Open letters
Dear Last-Two-Weeks-Of-Semester-1,
I can't believe you've arrived. I also can't believe that the course would be designed so that in these last two weeks we have two large-ish written assignments AND a review. Also, one of the written assignments is due on the DAY of the reviews...which means unless we are capable of finishing assignments before the due dates (ridiculous!), it is more than likely that we'll just spend the whole week writing the assignment, and then not do any actual practical work.
Another thing. So many written things to do, and yet the practical section is worth twice as much. I have no problem with the weighting, but the schedule should also reflect that - both assignments should be handed in at least two weeks before the reviews. Do you know how great it is to be able to focus on your art instead of always thinking about the typing you need to get done? I know you don't, Last-Two-Weeks-Of-Semester-1. Because you've never had that luxury. It's not your fault, but maybe we should talk to the course coordinators.
Frustration not really aimed in anyone's direction,
Anneke.
Dear essay,
You have the potential to be my best essay yet, purely because for once i'm kinda making an argument and backing it up, instead of just regurgitating research. However, I'm disappointed that i don't think i can really use David Shrigley as an example because his art is too weird (and awesome) to fit into my specific argument. Aren't you disappointed? I like the Shrigley.
brain caught in a cotton-wool-y Shrigley cloud,
Anneke.
Dear me,
Don't freak out...but you're almost halfway through the year and halfway through your course. Halfway. I feel like everything about me is halfway right now. Sometimes i think i'm halfway to being ok...other times it feels more like two thirds, or one fifth. Also I'm even worse at doing more than one thing per day. I've always had the tendency to get anxious if my day involves several planned activities, rather than one main activity with comfortable open spaces around it. But now it's worse! I think it's probably mostly workload anxiety, but I can't actually tell any more what it is.
So it's 2.30am and i haven't written very much today, but it's taking shape slowly and agonisingly in my head, so i need to decide if i'm going to ride it out and be dead tomorrow, or go to bed and actually be capable of teaching. I REALLY want to cancel some students, but i REALLY want the moneys.
Not managing to stick to the letter format very well,
Anneke
Dear people who are confused as to why i'm so concerned about doing well at uni,
The thing is, there are a LOT of Honours students at Curtin this year. Furthermore, a lot of them are really freaking smart. To top it all off, we have to deal with the bloody bell-shaped curve. Like when your marks were shaved down slightly from your actual TEE score in Yr 12, the high-scoring students will be scattered over the gradient. So even if you got a score worthy of First Class Honours, you might still lose it if the other students get a slightly better First Class Honours. And the reason why First Class Honours is worthwhile, is that it makes you eligible for various cashed-up scholarships for local and overseas institutes. Miss out on First Class and you're pretty much out of the running for the scholarships, unless you're already an experienced, established artist or designer.
I don't know if that is what i want to do, but, it'd be pretty sweet to be provided with $20 or $30 000 per year to make art in Melbourne, Florence, or the USA. (Actually American art students are apparently ferociously competetive and crazy.)
Bailing on many social events,
Anneke
I can't believe you've arrived. I also can't believe that the course would be designed so that in these last two weeks we have two large-ish written assignments AND a review. Also, one of the written assignments is due on the DAY of the reviews...which means unless we are capable of finishing assignments before the due dates (ridiculous!), it is more than likely that we'll just spend the whole week writing the assignment, and then not do any actual practical work.
Another thing. So many written things to do, and yet the practical section is worth twice as much. I have no problem with the weighting, but the schedule should also reflect that - both assignments should be handed in at least two weeks before the reviews. Do you know how great it is to be able to focus on your art instead of always thinking about the typing you need to get done? I know you don't, Last-Two-Weeks-Of-Semester-1. Because you've never had that luxury. It's not your fault, but maybe we should talk to the course coordinators.
Frustration not really aimed in anyone's direction,
Anneke.
Dear essay,
You have the potential to be my best essay yet, purely because for once i'm kinda making an argument and backing it up, instead of just regurgitating research. However, I'm disappointed that i don't think i can really use David Shrigley as an example because his art is too weird (and awesome) to fit into my specific argument. Aren't you disappointed? I like the Shrigley.
brain caught in a cotton-wool-y Shrigley cloud,
Anneke.
Dear me,
Don't freak out...but you're almost halfway through the year and halfway through your course. Halfway. I feel like everything about me is halfway right now. Sometimes i think i'm halfway to being ok...other times it feels more like two thirds, or one fifth. Also I'm even worse at doing more than one thing per day. I've always had the tendency to get anxious if my day involves several planned activities, rather than one main activity with comfortable open spaces around it. But now it's worse! I think it's probably mostly workload anxiety, but I can't actually tell any more what it is.
So it's 2.30am and i haven't written very much today, but it's taking shape slowly and agonisingly in my head, so i need to decide if i'm going to ride it out and be dead tomorrow, or go to bed and actually be capable of teaching. I REALLY want to cancel some students, but i REALLY want the moneys.
Not managing to stick to the letter format very well,
Anneke
Dear people who are confused as to why i'm so concerned about doing well at uni,
The thing is, there are a LOT of Honours students at Curtin this year. Furthermore, a lot of them are really freaking smart. To top it all off, we have to deal with the bloody bell-shaped curve. Like when your marks were shaved down slightly from your actual TEE score in Yr 12, the high-scoring students will be scattered over the gradient. So even if you got a score worthy of First Class Honours, you might still lose it if the other students get a slightly better First Class Honours. And the reason why First Class Honours is worthwhile, is that it makes you eligible for various cashed-up scholarships for local and overseas institutes. Miss out on First Class and you're pretty much out of the running for the scholarships, unless you're already an experienced, established artist or designer.
I don't know if that is what i want to do, but, it'd be pretty sweet to be provided with $20 or $30 000 per year to make art in Melbourne, Florence, or the USA. (Actually American art students are apparently ferociously competetive and crazy.)
Bailing on many social events,
Anneke