Group Discussion Project: Our Own Mortality. Your Post due Wednesday, Replies to Classmates due Sunday
Posts due on Wednesday by 11:59PM, Replies to Classmates are Due Sunday by 11:59PM
Assignment Goals:
Memento Mori, Remember Death will come.
Ok, Ok, I know no one likes to think about their own death too much, especially now after the recent global pandemic. It’s morbid right? Well, only sort of because death is something catches up with everyone eventually. After all, you just read an entire chapter in the textbook about how humans have dealt with the process of death through the creation of art.
The goal this week is to think about death a little bit and respond to they idea that we all will have to leave this plane of existence eventually. So, how would you deal with it? What kinds of things have you already experienced in your own experience that relate to death?
There is also one thing I do know about death for sure, those that love us will miss us. So, how do you want those that matter to you to remember you when you eventually, a really long time from now, die?
For example, I am a little older, so both my parents have already passed on. My mother died when I was very young, I was only thirteen when she passed away. My mother hid her cancer from everyone until it became impossible to ignore. My father died in 2019 (so in my 40’s). My father suffered from a prolonged series of illnesses related to a spinal surgery he had in 2014. So I had more time to prepare for his passing. They both chose cremation over burial, and celebrations of life over funerals. They wanted our family to remember them in a way that celebrated them in life and not focus on the events of their passing. But this is just one example, everyone will come to this assignment with experience that effect what you write a little differently.
I am aware that this is a sensitive topic, so please respond to each other in a respectful and empathetic manner.
Instructions:
Describe your ideas about your wish surround your death (how you would like to orchestrate your end of life ceremony) in 3 parts using illustrative images.List a minimum of 3 specific ideas that are personal and individually tailored to your wishes and beliefs. All of your ideas must be related to an example from the week’s chapter reading. Describe how something you learned this week relates to the three personalized ideas, plus image examples, remember to be specific.
Provide specific visual examples of how your ideas are related to the art of this specific section of the textbook. Provide the a total of 3 image(s) embedded within your discussion.
Give feedback to your classmates by replying to a minimum of four peer posts. For more information see the Guide to Group Discussion Posting and Replies
Prompt Guidelines:
For this weeks’ topic, let’s imagine how we’d like to “leave this mortal coil,” to “make our exit,” or to “start pushing up the daisies.” The chapter reading(s) for this section give us ample examples and suggestions, a kind of blueprint, for how we could image this.
These range from the personally eccentric examples laid out in the “Going out BIG” section, to the monumental markers on an architectural scale laid out in the section on “Ego,” or would you prefer to be physically preserved forever for all to see?
Food for Thought:
These are just some starting points to get you inspired- you don’t have to answer these questions, they are meant to fire up some ideas within your brainstorming.
Are there special items that you’d like to accompany your corpse? Maybe it’s that favorite light saber, lucky hat, wedding ring, your baseball card collection, an important religious object, or that 1967 Chevy Camero with white leather interior?
Do you want to share your (cremated) remains among your loved ones? What should they do with them—put them in amulets on chains, in an urn on the mantle, or resting in more traditional place like a cemetery?
Or would you select a burial, in your favorite car perhaps, in a custom Kane Kwei-style coffin shaped like a chicken, or in a giant crypt with your favorite 60” television, with a full bar and a butler, or with any of the other things you need in the afterlife?
Do you want a ritualized celebration honor with fireworks, dancing, or the Pope, or any other religious figure’s, blessing?
These examples are all rooted in ancient traditions, the art of which, is covered in this chapter. These practices predate our contemporary traditions, but they inform many that exist today. Keep in mind that these scenarios are imaginary, so be as creative as possible.
Written Analysis – Essay Format:
When posting, your writing must utilize an essay format. The tone can can conversational , but the rule of grammar still apply.
Grammar:
All writing must utilize complete sentences that form coherent, organized thoughts and ideas, utilize proper grammar, and be completed at a college level to earn credit. I realize we live in a world of texts, emojis, and tweets and they are totally fine in other areas of your life, but in a college classroom, they just don’t provide enough information to fully explore ideas. Essay Outline:
When preparing to post, please feel free to use the outline below help structure your essay: Describe your idea(s) in 3 parts:
Part A:Textbook inspiration: Describe an example from the textbook that relates to your idea, based on your personal life experience. What you think matters to us, so don’t be afraid to share. Image A (Not from the textbook): I want to see how something covered in the chapter inspired your ideas about your future planning. So if you want a crazy coffin shaped like a ship from Guardians of the Galaxy, share the image(s) that inspired you.
Part B:Textbook inspiration: Describe an example from the textbook that relates to your idea, based on your personal life experience. What you think matters to us, so don’t be afraid to share. Image B (Not from the textbook): I want to see how something covered in the chapter inspired your ideas about your future planning. So if you want a crazy coffin shaped like a ship from Guardians of the Galaxy, share the image(s) that inspired you.
Part C: Textbook inspiration: Describe an example from the textbook that relates to your idea, based on your personal life experience. What you think matters to us, so don’t be afraid to share. Image C (Not from the textbook): I want to see how something covered in the chapter inspired your ideas about your future planning. So if you want a crazy coffin shaped like a ship from Guardians of the Galaxy, share the image(s) that inspired you.
Feel free to be creative, just because there are no spaceship coffins on the internet, that doesn’t mean that a spaceship can’t serve as inspiration. If you want a party, describe what kind of a party and include a few details about what would make the party special to your loved ones in your passing.
Grammar
The use of correct grammar is expected for all written material in this class; however I think that is essential that you write in a style that is conversational and that suits your personal voice. I fully support making sure that what you are writing sound like yourself. Just try to spend the time to be clear about the ideas you are trying to express. Make sure to include enough information to get your points across. I realize we live in a world of texts, emojis, and tweets and they are totally fine in other areas of your life, but in a college classroom, they just usually don’t provide enough information to fully explore ideas; so a little extra effort is a good idea. Embedded Images:
Do not upload a document file, .pdf, .jpg and so on. Embed to images into the body of your prompt widow.
Wondering how to embed images? Watch this video:
Reply(s):
You must Reply to a minimum of (4 )of your classmates per week. Peer Feedback Goals:
Make sure to respectfully comment on others’ choices while replying. Keep in mind that your personal reactions, to art, differ from other. people because reactions are subjective and based on your life experience; often we need more than one set of eyes to see the big picture. In the “Reply” window to a peer’s contribution provide feedback on what they have submitted for the current week.
Reply Format
Deep Dives: You must meaningfully reply in detail, I call these “deep dives,” to two separate peers artwork (s). Use the following points when replying in a “deep dive:” These can be about 100-150 words each.
Complement: add to (something) in a way that enhances or improves upon what your peer(s) have contributed.
Connection: a relationship in which an idea is linked or associated with something else. Tell your peers how what they have shared is associated with an idea that comes from your own personal experience. How does it relate to your life and experience in this class?
Comment: a written remark expressing an opinion or reaction. This can be positive or negative, as long as your comments are respectful and empathetic to your peer’s writing.
Quotation: quotation(s) taken from a textbook or some other source are one of the best ways to validate a comment and solidify a connection. (You must always include citations) This just means that you are supporting your ideas with other facts from reliable sources.
You must to reply, in brief, to at least two other peer’s artworks. These “scratch the surface” comments can take the form of a simple sentence.
These can take the form of a superficial compliment, connection, or comment.
Group Discussion Assignment Grading and Assessment
Parameters
In order to earn full credit you must submit a total of 5 times per discussion assignment.(1) Personal Post that includes a properly embedded image of your current project(s)
(2) “Deep Dive” comments addressed to individual classmate’s projects.
(2) “Scratch the Surface” comments addressed to other classmate’s projects.
Grading
Please select the “more” icon in the upper right hand corner of this page to show the grading rubric for this assignment. If accessing this course by using the Canvas Student App, you will not see the icon. Instead, please use the menu to locate the rubric.
Deadlines
Initial post (your written project essay) is due by WEDNESDAY at 11:59 PM Pacific Time Response postings should be completed no later than SATURDAY at 11:59 PM Pacific Time
Tips for Success:The key to a good discussion is interaction. Therefore, it is expected that you will log in and participate in the discussions on a minimum of two separate days per unit, but logging in more is encouraged.
Interaction is the key to a productive and meaningful discussion between you, your peers, and your instructor, so your goal and approach should be meaningful interaction rather than meeting minimum point requirements.
Please make sure that you are scrolling down and reading through all the submissions before replying. If you only reply to the top first two or three student’s posts that means they are getting a lot of feedback while other students are not getting any. Once a student has more than three replies, associated to the original post, move on and find someone else to reply to.
Please note that posting all, or the majority, of your replies on the last day of the discussion after 9:00 PM will be considered for point deduction since this greatly decreases the interaction and impact of your posts.
Grading Breakdown
This is a Group Discussion for the whole class. Participation in Class Discussions accounts for 30% of your overall grade in the class.
Your Post, which includes an embedded in progress image and self assessment is worth 50% of the possible points for this Discussion Assignment. (1 Post = 50% of grade)
The (2) “Deep Dive” peer responses combined with the (2) “Scratch the Surface” peer responses are worth 50% of the possible points for this Discussion Assignment. (4 Replies = 50% of grade)