5. Assignment Example with Rubric From an Art
History Course
Homework Assignment 1: Symbols, Heroes, & Rituals Paper
Due at the beginning of class
Total possible points: 50
One of the great pleasures – and challenges – of studying works of art is to interpret what they say
about the values held by the originating culture. In any period, values are expressed through a
culture’s symbols, heroes, and rituals. This semester we will consider the symbols, heroes, and
rituals of each culture we study and discuss what these concepts say about the culture’s values.
SYMBOLS: Words, gestures, pictures, or objects that carry a particular meaning only recognized as
such by those who share the culture
HEROES: Persons, alive or dead, real or imaginary, who possess characteristics that are highly
prized in a culture and thus serve as models for behavior
RITUALS: Collective activities, technically superfluous to reaching desired ends, but which within a
culture are considered socially essential
The majority of the images we study this semester will reference a culture’s symbols, heroes,
and/or rituals. At times we’ll see all three concepts in the same image! Before looking for these
concepts in the very old images we’ll study this semester, you have an opportunity to identify them
in imagery of our current era.
Assignment Requirements:
1. Watch TV or YouTube clips, look at images from the movies, look through newspapers and
magazines, look at the billboards along the roads and identify 2 (two) examples of American
symbols, 2 (two) examples of American heroes, and 2 (two) examples of rituals that are
meaningful.
2. Write a brief synopsis of the 6 (six) examples that includes the following information:
1. Identify the image – what product it advertises, what person it depicts, etc. – and explain
what’s going on
2. Associate the image with one concept (symbols, heroes, or rituals)
3. In three to four sentences each, explain how the image/person/etc. expresses the
concept and what the image says about what our culture values
3. This assignment is due at the beginning of class. You may submit it via the LMS drop box in or in
hardcopy. Remember that I will only accept word‐processed papers … handwritten documents
are simply not acceptable. Multi‐page papers must be stapled together … folded edges or paper
clips just won’t do!
4