Music videos work because of the interaction of sound, movement, words, style, images, and story with your previous knowledge about musical styles and other work by that artist, your own life experience, and so on. As you play with this example, think about how the various pieces work together to make meaning.

 
 
 

Interdisciplinarity works in the same way. In the study of culture, scholars integrate multiple elements that influence and shape each other to create a complex analysis of cultural expressions, practices, and patterns. 

But what does that mean in practice? This example shows both the process and the product of interdisciplinary analysis.
 
 

For further discussion of key terms and ideas, visit the illustrated site glossary.