Assignment 2
EXCEPTIONAL ANSWERS
Due 27 June 2025
, ENG2614
Assignment 2: Exceptional Answers
Due 27 June 2025
Visual Elements and the Cultural Significance of African Mythology
This essay critically analyzes a vivid image depicting a communal storytelling scene
under a baobab tree at sunset, exploring how visual elements—line, color, shape,
texture, medium, and style—illustrate the richness of African mythology and its role in
shaping cultural identity. Through a systematic examination of warm and cool colors,
organic shapes, textured depth, flowing lines, and a digital medium, the essay reveals
how the image creates a mystical atmosphere and bridges the physical and spiritual
realms, with references to Anansi and other mythical figures. Integrating scholarly
insights from Mbiti, Okpewho, and Bâ, it addresses guiding questions on atmosphere,
magic, and contemporary approaches to myth, offering a compelling reflection on
mythology’s enduring significance in fostering community and identity, presented in an
accessible yet authoritative tone.
Introduction
African mythology serves as a vibrant tapestry of cultural identity, weaving narratives
that connect communities to their ancestral past, spiritual beliefs, and collective values.
The provided image—a vivid depiction of a storytelling scene under a baobab tree at
sunset—employs visual elements such as line, color, shape, texture, medium, and style
to evoke the richness of African mythology and its role in shaping cultural identity. This
essay critically analyzes how these elements converge to create a mystical atmosphere,
underscore the organic nature of myth, and reflect the interplay between tradition and
contemporary artistic expression. By drawing on scholarly perspectives and engaging
with the image’s visual narrative, this analysis explores how African mythology, as a
cultural phenomenon, fosters communal bonds and individual identity.