Analyze the differences and similarities between two cultures using your selected cultural artifacts. Choose from two lens with which to examine these cultures: how these cultures approach decision making and/or problem solving or their customs and traditions.
Introduction
Look at situations from all angles, and you will become more open.
– Dalai Lama, spiritual leader
Have you ever had a problem, such as a leaky faucet, an issue with a family member, or a school assignment, that you just couldn’t solve? You might have tried and tried to come up with an answer, growing more frustrated as time went on. Perhaps, you then asked someone else for help, and they immediately came up with the perfect solution. Baffled, you may have thought to yourself, “How did they do that?” The answer is often that the other person simply looked at the problem differently. And many times, a different point of view is exactly what you need to find a solution.
In this assessment, you will further develop your problem-solving skills by exploring how different people and cultures approach making decisions and resolving conflicts. By looking at a single problem from multiple perspectives, you will find more creative solutions to complex issues at home, school, and work. You will also continue to improve your self- and social-awareness skills as you explore how your perspective may be biased and how that bias affects the way you process information.
Most of my important lessons about life have come from recognizing how others from a different culture view things.
– Edgar H. Schein, organizational psychologist
If you’ve ever wondered why people from different cultures think and do things differently than you, here’s your chance to satisfy your curiosity about customs, traditions, religious beliefs, and more. In this assessment, you’ll strengthen your problem-solving and self- and social-awareness skills by exploring cultural similarities and differences, which will allow you to really get where other people are coming from. Exploring and thinking critically about how friends, peers, colleagues, and even strangers from different backgrounds view the world can make you more empathetic and understanding. And applying this empathy and understanding will ultimately help you build the successful, collaborative relationships that are critical to your personal and professional success. you’ll continue to cultivate your problem-solving skills as you compare and contrast cultures around the world and develop critical thinking strategies to understand the perspectives and behaviors of others. You’ll also strengthen your self- and social-awareness skills by exploring how your personal and cultural experiences influence your opinions and choices.
The universe is made of stories, not atoms.
– Muriel Rukeyser, poet
Storytelling transcends all cultures, time periods, and geographic regions. That’s why the ancient Greeks built huge amphitheaters and why you find yourself saying “just one more episode!” as you devour the new season of your favorite TV show. So it’s not surprising that understanding the stories we tell is a critical part of the study of humanities.
In this assessment, you will further develop your problem-solving skills by exploring stories from different cultures. By learning about common storytelling themes and values (and their differences and similarities), you will discover more ways to think critically about your own biases and consider how different perspectives can help you approach and solve problems in the real world.
References
BrainyQuote. (n.d.). Dalai Lama quotes. https://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/dalai_lama_446750
Goodreads. (n.d.). Edgar H. Schein quotes. https://www.goodreads.com/author/quotes/43958.Edgar_H_Schein
Wikiquote. (n.d.). Muriel Rukeyser. https://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/Muriel_Rukeyser
Overview
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. This analysis will help you make meaning of information and be more effective in your interactions at work, home, and school.
In this assessment, you will analyze the differences and similarities between the two cultures using the cultural artifacts you have selected. You will then relate your analysis to explain certain aspects of that culture.
Preparation
You will choose one topic from the options listed below to conduct your comparative culture analysis. After you select your topic, you will then select two artifacts (from the list given below) related to your topic to use as the subjects of your analysis. You will also support your analysis with relevant resources from this course.
Topic Option 1: Cultural Views on Making Decisions. Analyze the cultural artifacts from Chapter 4 of Exploring Cultures. Make sure you identify the cultural artifacts selected for this analysis. Your analysis of the artifacts should inform us of how you perceive the cultures from these aspects:
Making decisions and/or resolving conflicts. Discuss two similarities and two differences in approaches used by these cultures.
Cultural values and beliefs. Explain what your analysis suggests to you about the cultural values and beliefs of each culture and how they approach decision making and/or problem solving.
Topic Option 2: Cultural Views on Customs and Traditions. Analyze the cultural artifacts from Chapter 5 of Exploring Cultures. Make sure you identify the cultural artifacts selected for this analysis. Your analysis of the artifacts should inform us of how you perceive the cultures from these aspects:
Customs and traditions. Discuss two similarities and two differences around the customs and traditions of these cultures.
Cultural values and beliefs. Explain what your analysis suggests to you about the cultural values and beliefs of each culture related to customs and traditions.
If you chose option 1, select two of the artifacts to use in this assessment:
Exploring Cultures.
Chapter 4: Beating Bias.
This chapter discusses ways to recognize cultural bias and how to counteract bias for better decision-making outcomes. Before you read the chapter, read or listen to these stories. Chapter 4 will refer to these artifacts.
Read.gov. (n.d.). The lion and the mouse. http://read.gov/aesop/007.html
Fables of Aesop. (2020). Belling the cat. https://fablesofaesop.com/belling-the-cat.html
Silko, L. M. (1967). The man to send rain clouds. Genius. https://genius.com/Leslie-marmon-silko-the-man-to-send-rain-clouds-annotated
Adichie, C. N. (2015). Olikoye. Medium. https://medium.com/matter/olikoye-b027d7c0a680
Zhou, S. (2019). On my mind [Video]. YouTube. https://youtu.be/-uuY_FXZtcc
If you chose option 2, select two of the artifacts to use in this assessment:
Exploring Cultures.
Chapter 5: Culture, Customs, and Traditions.
This chapter focuses on how the way we look at the world is connected with our traditions, customs, and beliefs. Before you read the chapter, view or listen to the following artifacts. Chapter 5 will refer to these artifacts.
Sihab Nye, N. (2008). Gate A-4. Poets.org. https://poets.org/poem/gate-4
Grandmas Project. (2018, February 21). Kneidler [Video]. YouTube. https://youtu.be/gsyPHmoVG78
Tan, A. (1987). Fish cheeks. CommonLit. https://www.commonlit.org/en/texts/fish-cheeks
Instructions
After you have chosen your topic and the relevant artifacts, use the Comparative Analysis and Reflection Assessment Template [DOCX] to complete this assessment.
Step 1: Compare and contrast the cultures represented in your chosen artifacts.
Describe the artifacts you selected on which you will conduct your cultural analysis. Be sure to identify the cultures.
Identify the similarities and differences between the cultures as they relate to how your chosen topic is depicted in the cultural artifacts.
Step 2: Analyze the artifacts to inform how the depicted cultures approach the cultural views of your selected topic.
If you selected Topic 1: Cultural Views on Making Decisions:
Discuss two similarities and two differences in approaches used by these cultures.
Explain what your analysis suggests to you about the cultural values and beliefs of each culture and how they approach decision making and/or problem solving.
If you selected Topic 2: Cultural Views on Customs and Traditions:
Discuss two similarities and two differences around the customs and traditions of these cultures.
Explain what your analysis suggests to you about the cultural values and beliefs of each culture related to customs and traditions.
Step 3: Summarize two main takeaways about the cultures reflected and insights you gained.
Describe what you learned about the cultures reflected.
Explain how the insights you gained from these two cultures can be used to widen your perspective.
Step 4: Explain how understanding the cultural similarities and differences that exist between your own culture and these cultures can benefit you in your personal, academic, and professional life.
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.
Explain how these insights can be used to support your professional, academic, and personal endeavors.
Save your assessment with this title: Your Name_HUM-FPX1100_Assessment_2_Comparative_Analysis_and_Reflection.
Additional Requirements
Your submission should meet the following requirements:
Written communication: Write in complete sentences free from errors that detract from the overall message.
Font and font size: Arial, 12 point.
Citations: Include complete citations of your sources. Review Evidence and APA section of the Writing Center for more information on how to cite your sources.
Competencies Measured
By successfully completing this assessment, you will demonstrate your proficiency in the course competencies through the following assessment scoring guide criteria:
Competency 1: Analyze personal cultural bias.
Explain how understanding the cultural similarities and differences that exist between one’s own culture and these cultures can benefit one’s personal, academic, and professional life.
Competency 3: Analyze cultural differences and similarities of people globally.
Compare and contrast the cultures represented in the chosen artifacts.
Summarize two main takeaways about the cultures reflected and insights gained.
Competency 4: Analyze the role of culture and artistic expression in human thought and behavior.
Analyze the artifacts to inform how the depicted cultures approach the cultural views of the selected topic.
Competency 5: Address assessment purpose in a well-organized text, incorporating appropriate evidence and tone in grammatically sound sentences.
Write in a well-organized and concise manner that adheres to the rules of grammar, usage, and mechanics.
