This mini-assignment includes THREE parts: 4 S map, your artwork, and written analysis (a paragraph or more)
For this mini-assignment, you will use art to explore a transition you have gone through or are currently going through in your life, and then you will write a brief analysis of your artwork -- describing the transition you were depicting and analyzing how this transition has influenced (or is still influencing) your identity formation.
Art can be any mode of expression, including dance, painting, miming, acting, drawing, poetry, story, collage, poster, video etc. For the purpose of this assignment, I would like you to choose a visual mode, such as drawing, painting or collage OR poetry. Please bear in mind, you do not need to be an expert artist or poet and you will not be graded on your artistic talent or ability. The purpose is for you to try to express yourself using the artistic mode.
Sit quietly with yourself and think about various transitions in your life. Choose one that you would like to explore further.
Think back to that transition, and try to relive it in your memory -- how you felt, what happened, what you saw, heard, smelled, how you reacted, how you adapted, what you learned
Briefly free-write about that transition (not to be submitted)
Then map your transition using the 4 S's analysisÂ
Now you are ready to start the art part. Choose a visual mode of artistic expression -- collage, drawing, painting etc., OR poetry. You can choose to do your art using a computer or free-hand -- whichever feels interesting to you to try. Depict your transition in whatever artistic way you feel inspired to do.
Think about what you learned about yourself through free-writing, the reading about transitions, the mapping of your transition using the 4 S's, and your artwork. Write a brief analysis of your art work and the transition. You may refer to the reading and/or the 4 S's as you do so (but not required). The analysis should include: a brief description of the transition you were trying to depict and what you were trying to convey with your depiction; and an analysis of how this transition contributed to your identity formation, and how it is shaping who you want to be/how you want to be the change. This can be a couple of paragraphs, or longer if you wish. The length is not important as long as you have engaged in some deeper connection to and analysis of your transition -- i.e. learning about yourself.
Please look at my example to give you some ideas of what this assignment could look like. However, please remember there is no one way to do this assignment. You should pick something meaningful, be creative and really try to understand yourself more.
Inspired by assignment created by Dr. Gloria Park