Inquiry
Enter this Unit.	High School Level: Grades 9-12 High School Standard: History Through Culture Investigate the belief systems and social customs of various peoples by viewing and discussing the unit's 24 artworks and their representations of the myths and legends of diverse world cultures. Develop a timeline that shows the chronological order in which the unit's artworks were created in relation to key historical events. Consider how certain of the unit's artworks reflect the natural environment of the culture in which they were created; examine both the materials used as well as the images portrayed. Evaluate how a culture's level of technology influences the art produced by a culture. Read online or listen to audio recordings of myths that inspired creation of the unit's artworks, and evaluate how the unit's artworks interpret the myths and/or represent mythological characters. (See Downloadable Resources for audio files.) Evaluate how a culture's levels of technology and scientific knowledge are reflected in its mythology. Compare and contrast elements of the creation myths of different cultures; consider what the myths reveal about a culture's belief system, physical environment, and level of scientific knowledge. (See online Mythological Comparisons chart.) Compare and contrast elements of the hero myths of different cultures; evaluate the heroic qualities valued by these cultures in relation to heroic qualities valued by modern American culture. (See online Mythological Comparisons chart.) High School Standard: History of the Arts Gain ideas and information from listening to presentations about the historical and cultural context, mythological representation, function, and style of each of the unit's 24 artworks. Develop a timeline that shows the chronological order in which the unit's artworks were created in relation to key historical events. Describe the visual choices that artists made in creating the unit's artworks by responding to questions that can be answered by looking at the works. (See the "Look" questions about each artwork.) Interpret each of the unit's artworks by responding to questions that help explore an artist's creative intent and the reasons behind the artist's visual choices. (See the "Think" questions about each artwork.) Read online or listen to audio recordings of myths that inspired creation of the unit's artworks, and evaluate how the unit's artworks interpret the myths and/or represent mythological characters. (See Downloadable Resources for audio files.) Select two or more artworks from the same category (e.g., Hero Myths) in the online Mythological Comparisons chart, and develop a chart that compares the artworks according to these categories: medium and technique, function, size, cultural origins, and style. Research and prepare a report on an artwork with a mythological theme that is not included in the World Mythology unit. Describe the work's visual characteristics, interpret the relevance of its mythological theme to the period in which it was created, and examine the artist's intent. High School Standard: World History and Cultures Compare and contrast elements of the creation myths of different cultures; consider what the myths reveal about a culture's belief system, physical environment, and level of scientific knowledge. (See online Mythological Comparisons chart.) Compare and contrast elements of the hero myths of different cultures; evaluate the heroic qualities valued by these cultures in relation to heroic qualities valued by modern American culture. (See online Mythological Comparisons chart.) High School Standard: Recorders of History To complement the study of artworks that represent myths about real people, investigate the derivation of myths told about famous Americans or historic world leaders. High School Standard: Issue Analysis To extend study of the myth associated with Shoki, the Demon Queller, discuss other stories (e.g., Phantom of the Opera) involving discrimination based on looks, the causes and effects of such discrimination, the import of the issue in contemporary America, and solutions and policies directed toward the issue. High School Standard: Social Science Processes Research and write a report on modern-day holidays and rituals that are connected to myths. To complement the study of artworks about myths that relate the triumph of good over evil, prepare a report on fairy tales or modern stories or films that employ the same theme. To complement the study of artworks about mythological heroes that embody both human and superhuman qualities, prepare a report on how modern fictional or film heroes display similar qualities. To complement the study of artworks that represent myths about real people, prepare a report on the derivations of myths told about famous Americans. Compare and contrast elements of the hero myths of different cultures; evaluate the heroic qualities valued by these cultures in relation to heroic qualities valued by modern American culture. (See online Mythological Comparisons chart.)
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