The Holocaust Museum and Somber Reflection: A Journey Into the Depths of Human Tragedy

Extra Credit Option for Eligible* Students
OPTION A: MFA and DSRP
Visit the Museum of Fine Arts (MFA) in downtown Houston and enjoy your experience! But, in the process of enjoying your experience, select anywhere from 6-8 works that you will compile together to form a SET that you’ll later analyze using the DSRP (Distinctions, Systems, Relationships, and Perspectives) model of Systems Thinking. It is entirely in your hands to create your set using whatever criteria you wish! Some students find a very clear and obvious “common denominator” (theme) in all of the works selected, whereas others have done this assignment with very loosely-connected choices. You are free to choose any or all mediums you wish—from paintings to sculptures to photographs. Since phone cameras are allowed in this museum, I strongly advise taking a picture of the works you select AND the little placards attached to the wall on the bottom corner of each work, as they provide you with the title, date, artist, and summary of the work; these photos will ne necessary when you write your analysis. The museum also has a bookstore with postcards, pamphlets, and books that have all of the works contained on the exhibit floors.
The written response, of at least two typed MLA-formatted pages, needs to have an introduction that provides overview and rationale for your analysis and/or set selections. It then needs to have four clearly-identifiable and well-developed sections that represent the four DSRP lenses, and ALL of the works selected need to be addressed in all four of the DSRP lenses.
OPTION B: The Holocaust Museum and Somber Reflection
Visit the Holocaust Museum in downtown Houston and absorb your experience! In the process of absorbing the experience and thinking deeply about what you see and hear, take notes on 6-8 concrete examples/exhibits that strike you as important, using whatever criteria you wish to make these selections. Note that the Holocaust Museum does NOT allow photography inside the building, so plan to bring a notebook to jot-down key pieces of information about the selections you make. Note-taking should only need to be minimal, since you’ll probably be able to go online once you get home and look up all sorts of details surrounding the selections you make (they also have a bookstore that contains books/pamphlets with all of the exhibits represented).
The written response, of at least two typed MLA-formatted pages, needs to essentially be a claim-driven (opinionated) argument. What I’ve always said about this museum and/or this extra credit option is that if you go through the museum and you’re serious/somber in your approach, then upon leaving the museum you won’t need to think that hard about what your thesis will be, as your thesis will come to you!
REQUIRED (FOR EITHER MUSEUM CHOICE)
Two forms of verification are required (I do NOT accept assignments without them): First, you must have a photo of YOU at a designated place in the museum. For the MFA, your photo needs to be in front of the “Donor’s Wall”; at the Holocaust Museum, since they do not allow cameras on the exhibit floors, your photo needs to be inside the bookstore or just inside the museum doors. Second, a photo of your printed receipt marked on the day of your visit (even though your admission is free with a student ID at either museum, they will still issue a receipt that states “free.” The receipt at the MFA can also come from the café, the bookstore, or even the MFA parking structure if you use it.
Visit the website or call first! Naturally, both museums have detailed and informative websites; they also have phone numbers. Be sure to visit the website and/or call the museum prior to going there in person to find about any policies, updates, or special events that may hinder your visit. You may need to ask the MFA., if you plan to go there, whether or not they still require reservations.
FREE? Yes, for you, with your valid student ID, your visit to either museum is free. And, regarding friends or family who may accompany you and who are not currently students, they can get into the MFA for free on Thursdays (I believe, but call first to confirm). There are no free days at the Holocaust Museum, however.
*Eligibility is granted if the student: a) does not have excessive absences; b) does not have missing writing assignments; and c) has not plagiarized anything in the course. Note: While details of the extra credit assignment are being offered early for obvious reasons pertaining to the logistics of planning a museum visit, the eligibility requirements continue until the last day of the course. This means that if the last formal essay, for example, is not submitted or if a student were to plagiarize the last IA assignment, then the extra credit assignment will NOT be accepted/counted towards the student’s grade.