Who woulda thunk? (Oh, just about everyone.)
Yeah so, I went to campus today to meet a fellow professor for lunch and do a bunch of setup paperwork for my little gig at CMU. And... Ok... it's pretty obvious that this could be a really good environment/career/situation for me. University teaching, that is.
Granted, I have about the most deluxe introduction to the field that a person could ask for. The Andrews (Carnegie and Mellon) were both huge art collectors and philanthropists. So it's only fitting that their School of Art is a gaudy turn-of-the-entury palace of the fine arts. Marble on the floors, frescoes (depicting notable artists and cultures of yore) on the ceiling, wrought iron and gilt everywhere, copies of famous greek statues lining the halls... On one hand it's kind of laughable, but on the other you get the distinct feeling you are doing Something Important, something that is part of the history of human culture.
The School of Art (the visual stuff, as opposed to music, architecture, etc) is on the 3rd and 4th floors of the 4-story building, up a wide and winding staircase. Well, the 3rd floor is, at least. The 4th is accessible only by smaller, narrower staircases that twist and turn as if leading to a secret garret. And indeed, the fourth floor is the "attic" of the fine arts building, and the faculty studio/offices line the side with giant slanted windows for a roof. Walking in for the first time, one expects to find a frenchman wearing a smock and beret, carrying a palette and sloppy brush. But instead one finds me, with just my laptop, in my a studio that's twice as large as my room at my new house.
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Meanwhile, I had two really great conversations with School of Art colleagues about the university's role in pushing the boundaries and envelopes of games/art/culture. About the university's need to do what the corporations cannot and would not. About the mandate to NOT necessarily be popular, but unabashedly experimental. And to teach students to pursue their own visions.
I could get used to this.
Granted, I have about the most deluxe introduction to the field that a person could ask for. The Andrews (Carnegie and Mellon) were both huge art collectors and philanthropists. So it's only fitting that their School of Art is a gaudy turn-of-the-entury palace of the fine arts. Marble on the floors, frescoes (depicting notable artists and cultures of yore) on the ceiling, wrought iron and gilt everywhere, copies of famous greek statues lining the halls... On one hand it's kind of laughable, but on the other you get the distinct feeling you are doing Something Important, something that is part of the history of human culture.
The School of Art (the visual stuff, as opposed to music, architecture, etc) is on the 3rd and 4th floors of the 4-story building, up a wide and winding staircase. Well, the 3rd floor is, at least. The 4th is accessible only by smaller, narrower staircases that twist and turn as if leading to a secret garret. And indeed, the fourth floor is the "attic" of the fine arts building, and the faculty studio/offices line the side with giant slanted windows for a roof. Walking in for the first time, one expects to find a frenchman wearing a smock and beret, carrying a palette and sloppy brush. But instead one finds me, with just my laptop, in my a studio that's twice as large as my room at my new house.
View Larger Map
Meanwhile, I had two really great conversations with School of Art colleagues about the university's role in pushing the boundaries and envelopes of games/art/culture. About the university's need to do what the corporations cannot and would not. About the mandate to NOT necessarily be popular, but unabashedly experimental. And to teach students to pursue their own visions.
I could get used to this.