reminder

• Final Project due tomorrow!
• Includes

1. 5 page paper (academic paper relating an idea gathered from the text to a global perspective).  This must be in MLA format (heading, numbered pages, citations from the text) and Times New Roman, size 12 font, double spaced.
2. Artistic Translation (the visual (can also be sound) that you'll present to the class that describes the idea you gathered from the book).
3. Artist's statement: 450-750 words describing the work of art in your own voice.  Play up your voice, your patterns, your process, etc.  This is your statement

* Note:  You MUST let me know, today, if you need any technical support for your presentation.  Presentations should be 7-ish minutes.

In class, we'll present our visuals and read, out loud, our statements.  If time permits, we'll discuss what we saw in each other's work.  

You have one more lecture to attend.  

In class on Thursday, you'll have time for some closure:  we'll finish any presentations we didn't finish; we'll have a little party; and you have the OPPORTUNITY to ask any remaining questions you might have about college, writing, or Kyle's preferences in ice cream.  

Is there anything you need?

another source

Many of you are writing about freedom, speech, and communities representation.  I've asked a lot of you, who controls who lives where?  Who decides/changes/impacts a community and how it is stereotyped?  

Relate this article to those questions, to your texts, maybe even to your essays.  Start to see how world events are relevant to the ideas you are writing about.

this is mostly for blake, but good to read

blake, this article complicates your paper huh?  it presumes that this disatisfcation with government is more global and it also suggests that choice--implied in your paper--might not be an option in any government.  plus, it seems like the kind of article you might like.  

interesting commentary

http://www.osaarchivum.org/galeria/the_divide/chapter02.html

write a response to this quote

Imaginary Places

For some of your five page papers, you might want to consider the process and act of reading--how reading effects the writing of the paper, the thinking through of larger ideas, etc.  Here's a quote to consider and respond to:

Reading, we are allowed to follow someone else’s train of thought as it starts off for an imaginary place. This train has been produced for usÑor rather materialized and extended until it is almost nothing like the ephemeral realizations with which we’re familiar. To see words pulled one by one into existence is to intrude on a privacy of sorts. But we are familiar with the contract between spectator and performer. Now the text isn’t a train but an actress/ model who takes off her school uniform piece by piece alone with the cameraman. She’s a good girl playing at being bad, all the time knowing better. She invites us to join her in that knowledge. But this is getting us nowhere.   

—Rae Armantrout

What does this quote mean? 

What does it say about both the reader and writer?  About the act of reading?

Relate this to reading in this class.

TODAY

After reading the introductions, some of us had "unfocused" or unclear thesis statements.  Take the time, during the blog session, to carefully write your thesis statement out.  After writing your thesis, write another sentence that says what your paper will do (this is called the "intention statement")--if you have these two sentences, the paper has a logical flow (it will do what the intention says and refer back to the thesis).  

Let's have a talk if you feel confused about thesis statements or introductions in general.  

this made me think of our conversation

about consumerism and the economy:  here's a cool art project

art show dealing with the arts and the economy

“Everybody's got (more) money issues.”


Mess Hall
6932 N Glenwood Ave (between Morse and Farwell Aves) Far North Side, Chicago Map
El: Red to Morse. Bus: 22, 96, 151, 155 Directions
http://www.messhall.org
Prices
Tickets: Free
Description Curated with AREA Chicago, this group show tackles the financial crisis with contributions from InCUBATE, the Artist-Run Credit League and other local artists and organizations. For more information, visit messhall.org.
When
Sun 3pm–6pm , Mon–Aug 13 4pm–7pm Ongoing through Aug 30.

biofuels

Interesting article...if you don't read Seed magazine, you might want to.

Tamms Supermax

http://www.yearten.org/

Just so you can see what I'm talking about when I forget to give context about Tamms.

bridge program

Were here in bridge program to improve on our english and math. But do you think it's necesary if you want to major in dance or photography? and why do you think so? If you don't pass the bridge program and you can't be accepted, what are your alternatives? Just wondering. If I don't make it, I think i would go for nurses aid. All my family are nurses and I think it will benefit me more financially. Just wondering why aren't we accepted and what makes them better?

what art movement is your lineage and affection to

http://www.aknowles.com/

This is one of the founders of the fluxus movement, a movement I feel a lot of affiliation towards. I know that a lot of my work is rooted in this kind of work.

What movement(s) do you feel affiliated with and what have you gathered from their work?

Have you ever felt like a prisoner in your own home?I knew two girls who's parents were soooo over pretective!They stayed in the house all day, and had to sneek out when there parents not around.But now that there both 18, one plans to go to a college far away, and the other plans to move to the southside with some guy.Did your parents ever over crowd you so much you just couldnt wate to grow up and leave? or are they like my parents somewhat over protective , yet still let me make my own mistacts.

Foot Binding

During The EArly 20th Century the wealthy chinese Women would bind their feet to look pretty. They Start binding their feet at age 4. Some Dies from the pain. If It Hurts and they can't sleep their mom would sit on their feet so it won't hurt so much. Their toe would fold to the bottom of their foot until the bone would break. Womens that has flat feet means their poor and work in the farm or work for the wealthy women that has bind feet.
here's some pictures: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Bound_feet_(X-ray).jpg
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Natural_vs._bound_feet_comparison,_1902.JPG
From My Big Sister I Heard my grandma could have bind her feet but she didn't because she want to help out in the farm.
If We still have foot binding today for the girls to look pretty would you do it?
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Foot_binding_shoes.jpg
i forgot about their shoes

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H_FYM2Y4AR4

8/08 Michael Law Blog

a few days ago in class, during kyles post lecture, we discussed about celebrities and the charity. Someone had mentioned that lil kim has a charitable foundation called lil kim cares. another class what skeptical about her foundation, and then later started a heated argument. what i wanna know is that do you think its alright to have bad influence celebrities be the face of a charity? and do you also think that true "role models" are what they were 30 years ago?

Kyle and Kristen

Dear Teachers,

Can you PLEASE check and see if Aaron F. still has a class open, so i can sign up for him in the Fall?

-Michael

call for work!

Request Your Input

We'd like to know if you would like to cancel the blogging session and dedicate the ENTIRE session (both class periods) to workshopping.  You would still have your passing break (5 minutes).

If you want to do this, Kyle and I will expect you to photocopy your essays so we can start responding ASAP and get into groups where more than one person responds to your work using the rubric distributed in yesterday's class.

If you don't want to do this, you risk getting less feedback for your revision.  

Generally, a workshopping session is the whole class period and can take this much time.  You might want to start getting used to this.  Let's decide at the beginning of class.

It would still be your responsibility to reply to the blog question already posted by Kim before tomorrow's class.

Blind or Deaf..What we take for granted...

Hellen Keller was an american author, political activist, and lectureer. She was not born blind and deaf but at nineteen months old she contracted an illness which could of been meningitis. Unfortunately if left her blind and deaf. One of my favorite quotes from her was "The one thing worse than being blind is having sight but no vision." If you were to pick either being blind or deaf, what would you choose and why? I would pick deaf over blind. For me, I can't live without sight. You wouldn't be able to appreciate visual beauty. Sight is a beautiful thing. But being deaf, I can't imagine my life without music. I'm a quiet person I would say than being loud so I can live in a world full of quiet and still be able to communicate by reading lips and body language. But it really depends on you and your personality. My question is if you're deaf, how can one appreciate music, and can you feel rythem. And if you're blind, with not ever knowing what anything looks like, do blind people have an imagination?

Questions for post-lecture

Think about the documentary Screamers that we watched on Thursday, specifically the involvement of the band System of a Down. What do you think about how the band uses their celebrity status to address the issue of the Armenian genocide? Do you think the congressman they spoke to took them more or less seriously because they addressed him as a band with cameras rolling? Are they effectively using their art to make their point? Does whether or not you like their music affect the impact of what they are trying to say about recognizing the Armenian genocide?

Also consider the documentary itself as its own piece of art: Did it engage your interest? What was the effect of having sometimes lengthy stretches of nothing but concert footage? What about when the music was set to images of bodies, people chained together while marching, bones, etc? How did this intersection of music and images change the idea of “piles” as Ames discussed them on Wednesday?

What is the relationship here between the band’s art and their message? Between the documentary and this message?

Fxckin' Racist

Me and a few of my friends were casually strolling the city the other day when on about three seperate occasions, people drove by and shouted "go home niggers!" and things of that nature. It didn't really bother us though. And that scared me. It feels as if our generation doesn't take the "n" word serious anymore. But it could've been because we knew we couldn't do anything about it so we just laughed. But I do kind of feel like if they said it in front of us I would've punched them in their fuckin' faces. Basically my question is, does it seem like the "n" word is being taken much too lightly in our generation?

ethics and art

I've been pushing you to discuss the ethics of representation in your books--culturally, economically, racially, politically. Here's a good article about another ethical issue (animal cruelty in art).

Can you find examples of animals being used for the sake of art?

Can you find a link between the way the animals are treated and the way people are portrayed or used in your books?

Remember, full sentences! And ask questions to your peers (using names).

art opportunity

m-log workshop at SPACE led by Owl Project m-Log workshop led by Owl Project plus special guest Leafcutter John. A two day workshop including all the materials needed to build & customise an m-Log to your own spec! m-Log is a hand-held wooden controller interface. The m-Log fits in the palm of the hand and is made using a semicircular cross section of a branch (Just like the iLog). Inside the m-Log is the muio interface ( http://www.facebook.com/l/;www.muio.org ). Available with a rage of built in sensor inputs (light sensors, accelerometers etc) it has plug in and play compatibility with a wide variety of applications, notably MAX MSP/jitter, SuperCollider and Open Frameworks. Get your saw* and soldering iron ready and join a community of owners and start developing and sharing your own patches to use on one of the worlds rarest digital interfaces. During a two day session participants will be taken through constructing an mLog circuit, drilling the holes for the switches, building software audio instruments in SuperCollider and MAX MSP and finally a little sanding and oiling. Using minimal amounts of electronics combined with the simple and flexible material of wood we aim to return a sense of the of craft and individuality to the production of modern hand held technology. We look forward to making and developing m-Logs with you. http://www.facebook.com/l/;www.owlproject.com * In the kit all wood will be pre cut and ready for assembly To book go to http://www.facebook.com/l/;mlogworkshop.eventbrite.com/

My brother and I

Growing up my brother and i were totttally different people. He was the all around american boy, played football, track, tennis, and still made straight a's. And wile He was doing that, i was rehersing, or helping to rase money for the history or art club. He, was very tidy and neat. It looked like a tornado had gone through my room most of the time. He's about 4 years older than me so about the time he was heading off to college i was staring high school. And of course, he got into Texas A&M which is a top school for those who dont know. A&M is also a very conservative college. So while i was going through high school it was put into me by my brother and mother that college is about being a "right minded intellectual" meaning straight a's and taking classes such as Agriculture economics 101. And that i had to join some sorroity and go to football games. But i soon found out that none of that stuff was for me. And, too many broken hearts, i decided to go to a Liberal Arts school. And all my family can talk about is how i'm missing out on the "real" college experence.

Now, my question is, am i? Are we missing out on some all american experience of what college is supposed to be by going to a arts school?
Another thing is why do you think we think that college is supposed to be this "all american" experience with frat boys and beer pong and the whole 9 yards?

This also got me thinking about birth order and whether or not that sets the tone for the rest of our lives. because my brother was born first did he not have a chance at being anything but conservative? Was it my destiny to have a thought pattern at million miles an hour and be artistic? If you google Differences In siblings personalities there are alot of good articles that talk about this.

Being Different!

In Today's Society, Every Ethnic Group See Each Other A Different And Some Uses Abusement Because Of This. Asians Being Made Fun Of Their Eyes And Being Nerds In School. African Americans Being Illegal Immigrants And Pregnant. Do You Believe This Is Happening In Today's Society And Why? Have You Ever Been Involved With Any Of These Problems?

Boys Who Killed Eric Morse

Here's an article about the release of Eric Morse's killer, one of them. Read the article, watch the video, and respond. There are not prompt questions because you are at the point where you can "respond" to things without prompting.

Iran Protests to Honor Dead

Article
Another Article

~What do you think?~

I seen this and I like the picture and I think the artist has a very creative mind.

What do you think about the picture and artist?

How do you think the artist relates to the picture?

Why do we wait till its to late?

“It has been said you never miss a good thing to its gone”, sitting here thinking about this statement and it’s so true. Last year when my grandmamma passed I highly upset because all the stuff I didn’t get a chance to tell her and I feel like all of my love for her was unheard. So, why is it that we never tell someone how much we cherish them before its too late?

Bush Vs Obama

Can someone please explain to me why, before the 2008 election when Bush was in office, if someone was to talk bad about the president the response from the public around would be that is the leader of the country you may not like him but do not talk negatively about him. Now that Obama is in office people have been doing everything they can to slander him, his name, and his image. People in the media are now trying to say that Obama is not an American citizen. It is outrageous that American republicans are going that far, saying that the president that was elected by a land slide might not be legit. How are other countries suppose to take our president serious if the American public doubts him. I feel that other countries have more respect for Obama then American citizens them selves. My question is, Why, Now do people want to talk shit about a president because they are pissed their leader did not get elected. These people who are talking badly about the president are republicans who voted in Bush and wanted to elect McCain, but they had eight years to speak up when the president they elected was destroying the economy. I Feel that now is the time more then ever that Americans need to stick together unite and support each other. But instead Republicans are trying to do the complete opposite which will lead to the demise of our country. Even if what he is doing sounds like a stretch, hope and support goes a long way. What do you think about this topic and or my opinions. How Does this recent news about your world leader make you feel. Have you talked to some one who is not American about Obama and there view of America sense he Obama has been in office. PLEASE COMMENT I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW

Go back to Noah's question and think harder

There was a series of photos that really stood out to me on Tuesday when we went to the Museum of Contemporary Photography. They were by Brian Ulrich who received an MFA at Columbia in 2004. His series "Dark Stores" features buildings and store fronts that have been abandoned. It is possible that some of them are left behind when a store moves into a different location, but I'm assuming the majority of these stores went under as a result of our recent economic downturn.

In your opinion, what do you think was the ultimate cause of these stores going under? In what ways could this have been avoided? Lastly, how has this recession affected you personally?

Think about inernational politics. Ask Noah, specifically, what he means and what kinds of issues he's trying to raise. He's asking about cause and effect relationships--what are the causes of our current economic situation?

examples of activist art

Felix Gonzalez-Torres' "Untitled (Portrait of Ross in LA)"

This is an AIDS activist piece, do you know anything about it? Can you guess? Do some research?

What do you know about Banksy and graffiti activism? Or groups like Knitta?

What about Zoran Music's work? He was a Holocaust survivor who became a painter of screaming figures; is this activist art or is he reacting? What's the difference between reaction and activism? Is there a difference?

outsider artists

Here's another example of Art Brut: Ferdinand Cheval. Also, Helen Martins.

What did the conversation of outsider art make you think about? What issues does this bring up about the ownership of work / material (by artist, audience, art buyer, etc.)? What kinds of ethical dilemmas were in this conversation?

Also, what do you think about Cheval's work? Martin's work? What does making a new "place" mean? These people actually cultivated whole landscapes based on their ideas. How is this like your texts? Like writing?

since we've dropped a connection...

After Stephanie's speech, I was thinking it would be a good idea for you to post your own movie posters and deconstruct the images or see the representation and the ethics of representation. This way, we'll start to see "reading images" and the issues of translation while still keeping Stephanie's speech in hand.

Bonus points for relating it to the bones project and / or the texts you are reading. It's all about relationships.

Grass

So here's a simple question and I just wanted to make sure I wasn't the only one in this boat. Should marijuana be an illegal drug? yes we can say that sometimes it is a gateway drug... there's really not much more we can say about it. Is it bad because it's illegal, or is it illegal because it's bad? I don't know. you decide.

www.oneword.com

so i happend to stumble upon this website and Kristen i know that your going to love it and it really is a great warm up exrcise its called www.oneword.com and you have like 30 seconds to write a brief synopsis off of one word its really great to see what other people have wroteas well.

*Untitled*

Ok I remember in class when Martin was talking about sperm banks and them not wanting gays or lesbians to donate.

If they allow gays and lesbians to adopt whats the difference in donating if in the end you getting the samething out of it?

Do you think gays and lesbians should be allowed to donate?

The Right Decision...

A few months ago a friend of mine got his girlfriend pregnant. He was kicked out of his parent's house when he told them. Him and his girlfriend now live together in their own apartment barely making ends meet. They've already decided they would have the child and raise him or her the best they could. He was recently accepted into college but is not sure if he should go. He doesn't know if he should go to college to make a better future for his family or stay for a better now. Do you think he should go to college(which is out of state) or stay with his family?

blog lecture 2

You are at the halfway point for Bridge. It's about time you start showing some maturity and start to use the blog as a more academic forum. You should be excited by this and you should see this as a place to really understand the kind of language and the new tongue you'll be using in college. So, stop the cell phone and text messaging lingo and cut out the pop culture references that aren't deconstructing pop culture. If you want to look at something through a particular lens--gender, race, economics, culture, all the -isms--go for it. It's time to start showing us a little more maturity and a little more dedication to THOUGHTFUL ANSWERS.

You were asked, by a peer, a relatively serious question about censorship and the question was answered with responses that didn't gather or generate.

Remember, you are now REQUIRED to ask questions in your response and start referring to specific peers' comments. Use names. Ask more questions. We are RESISTING CLOSURE.

two big art questions that have been keeping me up at night

1. Walt Whitman said, "All that a person does or thinks is of consequence." Joseph Beuys echoed this when he said, "the enlarged conception of Art includes every human action." Whoa, is this true? And what does this say about how artists have to live or who they have to be?

2. "Conceptual art is not necessarily logical," noted Sol Le Witt. Well, neither is life. What are the goals of conceptual art?

3. M Lamar is an artists who celebrates and parodies the idea of the chanteuse (a female nightclub singer): he deconstructs the diva even as he wraps himself in diva like hauteur. He is being called a post-structuralist transgendering singer. What do you guys think about this kind of art? What do you think about all of this labelling and word play that art theorists do? Does it compartmentalize art? Does it make it elitist? Does it make it easier to read?

professional versus amateur art

After Kodak made the camera available to consumers, artists were worried it was a threat to their ambition that photography be taken as a serious art. "The placing in the hands of the general public as a means of making pictures with little labor and requiring less knowledge has of necessity been allowed by the production of millions of photographs," wrote Alfred Stieglitz in 1899. "It is due to this fatal facility that photography as a picture-making medium has fallen into disrepute."

Is this true? How have digital cameras come into this line of argument? Digital technology now permits people to delete mistakes before they are printed and to preserve images in computers rather than deal with deteriorating prints; posterity is being deprived of who knows how many similar examples of creative artlessness.

Vacancy

There was a series of photos that really stood out to me on Tuesday when we went to the Museum of Contemporary Photography. They were by Brian Ulrich who received an MFA at Columbia in 2004. His series "Dark Stores" features buildings and store fronts that have been abandoned. It is possible that some of them are left behind when a store moves into a different location, but I'm assuming the majority of these stores went under as a result of our recent economic downturn.

In your opinion, what do you think was the ultimate cause of these stores going under? In what ways could this have been avoided? Lastly, how has this recession affected you personally?

Censorship

After reading the blog about Iran I got to thinking, why exactly do we need censors? First Amendment rights give us a reason to say censorship is bad. I mean if we have all of this freedom, why are we letting a group such as the PMRC (Parents Music Resource Center) edit our music?

Last thoughts

In the book Our America, LeAlan and Lloyd thought about how a 5 year old boy must feel to fall from the 14th floor of a builden. So i wanted to no if you where the falling down from the 14th floor, what would be your last thoughts?Do you think you would even have time to think? Do you think you would die before you hit the grown?

Watch this for class tomorrow

Here is a link to performance artist Wafaa Bilal, an Iraqi American who works with the tension between the states and the Middle East.  For homework, in addition to the writing assignment, watch this video and start thinking of questions, conversations, similar artists, etc. to discuss tomorrow.  

The video is about his visiting artist's status at a school near Albany, NY.  He was, after being invited to discuss and perform, asked to leave the school and cancel all speaking obligations.  Independent Media helped him show what happened during his visit and documented the reactions of the citizens.  

Think about this in the contexts of your books and your writing/art.  Be prepared for a discussion that you will lead.  

Good Ideas Being Brought Up in Papers

Lisa is starting to talk about SEMIOTICS in her papers:  "The tone of the story all depends on the person reading it because everyone has a different view of things [and] the reader doesn't necessarily follow what the writer is trying to get across in the story."  

What are semiotics?  How are they important to reading and writing?

A lot of you are starting to discuss EMPATHY in the books.  What is empathy?  Why is it important to discuss while we are reading our texts?  

Bonus question, how does empathy relate to semiotics?

Iran and its history

What do we know about Iran and the history of Iran?  Kim brought up, in her paper yesterday, that she understands Persepolis is taking place in contemporary history.  The book takes place in the late 70s when the people of Iran protested for religious freedom and the ending of the Shah.  Those protests turned into revolts when patriots looted the city Tabriz.  The revolution goes on for three more years and the Islamic Republic took control.

Does anyone have any context for the Shah or can you guess, by who supports him and who doesn't support him, what the Shah was doing?  Let's start talking about this history and start thinking about why we, as college students, have so many holes in Middle Eastern history.

Recently, there were riots again in Iran.  Do you know what was happening?  

Blog Lecture

The blog is not being taken seriously.  If you read the handouts from the first class, you'll see that this is a place for conversation.  I do not want to forbid students who need a forum for frustration or questions and, for that reason, I want to keep it open to conversation. 

However, most of the content on the blog--recently--does not stimulate conversation at all.  

I expect FULL blog responses.  That means a paragraph, a thoughtful response, and a real commitment to thinking about the question(s) posited in front of you.  I am feeling like, based on yesterdays homework, you are not really considering what is being asked of you at all but moving too quickly to "I don't understand" or something of that sort.  There is validity in not understanding, but only if you work through that misunderstanding.  

Since I have seen some of you on facebook, some of you finishing papers, and some of you not taking the blog seriously, I am putting restraints on it.  I want CONTENT.  I want your BOOKS to come into the conversation.  And I want each response to have a new question; this way, we'll see how questions build and how difficult it is to have one answer or even come close to clarity.  We'll see how much more room there is to think and wonder.  

This is a serious warning--the first week is over and Monday was not one of our better days.  I am expecting some seriousness and some academic labor.  

Blog Question for 7/28

why are you here, in college? because you want the education, or because of the parties? i was sitting at lunch with my friend Lindsey aka Texas and we were discussing a fellow student of ours, who never seems to do their work and has parties and drinking on the mind 24/7. i was putting the blame on him, because he was unresponsible, but then i realized, why does the media portray college life as one big party, with drinks and drugs. one very good example of this would have to be Asher Roth's song "i love college", if you listen to the lyrics, there is nothing to do with the education that the institute offers, but more on the simple fact of sex, drugs and parties. so why is it that college students are willing to spend a good time of there life in debit, and toss the education to the side and focus on what happens after class. so my question for you is this, why are YOU here? are you here because of the education or the parties, etc... be honest, i really want to know what you think.

THEY DESERVED IT!!

they deserved it !! (copied from my facebook notes plese respond with more than 5 words)
BY Martin Dorsey
july 27, 2009 at 5:35pm
so i was walking down the street today on my way home from mcdonalds right?so when i turned down 81st street( a route i usually don't take) i saw a family of 4 mexican americans sitting on the side of the road in the back of there van and on the curb eating mcdonalds as well. when i saw this i couldnt help but think wow. there is soo much debate over immigration problems and how immigrants are causing financal trouble for our country and taking jobs from those who need them but as i walked by and saw them siiting on the curb eating there food i also rember walking past a group of males around the same age as the oldest son from the mexican family and they were not doing anything with there lives but walking down the steet.whats the diffrnece you ask? the mexican family was taking a lunch break from doing work on someone's house!!they were making an intative what type of counrtry do we live in were we can't even apperciate the simple thigs like a litle constrction job as a source of income. these people come to america seeking a better life and a better oppurtunity and what they find as a better oppurtunity , like manual labor, those of us in america see as being "beneath us" when the fact of the matter is HOW CAN SOEMTHING BE BENATH YOU IF YOU AINT GOT SHIT!?!its time to wake the fuck up and get the fuck off of our lazy asses( trust me im included in this) because they were eating the same food i was eating and the same mcdonalds most of us eat monthly...only theres tasted better because they deserved it

*MJ*

Ok ever since Micheal Jacksons death alot of things have been going on.
Its a guy saying he's MJ's son son do you think so?
I now confused just watch the video!


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HLr_gQxVC4s

in reply to the cheating blog

i need some advice

so i told you guys before that my mom is a pastor right? so as it stands our church has been open for 6 years and now that its time for college IM SO OVER IT!! like its not that i h8 church now im just like tired of doing it and going and its like my disinterest could not have come at a worst time since now we are entering a transition of sorts meaning that there is alot more for me to do  but im more so wanting to focus on college and growing into my own but evreytime i think of telling my mom that im about to take a back seat in church i get this image in my head of my mom stanidng in the pulpit crying because im not there to support her in all the bullshit that is going on .. so saturday she asked me "am i on board with her for the church ?" i said yes but how do i say no?

*Cheating*

Me and my friends always argue about this issue. Is oral sex cheating?
I personally believe it is.
What do you think?

Bathroom Bullshit!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w1vJaM1j7v4\


So even though this is presented in a semi-humorous way i think he actually has a point here because what is some one suppose to do in this situation. In A mall not to far from my house called North Riverside Mall has a bathroom like the one he was talking about congress making. but it is called a family or communal bathroom where there is a toilet device that every one from the handicap, short, and transgendered/sexual can use privately.

I wonder...

So i was doing some research trying to find something to blog about, something serious and on the news and all that jazz, but all I could find was something new about Britney, or Lindsay Lohan. The closest thing I got was whether or not Palin had a boob job?

So i wonder...has entertainment news really taken over real news?

I dont really believe in conspiracys but with all this coverage of MJ's death drama, real shit could be going on and we would never know.

Does our generation really not care about the world around us? Will we all live in this cloud of illusions forever?

and still i rise

my life is unexplaineble
my goal seem unattainble
and yet i contnue
and yet i stay
and yet i rise
and still i say
my heart is full and longing to release
my spirt is broken
and stabs my heart with evrey piece
and yet i contiue
and yet i stay
and yet i rise
and still i say
i know the ground
im friends with the dirt
i've lost my price
and gained my worth
and yet i continue
and yet i stay
and yet i rise
to a brand new day

blog for Monday (7/27)

In addition to your peers' questions, we didn't get to our writing assignment for 7/23. Try and use your blogging time to respond to this:

"I Remember" Writing Exercise (this is based on Joe Brainard's memoir, I Remember)

Begin with a blank page (or blog screen) and a clear mind. Write "I remember" and begin to allow yourself to remember different experiences.

Try to avoid any preconceived notions of where your memory will take you. Start writing down memories, beginning each one with "I remember..." (so that it reads like a list). Allow your mind to remember, in no particular order. If you start to get stuck, think of the senses and follow your eyes, nose, ear, tongue, fingers, etc into their memories.

If you start to get stuck again, follow the phrase, "I remember" with a random letter or word and then write from there (when do you remember that random letter or word?). Try to inhabit your memories with specificity.

The repetition of the phrase "I remember" is all you need to connect your disparate memories. This repetition of the beginning word or phrase is an example of the literary device "anaphora," a device found in the prayers and texts of many of the world's religions.

monday note

I have sent Martin, Althea, and Alex the assignment for Monday's class. Let me know if anyone else is missing for orientation.

Here's the list I have for orientation dates, if you aren't on, you didn't tell me yet:

7/27:
Althea
Alex
Martin (Martin, you just wrote "Monday" and I'm assuming that means this Monday)

7/29:
Monica

8/4
Noah

8/5
Desmond
Maurice

8/10
Michael
Kim

8/24 and 8/28 are Marquis and Jnissi, but that does not interfere with Bridge since we'll be finished by then.

Missing:
Robert
Lindsey
Lisa
Blake
What are your dates?

awesome internship

Here's a link to a good internship (unpaid). this supports local farms, community agriculture, and sustainable urban living. also, looks pretty good on a resume.

Fall/Spring/Summer...Another Poem

We met at a party
Became friends at the mall
Fell in like at the movies
Fell out over Fall
Got back up during Spring
Feelings stronger than ever
But start likin' you again??
I thought I would never
Then along rolled the Summer
Either June or July
When we fell out again
Cuz u liked another guy
I thought we were plutonic
Thats how I felt at the time
But deep down in my heart
I thought u were mine
So now its Fall again
And I decided I miss u
But u just don't give a fuck
Cuz I kinda did diss you
And now she go wit that dude
And they happy as ever
Its fucked up how my feelings
Are determined by the weather

reminder for over the weekend

You have an assignment due on Monday. I'll be in my office (527) on Friday if you want help or need to talk about anything--shoot me an email letting me know what time so that I can be there for sure (instead of getting coffee or something).  

Also, those of you that have orientation on Monday (Althea and Alex), make sure you get the assignment from your peers for Tuesday's class and make sure you  hand in Monday's assignment either via email, in my mailbox, or by meeting with me at some point in the day on Monday.  

Enjoy your weekend!  First week of Bridge is over--woot!  You are all my most favorite, but remember you are scared scared scared of me!

OKAY THIS IS ANOTHER POEM THAT I WROTE ABOUT THIS PERSON.... I ONLY WRITE IF IM LIKE MAD OR SOMETHING....

me with out u is like trying to breathe with no air. and i cant possible exist if your not there.so mabye u should just stay rite here with me. r love is so strong even a blind man can see..peoplle just haten cuz were hotter than the sun... love so strong even though were young. we make a sweet melody sort of like a lve song..so we cant possibly be oover cuz we just begun..with out u there is no 2 day. and there wont be a tomarrow. cuz i'll drown myself n tear of sorro.. are relationship could not end.... So i got one question..COULD WE START ALL OVER AGAIN.........................................2 SOME ONE VERY SPECIAL....

Parents Facebooking

Ok my friend was telling me about how her mom has a facebook account and adds all her friends and leave her embarrassing comments on her page.

What would you do ?

Do you think its ok for your parents to facebook?

Mullet

Kanye has one, the south has one, and everyone has had a teacher who has had one. should the mullet come back? Should I get one? Where is the best place to get one?

Something to think about part 2

Imagine waking up one day and you no longer have your voice how would you feel that you can’t speak out on what you believe? That everything you stand for was at a stand still?

A Poem I Did Entitled..."My Heart Got Smarter"

I felt my heart tinglin'
So I thought that I loved you
And without lookin' up I said "There's no one above you"
But I guess payin' attention just isn't my forte'
'Cuz now a broken heart is the price I have to pay
And thats a little too much
For somebody as cheap as me
With a metaphorical wallet about half an inch deep
It's like a brand new bike with two square tires...
You can sit there and look cool
But you mad cuz all you really wanted to do was ride to the store every once and a while
I know ya'll noticed the change in rhyme scheme
That's because something in me just changed
And this soundin' pretty is no longer important to me
Now its about how she....
Thought she could stomp on my heart and I'd just roll over and be here when she sobered up
No! 'Cuz she was drunk on this love punch that got spiked by some dude in some LRG's and a Monte Carlo....While I'm still ridin' my bike with the square tires
Don't trip cuz one day them LRG's gon' fade and his baby momma gon' key the SHIT outta that Escalade....or was it a Monte Carlo?
I don't see how that really mattersBut see...I used to look in your eyes and see this...fire burnin' in em'
But since you got wit' him all I see are dollar signs and HIGHLY over priced denims
Purses that run for atleast $500 on ya shoulder
And that $1000 jacket only seemed to make you colder
And now when you see me...you look but don't wave
I guess now you're just ashamed that you went wit a guy wit$20 jeans and a $15 shirt
Wit' a priceless romantic heart and a million dollar smirk
The pretty boy backpacker that would write you poetry
He was everything you need but couldn't get clothes for free
But it's cool I still sleep...but the dreams got much darker....
No longer your hero. Nope I'm no Peter Parker....
But my heart got smarter....

DO U FEEL THIS WAY UR STUCK

OK FOR MY SUMMER BRIDGE CLASS THIS IS A POEM SORT OF LIKE A STORY ABOUT THIS BOY THAT IM IN LOVE WITH BUT HE HAS NO FEELINGS N HE LIED ABOUT SOMTHING SOOO I WROTE THIS.. BECUZ THIS WAS HOW I FELT AT THE TIME.... HE WAS STUCK... N DIDNT NO A WAY OUT.... BUT I WROTE THIS A LONG TIME AGO.... BUT NOW HES IN THE ARMY...

DO U FEEL THIS WAY (UR STUCK)
Share
Wednesday, November 5, 2008 at 5:50pm Edit Note Delete
IF YOU PLAY WITH FIRE 99.9% OF THE TIME YOU'LL GET BURNT THE OTHER 1% U MIGHT NOT. you say ur done with this whole thing. but yet you keep trying to fight fire with heat. why go back to ur pass when its a whole future ahead of you. like TI AND RIHANNA SAID.. JUST LIVE YOUR LIFE AND COUNT PAPER. ive been lied to so many times so what u say to me dont mean a thing. i jus want to wake up and say it was all a dream. your stuck in this world of ur own and you really had no place to call home. you act as if every day the the world pass you by. but you really no the reason why. deep down inside you feels its your fault but it really dont matter because its only a thought. u had a mom n a dad that wasent there for you. You need a girl n ur life that would care for you. but u turn down the good things for the bad..... BUT I GOT 1 QUESTION WHY AM I SO MAD??????????

but as i sit in wonder how could this b. ur a undercover lier and u lied to me. i reminise on the times you spent with me. n i dont understand y u spent it with me. its like a movie that keeps playing over in over in my mind (flick,flick) i wish i could rewind the time.i hate that i meet you i really regret you. thats cold how you could look i n my eyes and lie.. but as the sain say. REAL EYES REALIZE REAL LIES. but i was just to blind to see all the pain you were causing me. but as Rihanna would say.....AND THEE AWARDS FOR THE BEST LIES GOES TO YOU. GIVE YOUR SELF AROUND OF APPLAUSE U WON THE STaNDERD OVATION. GO ON TAKE A BOW...... t

his is somthing that i was thinkingt about a couple of days ago.so i jus had to rite it... i kilt

running from our problems

okay so i was on face book when one of my best friends in the whole world ( a future columbia college student too lol) tagged me in this note about running from our problems peep it out :
Running
by Alexis knighten
July 22,2009 10:57pm
(Just a free-write take it as you please, its my artistic expression of why some people avoid issues they face in their lives and the dreams that depict them.)All I remember doing is running. Running as fast and as hard as I could to get away from these unknown figures pursuing me in this dark alley. Then I blacked out...When I came to, my vision was blurry and the room was bright, bright white as a matter of fact. The walls were as white as my skin from the ensuing fear in my soul. What happened and where was I? A dark image loomed over me as I laid there in shock. Then another and another came to join from all different directions in the room. I wanted to get up and run but I was paralyzed...The figures disappeared and the white room went blank. My alarm clock started ringing and I was now back in reality, in a dazed, confused, and soaked in sweat. I checked my cell phone and saw that I had ten missed calls, all from ten different people whom I’d been running from, avoiding at every cost. Whether it were my sister bugging me for money I owed her, or a friend asking for clothes I borrowed, or maybe the various creditors harassing me for money I would never have for them. I was running from them...I got out of bed to take a shower which always soothes my soul after a nightmare. I put on the same jeans I've been wearing for the last week and put on a shirt from my years in high school. Walking down the street I notice the cars passing me by and wonder why they are moving so fast...Maybe the driver is running from something themselves, or maybe running to something. Maybe they are trying to avoid the football husband and his meat-head buddies in the beautiful home meant for peaceful Sundays IN each others arms instead of the overload of make energy. Maybe they are running to the hospital to see their baby boy or girl be born and hold their wife's hand while she bares the pain of life. Whatever it is they are running in their four-wheeled vehicle passing me by. I make it to the park bench and have a seat to watch the various people run the track. They may be running to keep their physique in tack, or maybe they run to relieve the stress of life as a lawyer, a defense lawyer at that, running from the fact that they have to defend a man who murdered a mother and her child just because in his sick mind it would bring him a thrill that nothing else in this world would, or maybe they run to avoid the fact that they are cheating on their husband because he’s trying to support his family and loving wife by breaking his already weakened back in a under paid workforce. They run and they keep running...I leave that Chicago park wondering what will be waiting for me at the front door of my studio apartment. Almost two blocks away from my door, I decided to start running. Whomever is after me in reality or in my dreams will not be able to catch up with me now. Imp running, running as fast and as hard as I can. Running, just running....

so after reading that i started doing a lot of thinking about why is it that we run from our problems ? we all had talked before about the problems that face us as being members of the art community like financial issues being a major one and family acceptance. but instead of facing those issues why is is SO much easier just to accept things as they are and run from them ? do we do it because we cant handle the stress? or do we just not have the Strength to face the issues be cause we lack confidence? i think we should all post our problems here say if were running from them or facing them and why or why not

Teachers for English Fall 2009

Hey!

@Kristen
What teacher would you suggest for Enhanced Rhetoric I?

-Michael Law

David After The Dentist

 

When are we going to start to ask the question when is to young. this kid became very well known after this video of him on drugs after the dentist. Yes it may be funny to older generations of people who know the dangers in using drugs at that age. Not everyone on youtube is mature, and or a mature age. People, kids mostly might see this video and see how the kid is acting and how people are responding to his actions wile on the drugs. this video gives kids the image that being high is acceptable and people let this video be acceptable because the kid just came from the dentist. most kids start drugs with things they find around the house like prescription drugs and think its ok because the drug was given by a doctor so what harm could it possibly do. Youtube is becoming a form of a gateway drug because it makes people think that it is acceptable because it is advertizaed and the feedback is positive for the most part. so should youtube be 18 or older or should there be limits to what is acceptable to post for everyone to see.

thursdays blog

in the book our america the main characters have so much drama in their hood that they cant escape. what do you do to escape, in your life whats your safe haven? what issues in your life do you feel you need to escape from? also are there any issue in your neighborhood do you think that the public should know?

chris brown apology

so does the fact that chris brown apologized for what he does does it really redeem him for assaulting a woman he blames his domestic background and lack of self control for what happend.

but i think rhiana started it 

i have this theory actually what if rhianna actually deserved the fight that happened between her and chris brown  what if she started it 

do women have the right to start a fight and not get there ass wooped ?? or is it just because women are women we tend to allow them to talk bullshit and get away with it ?

i personelly would fight anyone who started mess with me man or woman adult or child 

Music

Myspace.com/musicbyroyl

Musicbyroyelle.blogspot.com

THE FACE BOOK ADD ME THREAD !!

OKAY EVREYBODY SO HERE WE GO ADD ME ON FACE BOOK AND ANYBODY ELSE THAT WANTS TO BE ADDED POST UR LINKS HERE 

WWW.FACEBOOK.COM/2HOT2TOUCH

for the sake of transparency

some of you missed work.  some of you are not editing work.  most of you have not told me your orientation date, which is kind of like not doing an assignment.  and some of you are handing in work late or with a bunch of excuses.  i just want you to see our weekly assessment reports of you and let you know 1.  how often you are assessed (daily and weekly in a more official way); 2.  what kinds of comments are being asked or made; and 3. how important it is that you take this as an OPPORTUNITY to prove that that special something we saw in you is something you are willing to work with and for.

The Bridge Program

Individual Weekly Progress Summary

July-August  2009

 

 

Note to Bridge Program Instructor:  Please complete this summary if you have major concerns regarding an individual student.  Please e-mail this as an attachment to Pam Jackson at pjackson@colum.edu and to Dan Jordan at djordan@colum.edu

 

This Progress Summary is for Week#:   ______

 

Instructor’s Name: _______________________________________

 

Course taught and Bridge Section Number:____________________

 

Student’s Name: _________________________________________

 

Student’s OASIS Number (see your class list under ID)        __________

 

Student has missed class.                                                            ___________

Student has been late for class.                                                ___________

The quality of student’s work is unsatisfactory.                        ___________

Student has turned in late assignments.                                     ___________

Student has missing assignments.                                                ___________

Student appears unengaged in class.                        .                        ___________

Student exhibits negative attitude towards instructor,

peers, or class in general.                                                            ___________

Student is disruptive in class.                                                            ___________

Other ________________________________________            ___________                       

 

Please explain event(s) prompting this report:

________________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Urban Dictionary, Should We Use It?

So yeah,
While writing my essay on the place that my character goes to in order to think, I stumbled upon The Urban Dictionary. Should we be allowed to use this list, and many other words in our essays?

Ass Blaster
Shit-Drenched Infant Corpse
Penis
Douser
Shit Tickets
Tit Ball
Titanic Poo
Toilet Abortion
Toilet Poet
Boob Pants
Pee Flaps

Do these words just demean our essay, or will they give our essay just the right consistency of spice needed in order to create the best dish our mind has ever concocted? Please do understand that this blog is ment to provoke thought. This brings us back to our good friend Dash Shock. Though these words may be "offensive" or even "Made-up", does that make them any less than the found in our regular dictionaries? And for that matter, why shouldn't we use them if we're using them in the correct context? Though it kills me to admit this, mom was right, writing is as much as an art from as any kind of dance, painting, or song. But you know, I could very well just be wrong and just making this blog for a few laughs. I don't know. just some food for thought. But I should probably finish this paper. So I'll see you all bright and early.

-Peace

The words above can be found here @

http://www.urbandictionary.com/

Get Some!

Class Disscussion Picture

thought it was cute, so i posted a picture!

Chicago Institute of Art!!!!!!!

Here are some pictures from our lovely, and very exciting trip to the art muesem!!!!! Please comment on the pictures!!!!

Skeptical Parents

So after a long heartfelt chat with my parents yesterday my mom doesn't think I should go to Columbia. I think she wants me to be a doctor or a lawyer or something but I have never really felt that I had what it takes to do that.(Or wanted what it takes for that matter.) She has always seen that I've reeked of creativity so I don't understand why she can't see that that's not what I want to do. I want to do something that allows me to express myself everyday. I don't care how much I get payed!(Though realistically I understand that we have a fucked up economy right now.) I guess she only wants what's best for me but still it would be nice if she would support me. Also I don't know how I'm gonna pay for school without her help lol.

7/21 Blog Questions

Read the following article and respond:  Why can't art simply shock? No one ever accuses a work of being beautiful just for the sake of it

Respond to the article by considering the argument--1.  What is the argument?  2.  Is the argument persuasive?  3.  What makes the argument persuasive or not?

Can you find art that simply shocks and post an example?  Do you think there is merit in this kind of art?  What kind of merit?

Does art have obligation(s)?  (To be beautiful?  To be progressive?  To culture?  Etc.?)

Deeply consider these questions.  Then, when you are ready, try to start applying this line of thinking to your book.  What is the artistic intention of your book, as you know it so far?  What is the value of literature and reading?  

notes

You all should have received an email from me (kristenmaryorser@hotmail.com) with an updated schedule and some reminder notes.  Let me know if you didn't receive it because it means your email address is incorrectly put into my computer.  

Some important notes from Ames' lecture:

• CCC is a liberal education school and that means this is NOT a trade school.  You will be taking courses outside of your major and you will always be working with writing and communication in some capacity.  This is not punishment, it is an opportunity to make sure whatever statement you want to make can be made clearly.
  
• Try to engage your ideas in the fullest way you can.  When you are struggling to do this, ask for help.  
• This is not compartmentalized and everything will merge together.  This will often happen in really messy and confusing ways, but it will make sense.  Sometimes this sense will come years later--after you've already complained about it not making sense.  
• Martin and Lindsey brought up some awesome points:

1. Is college, especially an art school, a place to hone your skill and learn about the industry?  Do you already come here with self awareness?
2. Is college where you discover the self and begin to determine what skills you are good at?

This dialectic brings up a good question, WHAT IS THE INTENTION/GOAL OF A COLLEGE EDUCATION?  Also, HOW IS ART DIFFERENT FROM CRAFT/SKILL and WHAT DOES SELF AWARENESS HAVE TO DO WITH ALL OF THIS?  

Hopefully we'll get to talk about this in class, but feel free to blog too.  

So that you know what's going on and...apologies for schedule confusion while things were getting changed

Monday	Tuesday	Wednesday	Thursday
10:30 am – 11:15 am English Studies (blogging lab)      with Kris and Kyle 33 E. Congress Building room 312	10:30 am – 11:15 am English Studies (blogging lab)      with Kris and Kyle 33 E. Congress Building room 312	10:30 am – 11:15 am English Studies (blogging lab)      with Kris and Kyle 33 E. Congress Building room 313	10:30 am – 11:15 am English Studies (blogging lab)      with Kris and Kyle 33 E. Congress Building room 313
11:20 am – 12:15 pm English Studies      with Kris and Kyle 33 E. Congress Building room 309	11:20 am – 12:15 pm English Studies lab time      with Kris and Kyle 33 E. Congress Building room 309	11:20 am – 12:15 pm English Studies lab time      with Kris and Kyle 33 E. Congress Building room 309	11:20 am – 12:15 pm English Studies lab time      with Kris and Kyle 33 E. Congress Building room 309
12:15 pm – 1 pm LUNCH	12:15 pm – 1 pm LUNCH	12:15 pm – 1 pm LUNCH	12:15 pm – 1 pm LUNCH
1 pm – 1:50 pm Lecture by CCC Scholar 623 S. Wabash, Hokin Hall	1 pm – 3:15 pm Campus / South Loop Visit Meet Kyle in the lobby of the 33 E. Congress Building; Post-Visit Activity with Phil	1 pm – 1:50 pm Lecture by CCC Scholar 623 S. Wabash, Hokin Hall	1:15 pm – 2:30 pm Salon with Kyle
2 pm – 3 pm Post-Lecture Discussion      with Kyle 33 E. Congress Building		2 pm – 3 pm Post-Lecture Discussion      with Kyle 33 E. Congress Building