English
I am earning 1 english credit this year. It includes:
Writing
I have written a few things this semester. I am most proud of Manifesto (although this is influenced by the fact that it is what I worked on most recently) because of the revision process that I went through to get my best work. I am also very proud of Zero Hour Part 2, it stands as a work that should be read out loud, in its entirety, and is simultaneously an instructional artwork (like Yoko Ono’s Grapefruit).
I also created an adaptation of King Lear, using a different tactic than I have in the past.
Instead I took a new approach, inspired by playwright Charles Mee, who write modern or new interpretations of old works such as The Odyssey, and other classics. His writing style is very distinct, and one that I identify strongly with. So during a Thursday writing band I sat with a paper copy of King Lear, and an empty document, and simply began to type exactly what I wanted into it, taking artistic liberties, and creating a document that is considerably shorter than any cut I could create the traditional way.
The institution of a Thursday morning writing band did great things for me and has helped me become a bit more in touch with my writer self (although there is much more work that I wish to do before I graduate)
Listening
Working on a collaborative project, such as Tempered Glass, inspires great listening within the creative group you are working with. On top of this I was literally listening to music to inform and inspire the film.
There was a fair amount of highly engaging and intelligent discussion that went on when Zak and I had meetings about the project. Which requires a practice of highly engaged listening.Within conversation with Zak I needed to assess what the song was really about on a deep level, and learn how Zak wanted that represented in the film.
I feel as though this year I have really come to understand the true power of good communication as one of the most important things in life, without it we would all be lost.
Reading
I actively read three books this semester, along with some extra stuff along the way (mostly plays, and books about art theory, and artistic works.)
The first was Artificial Hells, by Claire Bishop. I have taken so much away from this book, and I have only actually made it through the first third. It is incredibly dense, wordy and is definitely above my reading level. I need to be 100% engaged in reading it to get through a section of any amount, and even the smallest distraction will throw me off immensely. Even then I would have to use my phone to define words or research people often. But all of this made reading the book incredibly rewarding, and ensured that I really got everything I could out of each chapter. I often find myself making connections to artworks which I read out in my experience of the world, and it has only helped open my mind to what exactly artwork is and can be.
The second book was a collection of essays written on King Lear. Again, a handful of them were above my level, but I am able to employ tools to work around that. I am developing my understanding of the mechanics of the play and how the literary world has reacted to it over time. I found it fascinating reading this book though, because the art of a critical essay on classical works in this form is a dying art. The age of the internet makes information and new essays like these completely accessible as they are written, making these books of critical essays grow obsolete.
As well as essays that were beyond me, there were a select few essays that surprised me in their form. One was a sonnet, and others took up only half a page. Like Artificial Hells has for art, this collection opened my eyes to what and essay actually is: an attempt to understand or explain a topic through writing. This was a revelation to me in many ways. Of course I knew that there are different types of essays (I did read The Brief Bedford Reader last year in an attempt to better my writing), but I had never fully understood the magnitude of the fact that an essay can take almost any form as long as it is in the pursuit of knowledge.
The third book was Drive by Daniel Pink, exploring the facets of motivation. It takes a very corporate, and managerial, approach to explaining everything, with specific niche vocabulary (type X, type I, incremental and entity theory, for example) most of which I forget soon after reading. However the ideas presented to go along with these terms do stick in my mind very well, and I have begun to notice motivational tendencies within myself and others since I began reading this (and this came directly from a conversation with Chris). It sheds light on how good informational writing works, it presents ideas, vocabulary, and anecdotes all of which support the same thing. The reader takes away what helps them learn best, be it the story or the vocabulary, and internalized that to truly learn from the writing.
Speaking
No good conversation is one sided. Within all by studies I have found people to talk with who are experts in some sense. I must be able to some extent match their intellect to engage in good, productive dialogues about what is being discussed. In meetings with Amy, Chris, Zak, and Erin, I have been developing speaking skills in effectively expressing my points, and responding with informed and intelligent thoughts.
The key is having a pre existing understanding of what you want to say in order to make a powerful point.
I am earning 1 english credit this year. It includes:
- King Lear
- Manifesto
- Zero Hour Part 2
- Tempered Glass
- Wiring Group
Writing
I have written a few things this semester. I am most proud of Manifesto (although this is influenced by the fact that it is what I worked on most recently) because of the revision process that I went through to get my best work. I am also very proud of Zero Hour Part 2, it stands as a work that should be read out loud, in its entirety, and is simultaneously an instructional artwork (like Yoko Ono’s Grapefruit).
I also created an adaptation of King Lear, using a different tactic than I have in the past.
Instead I took a new approach, inspired by playwright Charles Mee, who write modern or new interpretations of old works such as The Odyssey, and other classics. His writing style is very distinct, and one that I identify strongly with. So during a Thursday writing band I sat with a paper copy of King Lear, and an empty document, and simply began to type exactly what I wanted into it, taking artistic liberties, and creating a document that is considerably shorter than any cut I could create the traditional way.
The institution of a Thursday morning writing band did great things for me and has helped me become a bit more in touch with my writer self (although there is much more work that I wish to do before I graduate)
Listening
Working on a collaborative project, such as Tempered Glass, inspires great listening within the creative group you are working with. On top of this I was literally listening to music to inform and inspire the film.
There was a fair amount of highly engaging and intelligent discussion that went on when Zak and I had meetings about the project. Which requires a practice of highly engaged listening.Within conversation with Zak I needed to assess what the song was really about on a deep level, and learn how Zak wanted that represented in the film.
I feel as though this year I have really come to understand the true power of good communication as one of the most important things in life, without it we would all be lost.
Reading
I actively read three books this semester, along with some extra stuff along the way (mostly plays, and books about art theory, and artistic works.)
The first was Artificial Hells, by Claire Bishop. I have taken so much away from this book, and I have only actually made it through the first third. It is incredibly dense, wordy and is definitely above my reading level. I need to be 100% engaged in reading it to get through a section of any amount, and even the smallest distraction will throw me off immensely. Even then I would have to use my phone to define words or research people often. But all of this made reading the book incredibly rewarding, and ensured that I really got everything I could out of each chapter. I often find myself making connections to artworks which I read out in my experience of the world, and it has only helped open my mind to what exactly artwork is and can be.
The second book was a collection of essays written on King Lear. Again, a handful of them were above my level, but I am able to employ tools to work around that. I am developing my understanding of the mechanics of the play and how the literary world has reacted to it over time. I found it fascinating reading this book though, because the art of a critical essay on classical works in this form is a dying art. The age of the internet makes information and new essays like these completely accessible as they are written, making these books of critical essays grow obsolete.
As well as essays that were beyond me, there were a select few essays that surprised me in their form. One was a sonnet, and others took up only half a page. Like Artificial Hells has for art, this collection opened my eyes to what and essay actually is: an attempt to understand or explain a topic through writing. This was a revelation to me in many ways. Of course I knew that there are different types of essays (I did read The Brief Bedford Reader last year in an attempt to better my writing), but I had never fully understood the magnitude of the fact that an essay can take almost any form as long as it is in the pursuit of knowledge.
The third book was Drive by Daniel Pink, exploring the facets of motivation. It takes a very corporate, and managerial, approach to explaining everything, with specific niche vocabulary (type X, type I, incremental and entity theory, for example) most of which I forget soon after reading. However the ideas presented to go along with these terms do stick in my mind very well, and I have begun to notice motivational tendencies within myself and others since I began reading this (and this came directly from a conversation with Chris). It sheds light on how good informational writing works, it presents ideas, vocabulary, and anecdotes all of which support the same thing. The reader takes away what helps them learn best, be it the story or the vocabulary, and internalized that to truly learn from the writing.
Speaking
No good conversation is one sided. Within all by studies I have found people to talk with who are experts in some sense. I must be able to some extent match their intellect to engage in good, productive dialogues about what is being discussed. In meetings with Amy, Chris, Zak, and Erin, I have been developing speaking skills in effectively expressing my points, and responding with informed and intelligent thoughts.
The key is having a pre existing understanding of what you want to say in order to make a powerful point.