School days, school days...
Haven't talked about it yet, but my upcoming semester looks to be... interesting. And probably busier than I had anticipated.
First, there is my Native Perspectives class. Shouldn't be too stressing, just a lot of reading, videos, and a report due later in the semester. We also have to keep a journal chronicling (boy that word looks mispelled) our reactions to various things we do in class. Nothing too involved or time consuming. The course is being taught by someone I'd previously heard of - Jim LaBelle, who is a well known Native personage up here, as he's active in promoting understanding and comminications between the various peoples of Alaska. He was also head of one of the larger Native corporations up here and in charge of the Alaska State Department of Corrections for awhile. So, he knows the culture and the social issues, and he seems like a very interesting and mellow, easy-going sort of guy. I'm looking forward to seeing how this class progresses.
Then there is my Art Appreciation class, which is the one that promises to be way more involved and busy than I'd thought (hoped). Among the projects listed for the class are a response paper to a required reading, a collaboration project between ourselves and students from a university in Toledo, OH., setting up a personal profile on an academic sort of "my-space" rip off called Epsilen (at least, that's the impression I got after hearing the instructor describe it), and a final art project/report, complete with multi-media. Also: peer reviews of other students' projects, and ongoing blog entries on our Epsilen pages about reactions to the various things we learn. The syllabus reads like a kindergarden class craft supplies list: "February 15 - bring one or two styrofoam meat/vegetable trays or foam plates, scissors, regular pencils, paper towels, and paint & brushes." "March 1 - Bring old magazines, glues, scissors, color markers, and color pencils." Ect... We also are required to take a trip to either the Anchorage Museum of History and Art, or the Alaska Native Medical Center Gallery (I'll probably do the later, since I've been to AMHA a bazillion times, but have never gone to the ANMC). Our first class was interesting, as our instructor asked us to make paper airplanes and we held a contest to see who's flew the furthest. She even had junky little prizes for us (I came in 3rd place and got a color wheel).
Some of this sounds like a lot of fun. Some of it sounds like a real pain in the ass. We'll see how I feel about it as the class gets going. On the subject of my art project, though... I've already been giving it some thought. How obsessed would I seem if I did my project on the artistic aspects of the Sims 2 fan community? There is some real talent and real art out there, not only in terms of those making custom content, but also in photoshoots and storytelling. I think that the creative culture that has grown up based around the game is fascinating, and maybe others would find it interesting as well, especially if they don't know anything about it. Barring that, though, I've also been kicking around the idea of researching early Disneyland concept art, some of which is quite amazing and gorgeous. Especially the Tomorrowland peices, infused as they are with the 50s and 60s views on what the future was supposed to look like. It's really incredible stuff. (like this one of Tomorrowland and this one of the park itself)
Well, I've been awake a couple of hours now, and it's about time to go back to bed for a couple more. Hope everyone has a good day!
First, there is my Native Perspectives class. Shouldn't be too stressing, just a lot of reading, videos, and a report due later in the semester. We also have to keep a journal chronicling (boy that word looks mispelled) our reactions to various things we do in class. Nothing too involved or time consuming. The course is being taught by someone I'd previously heard of - Jim LaBelle, who is a well known Native personage up here, as he's active in promoting understanding and comminications between the various peoples of Alaska. He was also head of one of the larger Native corporations up here and in charge of the Alaska State Department of Corrections for awhile. So, he knows the culture and the social issues, and he seems like a very interesting and mellow, easy-going sort of guy. I'm looking forward to seeing how this class progresses.
Then there is my Art Appreciation class, which is the one that promises to be way more involved and busy than I'd thought (hoped). Among the projects listed for the class are a response paper to a required reading, a collaboration project between ourselves and students from a university in Toledo, OH., setting up a personal profile on an academic sort of "my-space" rip off called Epsilen (at least, that's the impression I got after hearing the instructor describe it), and a final art project/report, complete with multi-media. Also: peer reviews of other students' projects, and ongoing blog entries on our Epsilen pages about reactions to the various things we learn. The syllabus reads like a kindergarden class craft supplies list: "February 15 - bring one or two styrofoam meat/vegetable trays or foam plates, scissors, regular pencils, paper towels, and paint & brushes." "March 1 - Bring old magazines, glues, scissors, color markers, and color pencils." Ect... We also are required to take a trip to either the Anchorage Museum of History and Art, or the Alaska Native Medical Center Gallery (I'll probably do the later, since I've been to AMHA a bazillion times, but have never gone to the ANMC). Our first class was interesting, as our instructor asked us to make paper airplanes and we held a contest to see who's flew the furthest. She even had junky little prizes for us (I came in 3rd place and got a color wheel).
Some of this sounds like a lot of fun. Some of it sounds like a real pain in the ass. We'll see how I feel about it as the class gets going. On the subject of my art project, though... I've already been giving it some thought. How obsessed would I seem if I did my project on the artistic aspects of the Sims 2 fan community? There is some real talent and real art out there, not only in terms of those making custom content, but also in photoshoots and storytelling. I think that the creative culture that has grown up based around the game is fascinating, and maybe others would find it interesting as well, especially if they don't know anything about it. Barring that, though, I've also been kicking around the idea of researching early Disneyland concept art, some of which is quite amazing and gorgeous. Especially the Tomorrowland peices, infused as they are with the 50s and 60s views on what the future was supposed to look like. It's really incredible stuff. (like this one of Tomorrowland and this one of the park itself)
Well, I've been awake a couple of hours now, and it's about time to go back to bed for a couple more. Hope everyone has a good day!