Comments on the legitimacy of a university ed in my field ...
I do believe that Graphic Designers must go to school. There is so much to learn and so many important technical aspects of what we do that it cannot be learned purely by experience.
I believe that it would serve us well if this was a four year program, and in the final year we would spend part of our time working in a local design firm(s) of our choice. I believe that would be a fantastic way to learn hands on. This would also increase the amount of good, up to date design in Kamloops, and drive a weak industry, as well as provide more work for the rest of us when we graduate.
I would prefer to be going to school down at the coast, as Vancouver is the cultural and visual arts center of our province. It would also be nicer to be receiving a degree instead of a diploma when I graduate.
Those are really the only detracting factors, and they are more focussed on the way the program is conducted, not if it has a role in the education system.
Sunday, November 28, 2010
Writing Portfolio Entry 10:
Comments about my career: What my plans are for my life and why I applied to the DAAD program.
The Early days:
My Father wanted to become an architect in university. I used to pour over his work from time to time with greedy adoration of his technical drawings and beautiful renderings of his favorite cars. Although he did not become an architect, he and my Mum have always been a source of strength and cheer when it came to both mine and my sister's artistic interests.
I was born in North Vancouver, moved to Westbank BC, when I was 3, where my little sister was born. I have been drawing ever since I was little. All through elementary school I would colour co-ordinate my pencils and try to keep up with my best friend Jon, producing more and more art for school. I do not know if he still draws today, but I know that he played a role in keeping me artistically driven.
When we moved to Kamloops, I was turning twelve and started to hit the awkward pre-teen years. So I drew even more fervently from age 14 on, spending time sharing pencils and markers with my little sister on our living room floor. I often felt during those years that I was rather un-remarkable, being of average everything, and would hide and bury my self in my art work to try to ignore the feeling.
People of Influence:
During this time I took lessons at the Art Gallery in Kamloops with local artist,Phillipa Glossip. I spent two years under her excellent instruction. She built into me a great love for the traditional mediums, showing me how to work with water colours and canvas. She also started a life long love of classical art and art history, that is reflected in the Norman Rockwell Collection hard cover, a book on The Pre-Raphaelites, and large book on Annotated art, explaining some of the world's greatest pieces, on my shelf.
In high school I had one art teacher who has remained very special to me, Jennifer Cacasi. She introduced me to the concept of negative space, further exploration of shadow and form, as well as exaggeration in illustrations. She encouraged me to explore a career in illustration after watching me work for a semester. She nominated me for an Artistic Excellence award in my grade 12 year as well, which I proudly received, with one other classmate.
After graduating from SKSS, I volunteered with Phillipa on Saturdays to help her instruct and clean up after a elementary school level art class up at Juniper Elementary school. She had met with another local artist and recommended that I meet with him to talk about school and to show him my portfolio. This was when I met my mentor and current friend of four years, William McAusland.
William was the person who introduced me to the IDEA program since Capilano was his graduating school. He has given me so much insight and knowledge that I have kept a separate file folder for all the emails that he has sent me, just so I can always find them. I find myself quoting advice that he has given me to my current clients and from time to time, my current classmates. I owe him a lot for the gifts that he has so freely given. So in a way every time I put pen to paper, I think about what he might say, or how I look forward to showing him everything that I have worked on in the DAADprogram.
Post Graduation:
I had graduated from South Kamloops Secondary School in 2006, and had been working, sailing with SALTS--the sail and life training society based out of Victoria. I also went to Capilano University for a summer portfolio and foundations course in the summer of 2007. After being part of the IDEAfoundations course I wanted to attend the school for the full three year Graphic Design and Illustration Degree program, at Capilano. In the meantime I was working and was also preparing to fly to Hawaii with my family to both celebrate my parent's 25th wedding anniversary, as well as prepare to sail with SALTS again, across the Pacific Ocean. When I was three days from shipping out, Capilano sent me an email asking me to come to Vancouver for an interview for the IDEA program. I was heartbroken. I could not fly back in time for the interview without putting my sailing venture that I had worked hard to earn for, train for etc. in danger. So I had to turn the interview down with the hope of applying again in the fall.
I had spend almost two glorious months away from all things home, sailing with a crew that can be considered to be almost family. This was the third, and hopefully far from the last time that I will sail with the excellent crew of the Pacific Grace. I went on many hikes. saw many fantastic places, sea creatures, birds, animals and met people from all around the world. Stepping off the ship in Victoria, I was overwhelmed with emotion. I was leaving my home, my training ground and my fellow crew. The video cameras, thousands of people and seeing my family after a long journey was almost too much. I wasn't to sure how to feel until the next day when I awoke from a much needed sleep. I came home to Kamloops and found a surprise party being thrown in my honor, for my belated 20th birthday, since I had spent at sea.
After being on such an adventure I had trouble re-adjusting to a world seemingly filled with mindless and purposeless toil. So I joined a friend of mine out at Pioneer Pacific, a bible camp out on Thetis Island, near Chemainus and North Galiano Island. ( I have been attending bible camps in BC ever since I was 7 and had been counselling since I was 14.) I had missed being part of a team and working with wonderful girls and boys of all ages. Adventuring in the spenders of nature and growing and learning from one another again was such a welcomed treat.
I spent three weeks there, sailing, swimming, teaching archery, counseling, leading cabins of girls, and basking in the summer sun and sweet salty spray of my favorite ocean. I will never forget the sun rises and sunsets across those mountain ranges. I would have come back after my week off, and spent the rest of the summer there, but the cost traveling to and from the camp was more than I could currently afford. So mournfully, I went home in early August.
The Question of Where to Go:
In the fall was back working at the Whitespot in Kamloops and was working away on my portfolio for presentation for Capilano in the spring. I was doing more freelancing, and was keeping on track. But for some reason, God only knows, I became unsure and disquieted about my attending Capilano University. The prospect of having to take out a 30K loan had me reeling, and I could see doors closing in that direction. I was heart broken and frustrated. I had been dreaming of graduating from the IDEA program for years, and the concept of not going to Vancouver for school was hard to swallow. So I began looking at other courses at other Universities. TRU had been low on the list, although I had friends come out of the program, it had never occurred to me to look farther into the course content. Eventually as other schools got knocked off of the list, I came back to the DAAD program. I had my certificate in Illustration and Graphic Design, and the program would take it to the next level with a diploma. Although I would have preferred to have my degree, the finances and the ability to stay home with my family gave me some reason to consider it.
The DAAD Quest:
The DAAD program meant that I could come out of the program debt free, and finished within two years. Not that I had a schedule to keep, but I wanted to start learning. So off I went with portfolio in hand, and was accepted for the program for fall of 2009. Now fast forward a year and a bit add in a load of learning, a ton of growth, truck loads of stress, many sleepless nights and you have been brought to the end of 1st semester 2nd year.
I have learned unbelievable amounts of tricks, tips, guidelines, techniques, disciplines and skills. I am very thankful for this program and that we have one like it locally. It has been quite the adventure, and my classmates as well as my instructors have added to the journey.
I have never worked so hard for something educationally based in my life. Never. Ever. I have a week to go and I feel like I need to pull of the greatest hail-Mary of all hat tricks to at least semi pull this off.
God willing, I will see the end of my final semester and graduate. Preferably without having without having to crawl across the stage and carry my diploma in my teeth, with an ambulance waiting to receive me at the end of the stage. That would be fantastic!
The Greatest Question of Where to Go From Here:
Envisioning April 2011 makes me giddy. I am so ready to be moving on with my life outside of school, that it really is a shame.
I spent a lot of time thinking about what I would like to do in the future and it all tends to boil down to a few different things. Cost of living, is there money to be made there, what kinds of opportunities await me, would I be stuck interning/ volunteering, would I make more money freelancing...etc.
Originally I wanted to work either as the Graphic Designer for a company, like an art director, but more involved, or to be working at a Graphic Design firm. My strengths lie in layout, typography, photography, illustration and branding. My web design skills are growing slowly, as well as my confidence as a designer in general.
Scenario 1:
I stay in Kamloops. I save money to either move away or have my own place. I work freelance or start at one of the Graphic Design firms in Kamloops.
Scenario 2:
I get offered a job in another city. I move there as soon as I can afford it.
Scenario 3:
I move to Kelowna and start working for a GD firm there. Kelowna is naturally more design driven than Kamloops, and I am given an opportunity for a truly fresh, and independent start, while staying close to friends and family.
Scenario 4:
I move to the coast with the rest of the Graphic Designers. Pick up a few jobs here and there, start full time at a firm and rent an apartment with my little sister in North Vancouver. Stay close to friends and family again.
Scenario 5:
I move to Duncan on Vancouver Island, stay with my best friend and her family ( if they thought that it was an okay idea.) and work at the Taiji Brand Group ( if accepted to the team ) which is a short walk away. Close to one best friend, far from family and other friends.
Scenario 6: The dream...
I work freelance in Kamloops. I work hard enough to make a name for myself and buy a Carpentor styled home either in (maybe Kamloops) Wesbank, Kelowna or down at the coast. (Water front with a sailboat.) I keep working hard, while I keep part time work hours for work and part time for a distance business management course. I work hard enough to purchase a local studio for work, and potentially take on staff. Thus the Axis of Easel Graphic Design company would become more than just myself. I start delegating work, and take on projects of my personal strength and interest, and let my team take on the rest.
I start to produce or work with a Canadian (BC) mountain biking magazine, and look after the photos and design. I buy a Honda Ridgeline for my mountain biking passion, and hauling my Belgian Groenendael Shepherds, Pilot and Ace ... In a perfect world, I would be married and have kids by then. But this is the perfect scenario here...
Since I am not in April yet, I am not spending too much time thinking about what I want to do. I know that will easily find freelance work to start off with before I start firm hunting. Part of that is me holding back because of the uncertainty, part of it is the fact that I currently have limited brain power to share with thinking about what I wish to do.
Now you know where I came from, and where in general, I plan to go.
Emily Robertson
Mentioned in this Post:
William McAusland
SALTS
Pioneer Pacific
IDEA program
DAAD program
Taiji Brand Group
Axis of Easel Design
Belgian groenendael shepherd
The Early days:
My Father wanted to become an architect in university. I used to pour over his work from time to time with greedy adoration of his technical drawings and beautiful renderings of his favorite cars. Although he did not become an architect, he and my Mum have always been a source of strength and cheer when it came to both mine and my sister's artistic interests.
I was born in North Vancouver, moved to Westbank BC, when I was 3, where my little sister was born. I have been drawing ever since I was little. All through elementary school I would colour co-ordinate my pencils and try to keep up with my best friend Jon, producing more and more art for school. I do not know if he still draws today, but I know that he played a role in keeping me artistically driven.
When we moved to Kamloops, I was turning twelve and started to hit the awkward pre-teen years. So I drew even more fervently from age 14 on, spending time sharing pencils and markers with my little sister on our living room floor. I often felt during those years that I was rather un-remarkable, being of average everything, and would hide and bury my self in my art work to try to ignore the feeling.
People of Influence:
During this time I took lessons at the Art Gallery in Kamloops with local artist,Phillipa Glossip. I spent two years under her excellent instruction. She built into me a great love for the traditional mediums, showing me how to work with water colours and canvas. She also started a life long love of classical art and art history, that is reflected in the Norman Rockwell Collection hard cover, a book on The Pre-Raphaelites, and large book on Annotated art, explaining some of the world's greatest pieces, on my shelf.
In high school I had one art teacher who has remained very special to me, Jennifer Cacasi. She introduced me to the concept of negative space, further exploration of shadow and form, as well as exaggeration in illustrations. She encouraged me to explore a career in illustration after watching me work for a semester. She nominated me for an Artistic Excellence award in my grade 12 year as well, which I proudly received, with one other classmate.
After graduating from SKSS, I volunteered with Phillipa on Saturdays to help her instruct and clean up after a elementary school level art class up at Juniper Elementary school. She had met with another local artist and recommended that I meet with him to talk about school and to show him my portfolio. This was when I met my mentor and current friend of four years, William McAusland.
William was the person who introduced me to the IDEA program since Capilano was his graduating school. He has given me so much insight and knowledge that I have kept a separate file folder for all the emails that he has sent me, just so I can always find them. I find myself quoting advice that he has given me to my current clients and from time to time, my current classmates. I owe him a lot for the gifts that he has so freely given. So in a way every time I put pen to paper, I think about what he might say, or how I look forward to showing him everything that I have worked on in the DAADprogram.
Post Graduation:
I had graduated from South Kamloops Secondary School in 2006, and had been working, sailing with SALTS--the sail and life training society based out of Victoria. I also went to Capilano University for a summer portfolio and foundations course in the summer of 2007. After being part of the IDEAfoundations course I wanted to attend the school for the full three year Graphic Design and Illustration Degree program, at Capilano. In the meantime I was working and was also preparing to fly to Hawaii with my family to both celebrate my parent's 25th wedding anniversary, as well as prepare to sail with SALTS again, across the Pacific Ocean. When I was three days from shipping out, Capilano sent me an email asking me to come to Vancouver for an interview for the IDEA program. I was heartbroken. I could not fly back in time for the interview without putting my sailing venture that I had worked hard to earn for, train for etc. in danger. So I had to turn the interview down with the hope of applying again in the fall.
I had spend almost two glorious months away from all things home, sailing with a crew that can be considered to be almost family. This was the third, and hopefully far from the last time that I will sail with the excellent crew of the Pacific Grace. I went on many hikes. saw many fantastic places, sea creatures, birds, animals and met people from all around the world. Stepping off the ship in Victoria, I was overwhelmed with emotion. I was leaving my home, my training ground and my fellow crew. The video cameras, thousands of people and seeing my family after a long journey was almost too much. I wasn't to sure how to feel until the next day when I awoke from a much needed sleep. I came home to Kamloops and found a surprise party being thrown in my honor, for my belated 20th birthday, since I had spent at sea.
After being on such an adventure I had trouble re-adjusting to a world seemingly filled with mindless and purposeless toil. So I joined a friend of mine out at Pioneer Pacific, a bible camp out on Thetis Island, near Chemainus and North Galiano Island. ( I have been attending bible camps in BC ever since I was 7 and had been counselling since I was 14.) I had missed being part of a team and working with wonderful girls and boys of all ages. Adventuring in the spenders of nature and growing and learning from one another again was such a welcomed treat.
I spent three weeks there, sailing, swimming, teaching archery, counseling, leading cabins of girls, and basking in the summer sun and sweet salty spray of my favorite ocean. I will never forget the sun rises and sunsets across those mountain ranges. I would have come back after my week off, and spent the rest of the summer there, but the cost traveling to and from the camp was more than I could currently afford. So mournfully, I went home in early August.
The Question of Where to Go:
In the fall was back working at the Whitespot in Kamloops and was working away on my portfolio for presentation for Capilano in the spring. I was doing more freelancing, and was keeping on track. But for some reason, God only knows, I became unsure and disquieted about my attending Capilano University. The prospect of having to take out a 30K loan had me reeling, and I could see doors closing in that direction. I was heart broken and frustrated. I had been dreaming of graduating from the IDEA program for years, and the concept of not going to Vancouver for school was hard to swallow. So I began looking at other courses at other Universities. TRU had been low on the list, although I had friends come out of the program, it had never occurred to me to look farther into the course content. Eventually as other schools got knocked off of the list, I came back to the DAAD program. I had my certificate in Illustration and Graphic Design, and the program would take it to the next level with a diploma. Although I would have preferred to have my degree, the finances and the ability to stay home with my family gave me some reason to consider it.
The DAAD Quest:
The DAAD program meant that I could come out of the program debt free, and finished within two years. Not that I had a schedule to keep, but I wanted to start learning. So off I went with portfolio in hand, and was accepted for the program for fall of 2009. Now fast forward a year and a bit add in a load of learning, a ton of growth, truck loads of stress, many sleepless nights and you have been brought to the end of 1st semester 2nd year.
I have learned unbelievable amounts of tricks, tips, guidelines, techniques, disciplines and skills. I am very thankful for this program and that we have one like it locally. It has been quite the adventure, and my classmates as well as my instructors have added to the journey.
I have never worked so hard for something educationally based in my life. Never. Ever. I have a week to go and I feel like I need to pull of the greatest hail-Mary of all hat tricks to at least semi pull this off.
God willing, I will see the end of my final semester and graduate. Preferably without having without having to crawl across the stage and carry my diploma in my teeth, with an ambulance waiting to receive me at the end of the stage. That would be fantastic!
The Greatest Question of Where to Go From Here:
Envisioning April 2011 makes me giddy. I am so ready to be moving on with my life outside of school, that it really is a shame.
I spent a lot of time thinking about what I would like to do in the future and it all tends to boil down to a few different things. Cost of living, is there money to be made there, what kinds of opportunities await me, would I be stuck interning/ volunteering, would I make more money freelancing...etc.
Originally I wanted to work either as the Graphic Designer for a company, like an art director, but more involved, or to be working at a Graphic Design firm. My strengths lie in layout, typography, photography, illustration and branding. My web design skills are growing slowly, as well as my confidence as a designer in general.
Scenario 1:
I stay in Kamloops. I save money to either move away or have my own place. I work freelance or start at one of the Graphic Design firms in Kamloops.
Scenario 2:
I get offered a job in another city. I move there as soon as I can afford it.
Scenario 3:
I move to Kelowna and start working for a GD firm there. Kelowna is naturally more design driven than Kamloops, and I am given an opportunity for a truly fresh, and independent start, while staying close to friends and family.
Scenario 4:
I move to the coast with the rest of the Graphic Designers. Pick up a few jobs here and there, start full time at a firm and rent an apartment with my little sister in North Vancouver. Stay close to friends and family again.
Scenario 5:
I move to Duncan on Vancouver Island, stay with my best friend and her family ( if they thought that it was an okay idea.) and work at the Taiji Brand Group ( if accepted to the team ) which is a short walk away. Close to one best friend, far from family and other friends.
Scenario 6: The dream...
I work freelance in Kamloops. I work hard enough to make a name for myself and buy a Carpentor styled home either in (maybe Kamloops) Wesbank, Kelowna or down at the coast. (Water front with a sailboat.) I keep working hard, while I keep part time work hours for work and part time for a distance business management course. I work hard enough to purchase a local studio for work, and potentially take on staff. Thus the Axis of Easel Graphic Design company would become more than just myself. I start delegating work, and take on projects of my personal strength and interest, and let my team take on the rest.
I start to produce or work with a Canadian (BC) mountain biking magazine, and look after the photos and design. I buy a Honda Ridgeline for my mountain biking passion, and hauling my Belgian Groenendael Shepherds, Pilot and Ace ... In a perfect world, I would be married and have kids by then. But this is the perfect scenario here...
Since I am not in April yet, I am not spending too much time thinking about what I want to do. I know that will easily find freelance work to start off with before I start firm hunting. Part of that is me holding back because of the uncertainty, part of it is the fact that I currently have limited brain power to share with thinking about what I wish to do.
Now you know where I came from, and where in general, I plan to go.
Emily Robertson
Mentioned in this Post:
William McAusland
SALTS
Pioneer Pacific
IDEA program
DAAD program
Taiji Brand Group
Axis of Easel Design
Belgian groenendael shepherd
Writing Portfolio Entry 9:
How writing creates images:
Writing puts down thoughts, feelings, emotions and experiences. It draws an audience into a moment and directs their thought as they venture through the written piece.
In examples of poetry, we are often brought into a person's childhood, current existence, or a reflection upon the uncertain future. All of which we cannot physically grasp, but are capable of imagining, picturing, and envisioning what the author is trying to give to us.
Historically speaking, stories of heroes long gone were found in spoken word and pictographs. The physical record of these stories, adventures and fables allows for a larger and lasting audience to take part of the same knowledge.
Since the mind and one's imagination is an often private and inconceivable place, reading gives and individual touch to a story that thousands may have read. We are a visual culture. When we are not presented with a visual example, we try to join the adventure by placing ourselves within it. Whether it is a experience of a friend or the exploits of a super star we find that we desire the knowledge of the moment, what it felt, tasted and smelled like. So we retreat to our minds, and join the scene.
The benefit of words, is that they really have no limit. We can seek to describe a person, event, a place or an object with excruciating detail, and every person who reads the piece will find something unique in it. Or they may see it in an altered state, due to a relate-able experience, person, place or thing. Though the hero may be tall, and the villain handsome, every reader will take something different from it, due to personal preference or mental image.
Writing can lead us to a beautiful place of peace, internal turmoil, challenge, suspense or thrill. All because of a few marks or keystrokes on a page. Something so simple can bring us to tears, make us laugh out loud, and can shelter us from the period of difficulty we may find ourselves in.
Some write to entertain, some read to be entertained, but each of them has the desire to divert, inform and draw or be drawn into an adventure, or become empowered through knowledge of another's life.
There is however, some structure to a written piece as far as imagery goes. If a tree is described to have " ... dazzling leaves of amber and golden hued points ... ", the leaves are, and will remain amber and gold on the tree, but the whole scene behind it, the shape of the leaves, the temperature of the air, the time of day, location and environment are all entirely up to the reader.
The images that come forth from a written piece are therefore only limited to the readers experience's and perceivable imagination.
Writing Portfolio Entry 8:
A Piece on persuasion, and its effectiveness, or ineffectiveness: English 2310: Technical English
Persuasion in society, media and in business can find its self either on the line of effective or ineffective results.
When Apple made the change over from Macintosh to just Apple computers, they persuaded their users that this was a positive move, and that they can and should continue to trust the company's products.
This was an excellent example of mas persuasion at its best, as Apple is rising as one of the world's foremost producers of personal computers.
Conversely, we fine ineffective persuasion in the marketing of Windows Vista.
This was an operating system change developed to stay ahead, or at least compete with Apple's Mac OX and Snow leopard. It failed. Miserably. The word got out on the poor security and general failures of the product and the PC loyal populous either stayed with the previous OS, or quickly returned to XP. It took a whole new re-launch, with a new name and set up to convince the PS market users to trust in the Microsoft OS again.
With the release of Windows 7, we can trust that Windows has learned from their mistakes and will ensure that future statements that are geared to persuade buyers, will be backed up with proven and solid results.
Persuasion in society, media and in business can find its self either on the line of effective or ineffective results.
When Apple made the change over from Macintosh to just Apple computers, they persuaded their users that this was a positive move, and that they can and should continue to trust the company's products.
This was an excellent example of mas persuasion at its best, as Apple is rising as one of the world's foremost producers of personal computers.
Conversely, we fine ineffective persuasion in the marketing of Windows Vista.
This was an operating system change developed to stay ahead, or at least compete with Apple's Mac OX and Snow leopard. It failed. Miserably. The word got out on the poor security and general failures of the product and the PC loyal populous either stayed with the previous OS, or quickly returned to XP. It took a whole new re-launch, with a new name and set up to convince the PS market users to trust in the Microsoft OS again.
With the release of Windows 7, we can trust that Windows has learned from their mistakes and will ensure that future statements that are geared to persuade buyers, will be backed up with proven and solid results.
Writing Portfolio Entry 7:
Personal description of persuasion:
Persuasion is the presentation of facts and or potential bias to an audience. This information should be formatted in such a way as to convince the said audience of the relevance and importance, creating a reaction from them that supports the presentations claim's.
Persuasion is the presentation of facts and or potential bias to an audience. This information should be formatted in such a way as to convince the said audience of the relevance and importance, creating a reaction from them that supports the presentations claim's.
Writing Portfolio Entry 6:
Response to the question:
"How ENGL 2310: Technical English will be useful/ useless to me?"
I believe that every English course that I have taken has only contributed to a greater understanding of the technical aspects of the English language, as well as a furthered mastery of its descriptive and professional uses. This is true again for 2310 Technical English. Both in course content and assignments, I have found new skills and tools that I will be using in my career field. Since Graphic Design is a career filled with communication, both written and visual, a strong ability both to compose written material for projects as well as in reports and business writing, is integral to the success of every job. We have been trained to strive for written perfection every time we produce a piece. Both in our typography, and in our structural use of the English language. One would hate to lose a preposition for a contract, or a position in a firm, due to a simple spelling error. So I approach this class with as much fervor and attention as I would any of my other graphic design courses, knowing full well that the content that we are instructed on, could make or break my success as a designer once I have completed my University courses.
"How ENGL 2310: Technical English will be useful/ useless to me?"
I believe that every English course that I have taken has only contributed to a greater understanding of the technical aspects of the English language, as well as a furthered mastery of its descriptive and professional uses. This is true again for 2310 Technical English. Both in course content and assignments, I have found new skills and tools that I will be using in my career field. Since Graphic Design is a career filled with communication, both written and visual, a strong ability both to compose written material for projects as well as in reports and business writing, is integral to the success of every job. We have been trained to strive for written perfection every time we produce a piece. Both in our typography, and in our structural use of the English language. One would hate to lose a preposition for a contract, or a position in a firm, due to a simple spelling error. So I approach this class with as much fervor and attention as I would any of my other graphic design courses, knowing full well that the content that we are instructed on, could make or break my success as a designer once I have completed my University courses.
Writing Portfolio Entry 5:
Our Technical English project today introduced us to the concept of pushing not just our writing skills but our moral, personal and mental envelop as well.
The concept of trying to write a persuasive article, while fiercely disagreeing with what I am "supporting" both fascinates me and makes me ill. Since they are all very opposite to the normal subjects, and guaranteed there will be growth in our skills class-wide, and fascinating results as far as the arguments and points made in the actual documents themselves.
I am in a group with two other gentlemen, and our topic that we were left with out of 7 highly offensive topics, was "The world no longer needs men." Which is based on a few comments of context of where our instructor had gotten this particular "gem". The headline was taken from a commentary that there were "enough sperm donor banks and "samples" to last a few generations of reproduction." Outragious you say?! Absitively, posolutely! This of course is a topic that I detest. I have always loathed the T-shirts that have derogatory comments about men on them that had their hay day of popularity. I believe that it is a very low sense of humor, if any, and really serves no purpose. It does not encourage anyone, nor does it make anyone feel any better about any potential difficulties with a relationship. That level of feminism becomes just as sexist as the traditional commentary that inflamed the feminists from the beginning. But that is a whole other conversation.
I have a huge amount of respect for men of all ages, races and religions. My childhood best friend is in the Canadian Army, I support what he does and what that represents. Not just because we have known each other since we were two, and because I love him like a brother, but because it is what he is passionate about. War is not a pretty thing. War is a form of industry. In our best efforts to save, we can also enslave others. War effects both men and women, so blaming all war on men is not factually balanced, nor accurate.
I was saying to my fellow team mate in the writing process that it really made me sick to my stomach to try to put myself in the position to write this. Being a man, and one with a quick witted sense of humor as well, took this subject quite lightly. He found it humorous how torn up I was inside about working on this. That doesn't bother me at all, since I was more concerned that they would be mildly put off writing an article about how the world no longer needed them. It is funny to think that I, not them, would be the one saying, "I am going to go home and give my Dad a really big hug." as well as " I need to call my bro." Each said with a further pained look on my face.
But in the end, despite my personal hurtles, I do see what my instructor is trying to make us see and do. He is pushing our comfort zones and challenging the norm. If growth and skill came at no cost and did not force us beyond ourselves, it would be no gain.
Today's Musical Selection
The concept of trying to write a persuasive article, while fiercely disagreeing with what I am "supporting" both fascinates me and makes me ill. Since they are all very opposite to the normal subjects, and guaranteed there will be growth in our skills class-wide, and fascinating results as far as the arguments and points made in the actual documents themselves.
I am in a group with two other gentlemen, and our topic that we were left with out of 7 highly offensive topics, was "The world no longer needs men." Which is based on a few comments of context of where our instructor had gotten this particular "gem". The headline was taken from a commentary that there were "enough sperm donor banks and "samples" to last a few generations of reproduction." Outragious you say?! Absitively, posolutely! This of course is a topic that I detest. I have always loathed the T-shirts that have derogatory comments about men on them that had their hay day of popularity. I believe that it is a very low sense of humor, if any, and really serves no purpose. It does not encourage anyone, nor does it make anyone feel any better about any potential difficulties with a relationship. That level of feminism becomes just as sexist as the traditional commentary that inflamed the feminists from the beginning. But that is a whole other conversation.
I have a huge amount of respect for men of all ages, races and religions. My childhood best friend is in the Canadian Army, I support what he does and what that represents. Not just because we have known each other since we were two, and because I love him like a brother, but because it is what he is passionate about. War is not a pretty thing. War is a form of industry. In our best efforts to save, we can also enslave others. War effects both men and women, so blaming all war on men is not factually balanced, nor accurate.
I was saying to my fellow team mate in the writing process that it really made me sick to my stomach to try to put myself in the position to write this. Being a man, and one with a quick witted sense of humor as well, took this subject quite lightly. He found it humorous how torn up I was inside about working on this. That doesn't bother me at all, since I was more concerned that they would be mildly put off writing an article about how the world no longer needed them. It is funny to think that I, not them, would be the one saying, "I am going to go home and give my Dad a really big hug." as well as " I need to call my bro." Each said with a further pained look on my face.
But in the end, despite my personal hurtles, I do see what my instructor is trying to make us see and do. He is pushing our comfort zones and challenging the norm. If growth and skill came at no cost and did not force us beyond ourselves, it would be no gain.
Today's Musical Selection
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