Wasting my time?
Most of my big life questions dawn on me when I'm supposed to be studying, but whatever. I've got to vent.
I've spent a year and a half now in the ATEC program here. Coming in I thought it would be great. I love animating. I love telling stories. I love creating, and entertaining. I figured ATEC would give me a great understanding of computer animation, so I could take things to the next step for myself.
But now I'm starting to realize, through my own ATEC courses and from conversations with people who have completed higher courses, that this entire program is bullshit.
I spent my freshman year cutting out pieces of paper and playing with paint. My professor was proud. She claimed I made excellent use of negative space and contrasting color. What does that mean? I don't know. It was just a bunch of paint I threw onto some paper the night before it was due.
Then I got to my first modelling class. I discovered the wonder that is Maya, and all the fabulous things you can do with it. I learned how to model. It's pretty easy since Maya is totally intuitive. Do I know how it works, beneath the surface? Nah... No need to know that.
I've essentially spent the last year and a half learning various features of a few pieces of software.
I could've done this on my own in high school if I could've afforded the software. I'm spending the precious few years of my higher education having professors teach me how to use programs that have manuals.
If I was majoring in literature, would I be spending the first month of an upper level course designing my very own haiku poem?
No.
So why the hell am I spending the first month of my intermediate animation course learning how to use a freaking spotlight?
I need to get a new major. Or double major. Or something. I'm about to explode.
I've spent a year and a half now in the ATEC program here. Coming in I thought it would be great. I love animating. I love telling stories. I love creating, and entertaining. I figured ATEC would give me a great understanding of computer animation, so I could take things to the next step for myself.
But now I'm starting to realize, through my own ATEC courses and from conversations with people who have completed higher courses, that this entire program is bullshit.
I spent my freshman year cutting out pieces of paper and playing with paint. My professor was proud. She claimed I made excellent use of negative space and contrasting color. What does that mean? I don't know. It was just a bunch of paint I threw onto some paper the night before it was due.
Then I got to my first modelling class. I discovered the wonder that is Maya, and all the fabulous things you can do with it. I learned how to model. It's pretty easy since Maya is totally intuitive. Do I know how it works, beneath the surface? Nah... No need to know that.
I've essentially spent the last year and a half learning various features of a few pieces of software.
I could've done this on my own in high school if I could've afforded the software. I'm spending the precious few years of my higher education having professors teach me how to use programs that have manuals.
If I was majoring in literature, would I be spending the first month of an upper level course designing my very own haiku poem?
No.
So why the hell am I spending the first month of my intermediate animation course learning how to use a freaking spotlight?
I need to get a new major. Or double major. Or something. I'm about to explode.