Although this article frames using emojis as “awkward,” it got me thinking: what if emojis could be used as a form of non verbal communication? I should research this because I am probably not the first person to propose this idea.
Art Teacher Blog? What Up!
When I spotted this art teacher blog I was so psyched! I clicked on it immediately. At first glance, I was bummed to see that it is not updated often. The latest post was within the past two weeks but the one before that was in December. So it’s a few posts a year. I guess I wanted more from an art teacher blog. This is not to say it is to be discounted! The latest post was interesting – an interview with a smart guy/artist teacher. He has a suggestion for art teachers when they need to engage students in complex concepts and conversations: use contemporary artists! He suggests: “Artists that provide entry points for talking about difficult subjects include: Omer Fast (surveillance, warfare), Sally Mann (identity, family, adolescence), Carrie Mae Weems (race, exclusion, family), Paul McCarthy (taboo, myths, icons), Kara Walker (race, gender, sexuality), and Tania Bruguera (art & activism, social change).” I would definitely do more research before using any of these artists in my classroom because I would want to make sure they are engaging these points in a way that is relevant for myself and my students; however, being woefully unfamiliar with contemporary art and artists, I think this is a good starting point.
Reimagining Abandoned Schools
I found this post on the Stockyard Institute’s site and it seeks to propose: what if we reimagine Chicago’s abandoned schools? After recent mass school closures (for which the Chicago Tribune has made a handy dandy info graphic) this is an optimistic (albeit slightly sad. Is it too soon?) question. The first answer on everyone’s mind is probably: what if we turned them back into schools? The Stockyard Institute may not be reimagining the space as a school per say, but they are reimagining it as a space that would “generate a more radical consideration of arts and community pedagogy” (from the website).
What do you suggest Chicago does with their abandoned schools? I think of MoMA’s PS1 in NYC, a converted school which is now a contemporary art institution. I am reminded of a special needs teacher I observed last week here in Chicago, who discussed the desire to move their student body and facilities to a mostly abandoned school across the street in order to avoid closure in their current school. I am reminded of the school closures I witnessed in Upstate New York and the beautiful, historic schools that are now empty. Or, one that stood empty on my street for years but is now getting a new life in the form of a charter school.
What can be done with these giant buildings which once held such potential for learning?
Can a Social Network Really Combat Depression?
WIRED recently released the following article. As someone who has to work to combat depression (yes, I just outed myself), I am skeptical that a social network can help fight depression. I actually have found that using social networks like Facebook and Twitter has sometimes contributed to my depression by lowering my sense of self worth or increasing my anxiety. Anxiety, depression, and self worth are incredibly subjective issues. They are difficult to quantify. I wonder if creating a social network is the solution. It seems like “there’s an app for that” is the solution for everything these days. It’s like the notion is: it worked for dating, why not everything else? Well, maybe some things just need to exist outside of the digital realm.
Here are some interesting articles about depression and anxiety.
100 Black “Queeros”
I came upon this post a few months ago and I loved it. It was posted in honor of Black History Month which I have so many feelings about. I really feel that Black History resides outside of one month and should be taught and celebrated beyond February. It’s silly to think that we need to take a special month to pause and remember our black American brethren who contributed to our history because, for the rest of the year, we are too busy focusing primarily on white males. For that matter, where is Asian American history month? And Latino History month? Truly I feel that it is our history. Black history is American history. By calling it “Black History month,” it reminds me of the fact that white people have a long standing tradition of needing to put non-white culture into a different category. So I have a lot of feelings! Therefore this post is a breath of fresh air. Not only is it a list of 100 women of color but they are openly LGBTQ. So it’s a celebration of history in myriad ways. I like to use the word “queeros” because it’s a combination of “queer” and “heroes.” It may seem dramatic and even presumptuous to call them heroes. After all, they are (or were) just being themselves. However, I feel that in these unfortunately tumultuous times, where it is dangerous and life threatening to be who you are (or were), it is profoundly admirable that these figures are out and proud of who they are. They are strong, successful examples for our youth. And for those who were not able to be open about their true identities, I think they helped pave the road for many.
Kids Read Mean Tweets
Youth parody pop culture and social media to address bullying:
Favorite Websites
All this website talk has made me reflect on what my favorite websites are. Many nights before I go to bed, I visit websites to read. These websites include Wikipedia, NYT, IMDB, and Cracked. I used to be really into Gawker and Jezebel but I’m not a huge fan of the snark anymore. One website that was introduced to us in Adam’s class last semester was The Pinky Show, which I really like. I also always hit up Chow, All Recipes, and The Food Network, and various independent blogs for recipes. I love Netflix, HBO Go, Amazon Instant Video, Showtime On Demand, Hulu Plus, and FX Now (and Couchtuner for whatever I can’t get on those sites). I don’t have cable, so I subscribe to basically every instant video platform out there. When it comes to shopping, I order everything primarily through Amazon. I love Amazon despite their crap practices. I find their site very useful. I like Urban Outfitters, ASOS, and Modcloth but I mostly just shop at thrift stores if I need clothes. Urban Outfitters used to have this great thing where every month they would release a playlist of songs you could download for free. I found a few great artists that way. I miss that, but they still have Music Mondays.
I want to get more into blogs. I mostly just stumble upon them when I’m searching for a particular subject on Google but I would love to check more out. I like hearing what regular folks have to say.
On podcasts
My siblings and I used to do comedic “radio shows” when we were kids. We would press play/record on an old stereo and spend hours talking about music and making up parodies of commercials, a la SNL. One I remember distinctly was doing a “customer interview” for a paper towel ad and my sister saying, completely deadpan, “my favorite product is the tissues, which tear up you face into a bleeding pulp!” Once we were doing a newscast and my dad thought it would be funny to open our bedroom door and yell to scare us. We all squealed and you could hear my sister yell, “THERE’S A BEAR IN THE STUDIO!”
I started listening to podcasts in 2012. I was traveling abroad and I used podcasts to learn how to speak French (well, enough to get by in Paris). I really got into the Cracked podcast from cracked.com. Cracked writers and editors spend about an hour and a half humorously discussing some kind of cultural trend or phenomenon. They always make me laugh. I would take long car trips by myself and they made the time pass by much faster. I also listened to podcasts at work while I was working on a design project.
Comedic podcasts harken back to the days of making radio shows with my siblings, especially when it’s just a couple of comedians riffing about nothing in particular. I am currently into You Talking U2 To Me? which is hosted by Comedy Bang Bang’s Scott Aukerman and actor/comedian Adam Scott. They basically just talk about music the whole time (including, but not limited to, U2) and try to make each other laugh. I try to listen to it every time I’m on a plane bc my laughter helps lessen my nerves. Harris Wittels was on that show a lot and I was really saddened at his passing.
There’s also Who Charted? (I guess I’m a fan of podcasts produced by Earwolf). For my first trip out to Chicago from New York last July, I found Stuff You Missed in History Class which spends about 20 minutes recapping little known events in American History, i.e. The Pig War. I just learned about Call Your Girlfriend this past weekend after visiting my sister in Brooklyn. And, of course, I couldn’t resist listening to Serial last December. My friend Maya works for Third Coast Radio and they hosted a communal listening of the final episode of Serial at Lula cafe. Listening to the last episode with a group of strangers in a restaurant was a really interesting experience. Maya also did a panel last month where she acted as a “Podcast Therapist” and suggested podcasts for people to listen to based on their interests.
A podcast guide that Maya made
I think podcasts are wonderful. Anyone can make one and you can find one about anything you’re interested in. It’s not like radio which is scheduled and pertains to a certain program. They’re also not censored.
I would utilize them in my classroom. I had a drawing professor in undergrad who would read aloud to us while we drew the models. I imagine listening to a podcast to be a similar experience. Students can be lost in their drawing and the audio, but instead of being isolated with headphones and their own music, it’s a shared experience that can be discussed afterward.
Ga-ga-garageband!
I love Garageband. I use it to make a cappella music and record basically anything. Mostly my friends talking or making weird noises (I once used my sister burping/giggling as my ringtone*). Here are a bunch of examples of me using Garageband:
Here’s me using Garageband’s software instruments.
One of my students singing the solo with me in the background.
* I also use Garageband to make sick ringtones. My ringtone is the opening of “Grazing in the Grass.” I wanted to feel like I was in the midst of a colorful Soul Train montage every time I received a call. Success.
Website Chatter
Is anyone else seeing a familiar pattern in all these websites? Logo on the left, important links on the top, content below, scroll down for the fine print. Pictures are large and prominent. This week I looked at the MCA’s website, NAEA’s website, and the Chicago Children’s Museum website.
The landing page of the CCM seems to appeal to both kids and their parents. It’s colorful and shows pictures of children playing or working with adults. “HOURS/PRICES” and “GETTING HERE” is prominent. It’s easy to see where their priorities are. I think the tabs on the Chicago Children’s Museum are informative and easy to navigate. The first one is “Plan Your Visit.” It shows the calendar, hours, FAQs, etc. The community tab seems like a useful resource. It shows when free days are. What is unique about this site over the others is that they have social media links at the top.
The MCA has a similar set up with their hours, calendar, photos prominently displayed but a completely different design. Their design is minimalist, sleek, and well, modern! It conveys the environment of their museum. However, in order to look at “Press” or “Contact,” you must scroll all the way to the bottom.
The NAEA site, again has a similar set up. Tabs at the top allow you to navigate the site’s many sub pages without having to browse the landing page too much or having to search too deeply for content. What I particularly like about this site is that the “Contact us” and “Login” are featured at the top. There is no need to scroll to the bottom.
What are other Chicago area institutions doing with their websites?
Here’s the Field Museum. Sleek, reminds me of the Art Institute’s.
Here’s the National Museum of Mexican Art. Simple. Emphasizes current exhibits.
Urb Art Ed Grad 