure
Part 1: Background Information
Required Details:
Name of the Artist/Musician/Playwright/Theatre Artist:
Artist’s Country of Origin:
Title of the Work or Piece:
Year the Work was Created:
The Beatitude for the Week (e.g., "Blessed are the…"):
Part 2: Questions
Each response requires at least 7 complete sentences.
1) Practice of Faith and Creativity
Task:
Describe the selected work of art using at least five formal element terms.
Provide specific examples or cite specific moments from the work.
Analyze how artistic choices and the content of the work reflect the week's beatitude.
Evaluation Criteria (10 points):
Includes analysis of five formal elements showing basic understanding.
Connects analysis to the theme of the beatitude and clearly states the work's content.
2) Practice of Empathy
Task:
Identify where you see yourself within the work of art.
Discuss how the work functions as a mirror for your faith and/or values.
Analyze what is unfamiliar to you or challenges your perspective.
Evaluation Criteria (10 points):
Clearly describes specific connections between personal experiences and the work revealing understanding.
3) Practice of Cultural Humility
Task:
Conduct research on the artist’s cultural context:
Identify the country in which the artist was creating art.
Discuss the historical events influencing the artist’s work.
Examine the values of the artist’s culture as well as a comparison to contemporary culture.
Evaluation Criteria (10 points):
Provides comprehensive background information and describes how the work reflects cultural values.
Clearly indicates whether or not the cultural values are shared by the student.
Assignment Rubric
Practice of Faith and Creativity
Excellent (10 points):
Analyzes five formal elements and clearly connects them to the beatitude.
Good (9 points):
Analyzes five elements with minor inaccuracies, with connection to the beatitude.
Fair (8 points):
Attempts to analyze five elements, some inaccurately, with limited thematic connection.
Poor (7-5 points):
Uses fewer than five elements with unclear connections.
No Submission (0 points):
Assignment not submitted.
Practice of Empathy
Excellent (10 points):
Specific and insightful connections between personal experience and the work.
Good (9 points):
Some but less specific connections between experience and work.
Fair (8 points):
General statements about personal connections, lacking depth.
Poor (7-5 points):
Vague connections or unclear relationship to personal values.
No Submission (0 points):
Assignment not submitted.
Practice of Cultural Humility
Excellent (10 points):
Thorough background info clearly linking work to cultural values.
Good (9 points):
Attempts a comprehensive background with some cultural values insight.
Fair (8 points):
Superficial connections to cultural values, with unclear relevance.
Poor (7-5 points):
Limited or unclear background information; weak cultural value linkage.
No Submission (0 points):
Assignment not submitted.
Part 1: Background Information
Name of the Artist/Musician/Playwright/Theatre Artist: Hugo Wolf
Artist’s Country of Origin: Austria
Title of the Work or Piece: Mörike-Lieder: No. 7, Das verlassene Mägdlein
Year the Work was Created: 1888
The Beatitude for the Week: Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth.
Part 2: Questions
1) Practice of Faith and Creativity
Task:
Describe the selected work of art using at least five formal element terms.
Provide specific examples or cite specific moments from the work.
Analyze how artistic choices and the content of the work reflect the week's beatitude.Response:
"Das verlassene Mägdlein" features rich harmonies, expressive melodies, and poignant lyrics that capture the emotional struggle of the character. Wolf's use of dynamics is particularly effective in expressing the longing and sorrow present in the piece. The interplay of texture between the piano accompaniment and vocal line heightens the sense of isolation. The rhythmic patterns convey a sense of urgency, reflecting the character's despair. Through these elements, Wolf beautifully illustrates the beatitude of meekness, showcasing how vulnerability can open up pathways to deeper connections and understanding.
2) Practice of Empathy
Task:
Identify where you see yourself within the work of art.
Discuss how the work functions as a mirror for your faith and/or values.
Analyze what is unfamiliar to you or challenges your perspective.Response:
I see myself in the character's yearning for acceptance and love. This work resonates with my faith as it underscores the value of humility and the importance of compassion towards others in distress. The intense emotions reflected in the song challenge me to confront my own vulnerabilities. It serves as a reminder of the times when I have felt lost and the significance of reaching out to others who may be struggling.
3) Practice of Cultural Humility
Task:
Conduct research on the artist’s cultural context:
Identify the country in which the artist was creating art.
Discuss the historical events influencing the artist’s work.
Examine the values of the artist’s culture as well as a comparison to contemporary culture.Response:
Wolf created his art during a time of significant political and cultural change in Austria, where themes of loss and longing were prevalent in society due to economic and ideological shifts. His music reflects a deep understanding of the human condition, emphasizing the importance of sincerity and emotional authenticity—a value that holds true in contemporary culture as well. While modern society often focuses on individualism, Wolf’s work reminds us of the collective experience of vulnerability and compassion that connects us all.
Assignment Rubric
Practice of Faith and Creativity
Excellent (10 points): Analyzes five formal elements and clearly connects them to the beatitude.
Good (9 points): Analyzes five elements with minor inaccuracies, with connection to the beatitude.
Fair (8 points): Attempts to analyze five elements, some inaccurately, with limited thematic connection.
Poor (7-5 points): Uses fewer than five elements with unclear connections.
No Submission (0 points): Assignment not submitted.
Practice of Empathy
Excellent (10 points): Specific and insightful connections between personal experience and the work.
Good (9 points): Some but less specific connections between experience and work.
Fair (8 points): General statements about personal connections, lacking depth.
Poor (7-5 points): Vague connections or unclear relationship to personal values.
No Submission (0 points): Assignment not submitted.
Practice of Cultural Humility
Excellent (10 points): Thorough background info clearly linking work to cultural values.
Good (9 points): Attempts a comprehensive background with some cultural values insight.
Fair (8 points): Superficial connections to cultural values, with unclear relevance.
Poor (7-5 points): Limited or unclear background information; weak cultural value linkage.
No Submission (0 points): Assignment not submitted.