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Category Archives: Blog

September 1, 2025
September 1, 2025

Human Nature, Suffering, and Redemption

1) The Christian worldview provides an explanation for human nature and the story of the creation and fall (Gen. 1-3). A great deal of the suffering that people experience and much of man’s inhumanity to man are explained by this description of the fall of human nature. Is this characterization of human nature accurate? Why or why not? If not, what is an alternative explanation?

2) How does the fall relate to tragedies like 9/11, disasters such as the Tsunami of 2004 (an earthquake caused a tsunami that killed over 225,000 people), and the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020? Based on the topic Resources, how would you explain how a good, loving, and all-powerful God allows suffering and evil in his creation? Explain how your reaction to evil events has caused you to reassess your worldview.

Human Nature Suffering and Redemption

3) According to the Bible and the Christian worldview, Jesus was fully God and fully human. Interacting with the readings, especially Philippians 2:5-11 and Hebrews 1:1-3, explain why this teaching of Jesus’s full divinity and full humanity is important to Christianity.

4) Read the parable of the Prodigal Son (Luke 15:11-32) and answer the following questions:

What do you believe is the main theme Jesus is communicating? Human Nature, Suffering, and Redemption

The Christian worldview describes human nature as created good but corrupted by sin through the fall (Genesis 1–3). This framework explains why humanity shows both capacity for love and creativity as well as selfishness, violence, and injustice. I believe this characterization is accurate because it reflects the tension within human experience—our longing for goodness but constant struggle with moral failure. Alternative explanations, such as human behavior being purely shaped by social or evolutionary pressures, overlook the deeper spiritual and moral brokenness that transcends culture and time. The Christian perspective provides a holistic view that accounts for both dignity (being made in God’s image) and depravity (through sin).

Explain the three principal characters. Who do you identify with the most, and why?  Human Nature, Suffering, and Redemption

Is this characterization of human nature accurate?, How does the fall relate to tragedies and disasters?, Why is Jesus’s divinity and humanity important?, What is the main theme of the Prodigal Son?, Who do you identify with most in the parable?

September 1, 2025
September 1, 2025

Resurrection and Christian Worldview

1) After reading the account of the resurrection of Christ in Luke 24 and in Chapter 6 in The Beginning of Wisdom, express why the resurrection is so important to the Christian worldview.

2) According to the Christian worldview, how does one gain eternal life? Use Bible verses to support your response. How does the Christian concept of the afterlife differ from that concept in other worldviews?

3) Jesus made many absolute statements such as the following:

John 14:6: “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me” (NIV).

Matthew 7:13-14: “Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it.”  Resurrection and Christian Worldview

Interacting with these statements and based on Chapter 8 of  The Beginning of Wisdom and the topic overview, how would you answer someone who is concerned that Christianity portrays that Jesus is the only way to salvation?

Resurrection and Christian Worldview

 

4) Many believe naturalism (atheism) emphasizes intellect and reason, while religions emphasize faith. Pope John Paul II made the following profound statement at the beginning of his  Encyclical Letter Fides et Ratio:

“Faith and reason are like two wings on which the human spirit rises to the contemplation of truth; and God has placed in the human heart a desire to know the truth – in a word, to know himself – so that, by knowing and loving God, men and women may also come to the fullness of truth about themselves” (Catholic Church & John Paul II, 1998, p. 1).

Do you believe this quote adequately depicts the Christian view of the interaction of faith and reason, and the value of both? Why or why not? Does the atheistic worldview also use faith and reason? Why or why not?

Reference: Catholic Church, & John Paul II. (1998).  Faith and reason: Encyclical letter Fides et ratio of the Supreme Pontiff John Paul II on the relationship between faith and reason. Vatican City: The Holy See. Retrieved from http://w2.vatican.va/content/john-paul-ii/en/encyclicals/documents/hf_jp-ii_enc_14091998_fides-et-ratio.html  Resurrection and Christian Worldview

September 1, 2025
September 1, 2025

Are Cats Cute on Purpose?

Introduction

If you’ve ever found yourself mesmerized by a kitten’s big eyes or a cat’s tiny paws,

you’re not alone. Cats have an almost magical ability to captivate us with their cuteness.

But what exactly makes them so irresistibly adorable? As a veterinarian, I’ll break down

the science behind feline charm, from their physical features to their behaviors, and

explain why are cats cute on purpose. Humans are biologically wired to find them cute.

Are Cats Cute on Purpose?

1. The Science Behind Feline Cuteness

A. Baby Schema (Kindchenschema) – Why We Find Kittens Irresistible

In the 1940s, ethologist Konrad Lorenz introduced the concept of “baby schema”

(Kindchenschema), a set of physical traits that trigger a caregiving response in humans.

These include:

● Large, round eyes

● Small nose and mouth

● Round face

● Soft, small body

Kittens naturally exhibit these traits, making us instinctively want to protect and nurture

them. Even adult cats retain some of these features, which is why we still find them

adorable.

Are Cats Cute on Purpose?

Are Cats Cute on Purpose?

B. The Role of Evolution

Humans are hardwired to respond to cuteness as a survival mechanism—this ensures

we care for our young. Since cats share many of these infant-like traits, our brains

release dopamine and oxytocin (the “love hormone”) when we see them, making us feel

happy and affectionate.

 

2. Physical Features That Make Cats Cute

A. Big, Expressive Eyes

Cats have large, forward-facing eyes that take up more of their face compared to other

animals. Their pupils can dilate into adorable round shapes, especially in low light,

enhancing their “innocent” look.

B. Tiny Pink Noses & Whiskers

A cat’s small, pink nose and delicate whiskers add to their charm. Whiskers (vibrissae)

are highly sensitive and twitch when they’re curious, making their expressions even

more endearing.

C. Fluffy Fur & Button Paws

Soft fur triggers a tactile pleasure response in humans—petting a cat releases

stress-relieving endorphins. Additionally, their tiny toe beans (paw pads) are irresistibly

cute, often compared to little jellybeans.

D. Small Size & Playful Movements

 

 

Cats are compact and agile, with bouncy, playful movements that mimic those of

human babies. Watching a kitten pounce or a cat stretch triggers our nurturing instincts.

 

3. Behaviors That Enhance Their Cuteness

A. The Slow Blink – “Cat Kisses”

When a cat slowly blinks at you, it’s a sign of trust and affection. This behavior, often

called a “cat kiss,” makes us feel loved and increases our bond with them.

B. Kneading (Making Biscuits)

The rhythmic paw-pressing motion, known as kneading, is a leftover behavior from

kittenhood when they nursed. It’s both soothing and adorable to watch.

C. Purring & Meowing

A cat’s gentle purr (a vibration between 25-150 Hz) has been shown to reduce human

stress. Their high-pitched meows (often tailored to mimic a baby’s cry) instinctively grab

our attention.

D. Curling Up in Tiny Spaces

There’s something undeniably cute about a cat squeezing into a small box or curling

into a perfect “loaf” position. This behavior stems from their instinct to seek warmth and

security.

 

 

 

4. Why Some Cats Are Even Cuter Than Others

While all cats are adorable, certain breeds and features amplify their cuteness:

● Scottish Folds – Round faces & folded ears

● Munchkins – Short legs & playful hops

● Ragdolls – Floppy, cuddly nature

● Persians – Smushed faces & luxurious fur

Even mixed-breed cats have unique quirks that make them lovable!

 

 

  • Are Cats Cute on Purpose?
    • Introduction
    • 1. The Science Behind Feline Cuteness
      • A. Baby Schema (Kindchenschema) – Why We Find Kittens Irresistible
      • B. The Role of Evolution
    • 2. Physical Features That Make Cats Cute
      • A. Big, Expressive Eyes
      • B. Tiny Pink Noses & Whiskers
      • C. Fluffy Fur & Button Paws
      • D. Small Size & Playful Movements
    • 3. Behaviors That Enhance Their Cuteness
      • A. The Slow Blink – “Cat Kisses”
      • B. Kneading (Making Biscuits)
      • C. Purring & Meowing
      • D. Curling Up in Tiny Spaces
    • 4. Why Some Cats Are Even Cuter Than Others

Why do kittens trigger caregiving instincts?, How does evolution shape our response to cats?, Which physical traits make cats cute?, What behaviors enhance feline charm?, Why are some cats cuter than others?

September 1, 2025
September 1, 2025

Truth and the Ten Commandments

Based on the Topic 6 Resources, develop detailed, thoughtful, and thorough answers to the questions in this document. When completing this document, respond directly after each question within the specified number of words.

1. What would be the implications of truth being relative and subjective in your area of study/future career? Why might absolute and objective truth be required in your area of study/future career? Include a citation from Chapter 7 of The Beginning of Wisdom textbook in your answer and include its reference in the References section at the end of this document.

Your answer in 100-200 words:

<Answer>

2. Review the Ten Commandments in Exodus 20:1-17 and type your responses directly below each of the following prompts.

a. Briefly list the Ten Commandments in your own words (do not copy them word-for-word from the Bible).

Your answer in 75-100 words:

<Answer>

Truth and the Ten Commandments

b. Which three commandments are enforced by our legal system?

Your answer in 30-50 words:

<Answer>

c. Explain how the first four commandments might impact someone’s life.

Truth and the Ten Commandments

Your answer in 125-150 words:

<Answer>

d. Explain how the tenth commandment might impact someone’s life.

Your answer in 75-100 words:

<Answer>

e. What was Jesus’s response to the question, “What is the greatest commandment?” (Matthew 22:34-40). Why do you think he gave that answer?

Your answer in 75-100 words:

<Answer>

3. C. S. Lewis (1952) writes, Truth and the Ten Commandments  “If you look for truth, you may find comfort in the end; if you look for comfort, you will not get either comfort or truth – only soft soap and wishful thinking to begin with and, in the end, despair” (p. 32). Christianity believes that reason is a God-given faculty to evaluate what is true.

How do faith and reason properly work together? Cite Chapter 7 of The Beginning of Wisdom textbook in your answer.

 

Your answer in 75-100 words:

<Answer>

Reference:

Lewis, C. S. (1952). Mere Christianity. New York, NY: Macmillan Publishing Company.

What are the implications of subjective truth?, What are the Ten Commandments summarized?, Which commandments are legally enforced?, How do the first four commandments affect life?, How do faith and reason work together?

References:

September 1, 2025
September 1, 2025

Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation (ECMO)

My Therapeutic Modality/ Healthcare technology: Extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ecmo) Follow these guidelines when completing this assignment.

1) Choose a therapeutic modality or healthcare technology. ( Extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ecmo)

2) Examples of a therapeutic modality include Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation, Automatic rotating pronation beds, right and/or left ventricular assist devices, nontraditional ventilator modes.

3) Examples of healthcare technology can include regional O2 saturation monitoring (NIRS). 4) Refer to your faculty member if your selection requires prior approval. 5) For writing assistance, visit the Writing Center. 6) Include the following sections (detailed criteria listed below and in the Grading Rubric):

a. Introduction – 5 points/5% • The chosen therapeutic modality or healthcare technology meets one of the following

criteria: Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation (ECMO)

Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation (ECMO)

o Has been introduced recently at the bedside for care of the complex adult patient.

o Is a non-traditional modality for very ill patients in special circumstances. o Is being used in a new way to treat a patient with complex needs. o Requires specific training above and beyond general entry-level nursing

education. • Introduce the therapeutic modality or healthcare technology. • Name the therapeutic modality or healthcare technology. • A brief fictional case is used to illustrate the therapeutic modality or healthcare

technology. b. Explanation and Background– 15 points/15%

• Include a clear description of the therapeutic modality or healthcare technology. • Discuss how the therapeutic modality or healthcare technology works. • Describe the patient population it is used for. • Include medication, safety, and cost considerations as applicable.

c. Risks and Benefits– 15 points/15% • Describe how the therapeutic modality or healthcare technology can benefit the patient. • Discuss ways to promote positive outcomes. • Explain the complications that may arise. • Discuss considerations for preventing complications.

d. Interdisciplinary team’s Roles and Responsibilities– 20 points/20% • Identify all interdisciplinary team members caring for the patient, such as

respiratory therapy, assistive personnel, providers, case managers, clinical nurse specialists, and researchers.

• Describe the roles and responsibilities of each member of the healthcare team that is involved in the use of the therapeutic modality or healthcare technology.

• Discuss the roles and responsibilities of the nurse as a member of the interdisciplinary team caring for the patient.

• Discuss one challenge in working with an interdisciplinary team. e. Nursing Scope of Practice – 15 points/15%

• Discuss the knowledge needed for the Registered Nurse to provide care for the patient using the therapeutic modality or healthcare technology.

• Describe skills needed for the Registered Nurse to provide care for the patient using

Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation (ECMO)

therapeutic modality or healthcare technology. • Discuss attitudes needed for the Registered Nurse to provide care for the

patient using therapeutic modality or healthcare technology.

f. Patient Education – 20 points/20% • Describe the information to be taught to the patient and/or family. • Discuss how information will be taught. • Discuss potential cultural considerations to teaching • Explain how the effectiveness of the teaching will be evaluated.

g. Conclusion – 5 points/5% • Provide a summary of the paper. • No new information is introduced. • Include additional resources for further learning.

h. APA Style and Organization – 5 points/5% • References are submitted with paper. • Uses current APA format and is free of errors. • Grammar and mechanics are free of errors. • Completed 4–5 page paper (not including the title page or reference page) • At least three (3), nursing, scholarly, peer reviewed, primary sources from the last 5

years, excluding the textbook, are provided.

What is ECMO and how does it work?, What are the risks and benefits of ECMO?, What are the roles of the interdisciplinary team?, What is the nurse’s scope of practice with ECMO?, How is patient and family education provided?

September 1, 2025
September 1, 2025

Human Dignity and Purpose

1) What do you think about the following statement: “My morality is mine and mine alone, and it is not my place to judge the morality of others”? Are there any times when you should judge the morality of others? Why or why not? If so, when and why?

2) How do the Christian beliefs about creational purpose and human nature affect how Christianity sees human dignity and human value? How do they affect ethical decision-making in the Christian worldview?

3) After reviewing the “Find Your Purpose” section in  The Beginning of Wisdom, discuss some of the ways that people might discover their purpose. How does the Christian concept of m issio Dei fit into a Christian’s sense of purpose?

4) How might someone in your academic discipline or future vocation be able to live out a Christian missional purpose?  Human Dignity and Purpose

Should morality be judged?, How does Christianity view dignity?, How does Christianity guide ethics?, How do people discover purpose?, How is missio Dei lived out?

Human Dignity and Purpose


1. Judging Morality

The statement, “My morality is mine and mine alone…” reflects a relativistic view, suggesting morality is purely individual. While respect for personal freedom is important, Christians believe some moral truths are universal because they are grounded in God’s nature. Therefore, there are times when judging morality is necessary—particularly when actions cause harm or injustice to others. For example, Scripture calls believers to discern good from evil (Hebrews 5:14) and to stand against wrongdoing (Ephesians 5:11). Judging morality is not about condemning others but about promoting truth, justice, and love.


2. Creational Purpose, Human Nature, and Dignity

Christianity teaches that all humans are created in the image of God (Genesis 1:27). This foundational belief means that human dignity and value are intrinsic, not dependent on social status, abilities, or achievements. Since God designed humans with purpose and moral capacity, Christian ethics emphasizes respect for life, justice, and compassion. Ethical decision-making is thus guided by the principle of honoring God’s design for humanity. Choices that uphold life, promote justice, and reflect love affirm human dignity, whereas choices that harm others undermine God’s purpose for creation.


3. Discovering Purpose and Missio Dei Human Dignity and Purpose

People discover their purpose in various ways—through relationships, talents, experiences, and reflection on their values and goals. According to The Beginning of Wisdom, purpose is tied to one’s identity and role in God’s larger plan. In Christianity, the concept of missio Dei (the mission of God) frames purpose as participating in God’s work of reconciliation, justice, and love in the world. This means a Christian’s sense of purpose extends beyond personal fulfillment to include service, witness, and contributing to God’s redemptive plan.

September 1, 2025
September 1, 2025

Christian Ethics Case Study

For questions 2-6, chose from the “Decision-Making Cases” document in the topic Resources. Use critical thinking as well as support from the topic Resources to answer the following prompts.

1. Why do Christians believe that morality is absolute and objective, rather than relative and subjective? If morality is objective, where do Christians get their moral standard? Cite Chapter 7 of The Beginning of Wisdom textbook and/or topic overview. Include the resources you use on a reference page at the end of this document.

Your answer in 75-100 words:

Christian Ethics Case Study

<Answer>

2. Use the case you chose from the “Decision-Making Cases” document to answer the following questions to build the Christian ethical response. Use logical reasoning (general revelation). Cite Bible passages (special revelation), The Beginning of Wisdom textbook, and/or the topic overview. Include the resources you use on a reference page at the end of this document.

a. Which case did you choose?

<Chosen case>

Christian Ethics Case Study

b. In Chapter 2 of The Beginning of Wisdom textbook and the Topic 1 Overview, the elements of a worldview (ultimate reality, nature of the universe, humanity, knowledge, ethics, purpose) are presented. In the case you chose, which worldview element is going to be the biggest factor for determining right and wrong in the case you chose? Why?

Your answer in 75-100 words:

<Answer>

c. How does the Christian worldview describe the worldview element you identified?

Your answer in 75-100 words:

<Answer>

d. What are Bible passages (cite two or three) that will guide the ethics for the case you choose? How do these Bible passages apply to this case?

Your answer in 75-100 words:

<Answer>

e. Based on your answers to b and c, explain the Christian response to the case you chose. In other words, how might the Christian worldview resolve the issue?

Your answer in 75-100 words:

<Answer>

3. Your previous responses built a Christian ethical stance and provided a Christian resolution for the case. How might this Christian resolution to the issue increase human dignity and human value?

Your answer in 50-75 words:

<Answer>

Christian Ethics Case Study 4. The Christian position that humans should flourish comes from belief in the goodness of God. How so? What are the connections between God’s goodness and human flourishing?

Your answer in 50-75 words:

<Answer>

5. Considering the Christian resolution you built for the case and everyone involved in the scenario, what might be some benefits or unintended consequences that come from this resolution? What might be challenging for people to accept or do?

Your answer in 75-100 words:

<Answer>

6. What are some ways that Christians should be active in helping to alleviate the suffering related to this issue? Give specific examples that ordinary people can do.

Your answer in 75-100 words:

<Answer>

 

Why do Christians believe morality is objective?, Which worldview element most influences the case?, How does Christianity describe that worldview element?, What Bible passages guide the ethics?, How does Christianity resolve the case?

August 29, 2025
August 29, 2025

Journal Entry – Culture

As mentioned in your syllabus, you will keep a journal throughout the semester to discuss your thoughts and share your experiences as they relate to concepts discussed in each module. Due dates for each entry are listed in your syllabus. Please note that it is  NOT a diary. Please do not list activities or ramble on about your daily events. Think critically about the material you read in each module and discuss how your real life experiences relate to the concepts from the modules that interest you most. Give specific examples, incorporate communication terms from your readings, and expand on your thoughts and ideas.

Example

Chapter One addresses how communication meets physical needs. When we are denied the opportunity for interaction with others, our mental and physical health can suffer. This is one reason why many consider solitary confinement cruel and unusual punishment. What potential effects might solitary confinement have on our physical and mental well being?

Requirements

Journal Entry – Culture

A detailed explanation of journal requirements is attached under “Start Here” titled “Instruction for Journal Entries.” Your journal entry must be a minimum of 350 words, in a 12 point font, and in MLA format. Please submit each entry as a Word document attachment. When I receive your entry in the electronic drop-box, I will submit your grade in the grade book. There will be a total of 4 journal entries (worth 100 points each) required by the end of the semester.

What Do I Write About?

On the weeks a journal entry is due, I will include suggestions for entries under assignments. The questions that I pose are merely suggestions, you may write on other subjects as long as the topic relates to interpersonal communication. You do not have to write only about the module we are currently reading. If we are discussing Module 7, but you want to go back and readdress an issue or concept from Module 4, that is fine. This is a chance for you to write about what interest you most. If you chose to answer one of the suggested questions, please  only respond to one question so you may discuss in great detail with specific examples to support your views. Please do not try to answer all the questions posed as you will not have ample space to discuss on a deeper level.

 

Suggestions for First Journal Entry

You may choose  one of the suggestions below or pick your own topic of interest from this class.

1. Of all the various needs served by communication, which ones do you attend to the most? How often do you feel you are trying to meet more than one need at once?

2. People often mistakenly believe that more communication, or better communication, will solve any problem. What are some relational problems that cannot be solved by more or better communication?

3. What are some of the unique pitfalls associated with online communication? How does a competent online communicator avoid these pitfalls? What communication barriers have you experienced while using technology to communicate with others?

4. Why is it important to communicate ethically when people often have such different ideas about ethics?

Journal Entry – Culture

Journal 2 Assignment

Journal Topic

Top of Form

Journal Assignment

Be sure to use MLA format and double space.  Choose only one of the questions below and discuss in detail and be sure to provide examples to support your views. At least 350 words. You are not limited to the suggestions listed below; you may write about any concept from Module 2 that you can relate with personal experiences. Please let me know if you have any questions.

 

Suggestions for Second Journal Entry

1. Culture is something that we often assume only other people have. In what ways are you aware of the cultural influences on your own behavior?

2. The United States is sometimes criticized for being as individualistic as it is. What are some positive aspects about growing up in an individualistic culture? In what ways would growing up in a collectivist culture be positive?

3. What does your culture highly value? Achievement? Equality? Respect? Authority? Honesty? Loyalty? How do you see your cultural values being transmitted and reinforced in your society?

4.  In what ways has your self-concept changed over the course of your adolescent and adult life? What parts of your self-concept have remained relatively constant?

5. Can you think of a situation when you have been the recipient of inappropriate self-disclosures? Did this self-disclosure become a burden to you? How did you feel in that situation? In what ways were the self-disclosures inappropriate

6. Why do you suppose parents and teachers pay so much attention to the self-esteem of children? What’s especially good abut having high self-esteem?

Bottom of Form Journal Entry – Culture

What cultural influences affect your own behavior?, What are the positives of individualistic culture?, What would be positive in collectivist culture?, What values does your culture emphasize?, How are those values reinforced in society?

August 29, 2025
August 29, 2025

Sculpture Reflection

The high-relief sculpture from a thirteenth-century temple in Orissa (Figure 5-5) was carved during a period of intense temple-building in that part of India. The tenderness of the two figures is emphasized by the roundness of the bodies as well as by the rhythms of the lines of the figures and the overarching swoop of the vegetation above them. This temple carving was made in a very rough stone, which emphasizes the bulk and mass of the man and woman, despite their association with religious practice. Almost a thousand years of weathering have increased its sense of texture. The happy expression on the faces is consistent with the erotic religious sculpture of this period.

Mithuna Couple. Twelfth to thirteenth century. Orissa, India. Stone, 83 inches high. Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York. Stone, high-relief sculpture like this, found on Indian temples built in the thirteenth and fourteenth centuries, represents figures combining the divine spirit with the erotic.

Sculpture Reflection

SCULPTURE ANCIENT AND MODERN Sculpture Reflection

Much ancient sculpture represents the gods, such as the thirty-foot statue of the goddess Athena that once stood in the Parthenon (Figure 6-4) in Athens. Some ancient sculpture portrays moments in epic literature, such as Homer’s Iliad or his Odyssey. One of the most famous of all ancient sculptures is Laocoön (Figure 5-11), discovered in a Roman vineyard in 1506. It is currently believed that it was created close to 42 BCE by Hagesander, Athenodoros, and Polydorus, who specialized in copying Greek originals for very wealthy Roman families. The original is assumed to have been a Greek bronze dating to approximately 183 BCE. According to the Roman poet Virgil, the Trojan priest Laocoön and his sons, Antiphas and Thymbraeus, tried to warn the Trojans that the great wooden horse they received from the Greeks was a trick of war. However, the goddess Athena, protector of the Greeks, sent giant sea serpents to kill Laocoön and his sons. The resulting sculpture is said to portray human anguish more intensely than any other ancient work.

 

Laocoön is not only a representational sculpture in that we see bodies in action, but it is also one that represents a moment in great classic literature. Although this is a sculpture in the round and can be viewed from different positions, it is clearly designed to be viewed straight on. The position from which to view a work of art can be called “the privileged position.” Such positions are often obvious, as in Edvard Munch’s The Scream (Figure 1-5), which also needs to be viewed “head-on.” When you look at Laocoön, which figure dominates? Parallelism and contrast dominate the composition. How does the diagonal twisting line of Laocoön’s body (center) parallel the body of his son Antiphas (left)? What is the effect on the viewer of such a dynamic pose? As you examine the sculpture, how do you imagine the original sculptors wanted you to respond? Is there a specific emotion expressed in the work? Is this a sculpture in which you participate easily, or is it resistant?

FIGURE 5-11

Hagesander, Athenodoros, and Polydorus, Laocoön ca. 42 BCE. Marble (6 ft. 10 in. × 5 ft. 4 in. × 3 ft. 8 in.). Vatican Museum of Art, Pio Climento Museum, Rome. The discovery of this ancient sculpture inspired Michelangelo and became something of a Renaissance ideal.

Peter Horree/Alamy Stock Photo

 

Part 2: Reflection Write a reflection about the relationship between your art production and the inspiration piece. Include the following in the reflection paper:

· Introduction

· Inspiration Piece

· Include image.

· Record the title, artist, year, and place of origin.

· Briefly explain the background of the inspiration piece.

· Your Art Piece

· Include image.

· Provide a title.

· Explain the background of your piece.

· Connection

· Explain the thematic connection between the two pieces.

· How are they similar and different?

· Are they the same medium? How does the medium impact what the viewer experiences?

· How do the formal elements of design compare to one another?

Original Artwork Requirements

· Methods: paint, watercolor, pencil, crayon, marker, collage, clay, metal, or wood (Check with your instructor about other methods you have in mind.)

· No computer-generated pieces

· Your assignment is not graded on your skill or ability as an artist.

Writing Requirements (APA format)

· Length: 1.5-2 pages (not including title page, references page, or image of artwork)

· 1-inch margins

· Double spaced

· 12-point Times New Roman font Sculpture Reflection

What is the background of the inspiration piece?, What is the background of your art piece?, What is the thematic connection between the two pieces?, How are the two works similar and different?, How does the medium and design impact the viewer?

August 29, 2025
August 29, 2025

Strengthening Allyship

Select one of the following prompts to guide your initial post. The questions may seem similar to those in Unit 6. However, these are specific to sexual identities.

Prompt #1

Discuss the spectrum model of sexual identity. What advantage to us as individuals and as members of society does the spectrum model offer over binary models of sexual identity? Support your claim with examples of advantages from this unit’s readings and presentations.

(USLO 7.1)

Strengthening Allyship

Explain homophobia, heterosexism, and heteronormativity with at least two examples for each on how they occur in society.

Next, discuss at least one way that each of these social phenomena leads to the oppression of LGBTQIA community members.

(USLO 7.2)

Prompt #3

Create an action plan by responding to the following questions to strengthen your allyship in relation to sexual identities:

  • Who do you want to help?
  • What can you do to help?
  • Where can you be helpful?
  • When will these actions be required?
  • Why are these actions important for you to do as an ally?

(USLO 7.3)

Title: Strengthening Allyship

5 Questions: Who do you want to help?, What can you do to help?, Where can you be helpful?, When will these actions be required?, Why are these actions important for you to do as an ally?

Comprehensive Answer:
An effective allyship plan for supporting sexual identities begins with clarifying who I want to help, which includes individuals in the LGBTQIA+ community who face discrimination, exclusion, or lack of representation in daily life. This group often experiences barriers in healthcare, education, employment, and social acceptance, making allyship essential.

Next, what I can do to help involves several actions: speaking up against discriminatory language and behavior, amplifying LGBTQIA+ voices in conversations and decision-making spaces, supporting inclusive policies, and educating myself continuously about the challenges this community faces. Beyond advocacy, I can also contribute by donating to or volunteering with organizations that directly serve LGBTQIA+ populations.

Considering where I can be helpful, allyship should happen across multiple contexts: in professional environments where workplace equity matters, in schools where young people may be navigating identity, in healthcare settings where inclusivity is critical, and in everyday community spaces like families and social groups.

When these actions will be required is not limited to specific occasions; allyship should be consistent and ongoing. It means stepping up when discrimination occurs in the moment, but also sustaining long-term support by promoting inclusion and respect daily.

Finally, why these actions are important rests on the moral and social responsibility of standing with marginalized groups. Allyship helps reduce stigma, challenges harmful systems of inequality, and builds safer environments where everyone can live authentically. Acting as an ally contributes to a more just society and reinforces the principle that dignity and equality are rights all individuals deserve. Strengthening Allyship