After selecting and experiencing a cultural event, you will

write a four-page paper that illustrates your understanding of diverse

cultural perspectives. You are strongly encouraged to attend a cultural

event in person,but if you are unable to do so, you may experience an

event through available forms of media, such as a learning-based

television program or Internet video. (It is required that you see and

hear the event, so do not simply read an article about it!)

Cultural events include

traditions or celebrations

.

We find these in forms of festivals (culturally-specific games, dance,

music, food), performance, religious ceremonies, or rites of passage -

all rooted in cultural history. Therefore, the primary cultural event

you choose must revolve around
a cultural tradition or

celebration that is currently practiced AND encompasses historical

significance for that culture in the country of origin.

Choose
ONE primary
tradition or celebration in its own setting (country of origin) representing a
culturedifferent

from your own country of origin
that
you experience (either in person or online).

After experiencing it and learning more about it, identify and compare
TWO secondary

cultural

traditions serving a similar purpose in other cultures, only ONE of the

secondary traditions may be from your own country of origin. To

reiterate, you will have
one
primary cultural event and
two
comparison/contrast events, all three from different places around the world.

Getting started on a project is often the most difficult part. Some

of you may already know exactly what you want to experience and write

about, either you have already experienced it through travel, or you

have always been fascinated by an even you plan to experience online.

That’s great! But if you aren’t sure and would like some ideas, here are

a few:

A Traditional Japanese Wedding Ceremony

Nagano, Japan

Japanese Traditional Wedding // Kenichi & Ayaka
(Links to an external site.)

Igbo Traditional Wedding

Imo State, Nigeria

Igbo Traditional Wedding- Uchechi & Amobi
(Links to an external site.)

Dogon Mask Dance

Village of Tireli, Dogon in Mali (West Africa)

https://youtu.be/whAY9R-_7ac
(Links to an external site.)

Dance during Aboriginal Initiation Ceremony

Northern Australia

Dance during Aboriginal Initiation Ceremony, northern Australia (1)
(Links to an external site.)

The Massed Pipes and Drums - Edinburgh Military Tattoo

Edinburgh, Scotland

The Massed Pipes and Drums - Edinburgh Military Tattoo - BBC One
(Links to an external site.)

Midgard Viking Festival

Borre, Norway

Viking Festival in Norway
(Links to an external site.)

Day of Dead Cemetery Vigil

Oaxaca, Mexico

Day of Dead Cemetery Vigil - Oaxaca, Mexico
(Links to an external site.)

There is a whole world out there, filled with people who continue to

practice cultural traditions and enjoy cultural celebrations. The above

list is a tiny sampling of them. You may choose one as your primary

cultural event, or you may choose a cultural event of your own. If you

are in doubt about whether the event will be suitable, please consult

with your instructor.

Overall, remember to watch, listen, observe, learn, compare, contrast, and research! Use 1^st
person

in your paper, describe what you experience. Expand on what you

experience and what you learn. Here are some questions to keep in mind:

Questions for primary cultural event:

• What is the cultural event you experienced? Did you attend in person or watch it online?


• What did you hear and see? What stood out to you while experiencing this event?


• What was your initial impression of the culture when you experienced this event?


• What did you learn about the event through research? Consider current practices and historical relevance.
  
  


• Has there been outside influence on the cultural event?
  
  


• Is the event being practiced the same now as it has been historically? Elaborate and exemplify.

Questions for secondary cultural events:

Be sure you have chosen two cultural events that serve a similar

purpose to your primary cultural event in other parts of the world. (If

your primary event is a festival of cultural history, your two secondary

events should be festivals of cultural history as well. For example,

you do not want to look for Viking Festivals in two additional places

around the world. You want to look for festivals celebrating cultural

identity in two other places in the world.)

• What two other cultural events did you choose?


• What is their country of origin? (Remember, one can be from your own
  
  country of origin, but the other must be from another part of the
  
  world.)


• What purpose do two cultural events serve, and why is this similar to your primary cultural event?


• How are they similar or different from your primary cultural event?
  
  (Consider food, music, dancing, singing, decorations, or dress.)

Wrap-up Questions:

• Did you find any evidence of cultural influence, inspiration, or sharing across your chosen cultures?
  
  


• What do your chosen cultures have in common? (Think about basic beliefs and behaviors of the people.)


• Why do you think cultures around the world practice similar events
  
  and share common beliefs, and what does this say about human beings and
  
  culture, based on what you have learned this term?

Remember, this is a paper not a Q&A assignment, so do not list

the questions in your paper. Write well-developed paragraphs and use

appropriate transitions. Follow APA format and include APA documented

research.

• APA 7th edition format and documentation required. (Note: An abstract is not required for this paper.)


• Paper should be at least 4 pages in length (not including the title and reference page).


• At least 3 resources are required.