Select two artifacts from different cultures that depict a hero and analyze the similarities
and differences between the heroic qualities expressed or represented in these artifacts.
Other people’s ideas are often better than your own. Find a group of people who challenge
and inspire you, spend a lot of time with them, and it will change your life.
–Amy Poehler, actress, comedian, and writer
Much of Amy Poehler’s work, including her time on Saturday Night Live and Parks and
Recreation, involved her closely collaborating with a team. Just like Amy, working with
others who have different perspectives and talents can not only help you successfully
meet your goals, it can also inspire you (and others) to work in new ways.
In this assessment, you will continue to strengthen your relationship-building skills as
you explore how artists work together to change people’s perspectives and how you can
use those same strategies to inspire change in your personal and professional life.
Exploring these strategies will also help you hone your self- and social-awareness skills.
That’s because, to work with teams effectively, you need to consider how others are
feeling and how you can encourage them to do their best work. When your team
members are doing their best, you’ll find that you do your best, too.
Talent wins games, but teamwork and intelligence win championships.
–Michael Jordan, former professional basketball player
“It’s easier if I just do it myself.” That thought has probably crossed your mind at some
point in your life or career. It might happen when you’re working alone on a challenging
task, you feel like explaining your process or asking for help will only make more work
for you. In some situations, it may truly be easier to go at it alone. But more often, there
is a tremendous benefit to working with others, especially when those people have
different perspectives from yours.
During this assessment, you will also strengthen your relationship-building skills by
exploring how artists collaborate with others to grow their abilities and how you can also
work constructively with other people to achieve great things in your personal and
professional life. As you collaborate with friends, peers, and colleagues, you will continue
to strengthen your self- and social-awareness skills by learning to grow from feedback.
References
BrainyQuote. (n.d.). Michael Jordan quotes.
Goodreads. (n.d.). Amy Poehler quotes.
as-you-navigate-through-the-rest-of-your-life-be
As you navigate environments in your personal and professional life, you will engage
with people and artifacts from different cultures. In these interactions, you will naturally
compare the similarities and differences of other cultures to your own and to other
cultures you have been exposed to. For this assessment, you will complete a
comparative analysis of heroic qualities displayed in artifacts from two different cultures.
This analysis will help you interpret, compare, and communicate information and be
more effective in your interactions at work, home, and school.
Select two artifacts, from two different cultures, that represent or express cultural views
about heroes and heroic qualities. You can select your own cultural artifacts or choose
artifacts featured in the Exploring Cultures text. You will also support your analysis with
relevant course readings and resources. Key things to look for as you examine your
chosen artifacts are:
• Qualities of the hero story: Identify two similarities and two differences between
the hero stories from these cultures.
• Cultural values and beliefs: Explain what your findings suggest to you about each
culture’s values and beliefs regarding what makes a hero.
After you have chosen your topic and the relevant artifacts, write 2–3 pages that
incorporate the following items:
1. Describe your chosen artifacts and the cultures in which these artifacts were
created.
a. Identify and describe the artifacts you selected for your comparative cultural
analysis.
b. Describe the cultures and historical context in which the artifacts were created.
2. Analyze how your chosen artifacts portray or express cultural views about heroes.
a. Discuss two similarities and two differences between the hero stories from the two
cultures.
b. Explain what your findings suggest to you about the cultural values and beliefs of
each culture regarding what makes a hero.
3. Summarize two main takeaways about the cultures reflected and insights you
gained.
a. Describe what you learned about the cultures reflected.
b. Explain how the insights you gained from these two cultures can be used to widen
your perspective.
4. Explain how understanding the cultural similarities and differences that exist
between your own culture and your chosen cultures can benefit you in your
personal, academic, and professional life.
a. Describe at least two similarities and/or differences between your own cultural
values and ideals and that of one of the cultures you chose for this assessment.
b. Explain how these insights can be used to support your professional, academic, and
personal endeavors.
5. Write in a well-organized and concise manner that adheres to the rules of
grammar, usage, mechanics, citations, and formatting.
Your submission should meet the following requirements:
• Length: 2–3 pages of text, in addition to a title page and reference page.
• Written communication: Written communication should be free of errors that
detract from the overall message.
• Formatting: Format your submission with a title page, double-spacing, and a
reference page.
• Citations: Cite at least two sources to support your analysis. Properly cite sources
according to APA rules. Review Evidence and APA for more information on how to
cite your sources.
- References
