It must be me.
I just went to Yorkdale and watched the movie Thor. As a comic and mythology fan, it appealed on me at two base levels. A good father/son tale, decent dialogue and good action sequences. It didn't drag as many super-hero movies do.
It's an action movie first and foremost, so it isn't Shakespeare. But you should know that before buying your ticket.
What bothers me to no end, and is the reason why I won't go to Colossus, is the audience. Far be it from me to place importance on silence, but it behooves me to think that others should be negligent in their viewing (and listening) habits.
Let's list the types of viewers I saw tonight:
1. The texters
2. The sleepers
3. The bathroom break-ers
4. The "I don't want to be heres"
5. The "family time has gone awry-ers"
6. And it goes on...
I look at movie going as a two part formula: the movie and the price. The movie needs to be respected for the art that is being presented. The work done by the dozens and or hundreds of people responsible needs to be given the time and atmosphere to allow others to enjoy. The price is another matter altogether. At about $15 per adult, we're looking at half a dinner, or some magazines or a lot of other things that ARE worth it. I can understand why so many bootleg copies are out there; why pay for the constant bother of anti-cinemaphiles. And yes, Thor counts as cinema.
A tersely worded letter to Cineplex Odeon, or whatever they're called today, may not bring about change, but it will give me the sense of personal satisfaction that I got my opinion across.
More art later...
Sunday, 22 May 2011
Sunday, 15 May 2011
Lots to do and not so little time
It's coming down to crunch time for many educators as there is barely a month left before all reporting has to be done, tabulated and entered into their various report card programs. So, if your child is coming home with an inordinate number of assignments and tests in the coming weeks, well, now you know.
While 10 months may seem like a long time and 5 days a week for teaching is a long time, the fact is that once days off, PD days, holidays and other events are factored in, there really is a loss of teaching days.
During my teaching practice, I've come to the conclusion that you should move quickly through the material and review when necessary, but not to the point that you get bogged down in the minutiae of the lesson. More is lost than won when the class dwells on the 'whys'. Just get to the 'hows' and ensure that the professional educator in the next year will continue with a program that renews the lessons in a grade appropriate and competent manner.
And for those educators that do get bogged down, keep faith that it does happen and it isn't necessarily your fault. Or the students. Or the administration. It just happens sometimes. Learn to see the indicators next time and make course adjustments as to not fall into the trap again. And, slip some art into your subjects. It will force both you and your class to create works that encompass Language Arts, Visual Arts, the Maths and whatever subject you are covering.
While 10 months may seem like a long time and 5 days a week for teaching is a long time, the fact is that once days off, PD days, holidays and other events are factored in, there really is a loss of teaching days.
During my teaching practice, I've come to the conclusion that you should move quickly through the material and review when necessary, but not to the point that you get bogged down in the minutiae of the lesson. More is lost than won when the class dwells on the 'whys'. Just get to the 'hows' and ensure that the professional educator in the next year will continue with a program that renews the lessons in a grade appropriate and competent manner.
And for those educators that do get bogged down, keep faith that it does happen and it isn't necessarily your fault. Or the students. Or the administration. It just happens sometimes. Learn to see the indicators next time and make course adjustments as to not fall into the trap again. And, slip some art into your subjects. It will force both you and your class to create works that encompass Language Arts, Visual Arts, the Maths and whatever subject you are covering.
Sunday, 8 May 2011
Learning new information
It's tough. I am gaining an ever greater appreciation for the struggles that students go through when they encounter the new or novel.
I am not a technophobe, however, I am clearly more confident when using the tools that I am accustomed to.
New Tools
Blogging is journal writing with the ability to add online detail. So, it's not a stretch. It allows more convenience and links help enormously.
youtube is a pleasant diversion but the complexity of creating a visually good work is daunting for those of us, i.e. me, without the skills. I can film a decent birthday party, but the editing is the issue. I really wish there was more intuitive, and free, software that would just do what I need it to do.
More on everything else later.
I am not a technophobe, however, I am clearly more confident when using the tools that I am accustomed to.
New Tools
Blogging is journal writing with the ability to add online detail. So, it's not a stretch. It allows more convenience and links help enormously.
youtube is a pleasant diversion but the complexity of creating a visually good work is daunting for those of us, i.e. me, without the skills. I can film a decent birthday party, but the editing is the issue. I really wish there was more intuitive, and free, software that would just do what I need it to do.
More on everything else later.
Saturday, 7 May 2011
A simple and elegant way to encompass many subjects
I really enjoy origami.
While taking the TTC in high school, I came to enjoy the time I had to fold the rectangular newsprint transfers into shapes. For the most part, I made airplane-ish designs that bore little resemblance to actual vehicles. Twice, I made the main section of the USS Enterprise D -- complete with warp engines and main deflector.
Alas, once I began working, I drove and my love for folding paper diminished.
While getting wedding invitations ready, I happened upon The Japanese Paper Store, now known as The Paper Place, and rekindled my love of origami with an omnibus of ideas. Pad of paper and book in hand, I began to make both traditional and new takes on animals and other things. It was arduous to understand the notations, but I persevered and within a year or so, I had made a great many objects. Some successful, i.e. understandable, and some not so much.
Fast forward years later and I found online resources of many more ideas. Where it took me the better part of a year to make a good 8 page softcover book, I learnt how to fold a 6 page hardcover in just over 10 minutes. David Brill's book can be found here.
So, how to make all this work in one grade 8 class? It's a combination of Language Arts, Math and Art. Let's reverse start: it's Art because it's aesthetic and crafty. It allows those persons who, in their opinion, draw poorly a way to be creative in a practical and methodical approach. It's Math because it's folding according to a pattern that makes ample use of fractions and both symmetrical and asymmetrical value. Finally, it's Language Arts because it is a book that can be written in. Granted it's a small book, but oh so much can be written in so few words.
Follow the links and enjoy.
While taking the TTC in high school, I came to enjoy the time I had to fold the rectangular newsprint transfers into shapes. For the most part, I made airplane-ish designs that bore little resemblance to actual vehicles. Twice, I made the main section of the USS Enterprise D -- complete with warp engines and main deflector.
Alas, once I began working, I drove and my love for folding paper diminished.
While getting wedding invitations ready, I happened upon The Japanese Paper Store, now known as The Paper Place, and rekindled my love of origami with an omnibus of ideas. Pad of paper and book in hand, I began to make both traditional and new takes on animals and other things. It was arduous to understand the notations, but I persevered and within a year or so, I had made a great many objects. Some successful, i.e. understandable, and some not so much.
Fast forward years later and I found online resources of many more ideas. Where it took me the better part of a year to make a good 8 page softcover book, I learnt how to fold a 6 page hardcover in just over 10 minutes. David Brill's book can be found here.
So, how to make all this work in one grade 8 class? It's a combination of Language Arts, Math and Art. Let's reverse start: it's Art because it's aesthetic and crafty. It allows those persons who, in their opinion, draw poorly a way to be creative in a practical and methodical approach. It's Math because it's folding according to a pattern that makes ample use of fractions and both symmetrical and asymmetrical value. Finally, it's Language Arts because it is a book that can be written in. Granted it's a small book, but oh so much can be written in so few words.
Follow the links and enjoy.
Thursday, 5 May 2011
So, why Interruptions in Education?
Simple really.
I love drawings, paintings, sculptures, songs, dance and theatre. Probably, you do to. Given our mutual love of the arts, why do we not act when the arts are consistently the least funded programming in schools (elementary or high school)?
An interruption is necessary to enact change. This blog will be a narrative on how to incorporate the "non-academic" into academia.
For example: need to supplement the history of Manitoba and Louis Riel? Easy --> Louis Riel by Chester Brown. Not only does this graphic novel trace the roots for rebellion in the Red River, it also gives an astute history lesson on the politics of Sir John A. MacDonald and freshens up the biographies of lesser known Canadian heroes (or freedom fighters or terrorists; really it's up to your interpretation). Artistically, Brown uses the stiff and mechanical 6 panel per page style but it never feels tired. Clean and simple drawings make it a compelling read. As are the pages of notes and evidence to support all of his claims.
Change comes from the desire to correct inadequacies. Arts education getting short shrift needs to change.
I love drawings, paintings, sculptures, songs, dance and theatre. Probably, you do to. Given our mutual love of the arts, why do we not act when the arts are consistently the least funded programming in schools (elementary or high school)?
An interruption is necessary to enact change. This blog will be a narrative on how to incorporate the "non-academic" into academia.
For example: need to supplement the history of Manitoba and Louis Riel? Easy --> Louis Riel by Chester Brown. Not only does this graphic novel trace the roots for rebellion in the Red River, it also gives an astute history lesson on the politics of Sir John A. MacDonald and freshens up the biographies of lesser known Canadian heroes (or freedom fighters or terrorists; really it's up to your interpretation). Artistically, Brown uses the stiff and mechanical 6 panel per page style but it never feels tired. Clean and simple drawings make it a compelling read. As are the pages of notes and evidence to support all of his claims.
Change comes from the desire to correct inadequacies. Arts education getting short shrift needs to change.
First Day of Operation
Thank you so much for visiting.
This blog is a vanity piece for me and my love of Art, I intend to showcase how arts education (visual arts mostly, however, music, drama, dance and theatre will figure as well) is necessary and vital to the complete student.
As this is my first attempt, please be kind and offer lots of advice. All will be taken into account, but only the useful will be entertained.
Let's have some fun.
This blog is a vanity piece for me and my love of Art, I intend to showcase how arts education (visual arts mostly, however, music, drama, dance and theatre will figure as well) is necessary and vital to the complete student.
As this is my first attempt, please be kind and offer lots of advice. All will be taken into account, but only the useful will be entertained.
Let's have some fun.
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