#blog 12

While I was working on writing my other blogs, I decided to take a break. This time though, instead of just scrolling through my phone or trying to meditate again I did pilates. I went into it thinking I would be exhausted afterwards and have no motivation left to write. Since usually when I train, I relax afterwards.

 Instead, I was pleasantly surprised by how productive I felt. It was as if I had just saved time. I think my choice of physical activity also helped since pilates includes less cardio. It is similar to yoga, but while only activating specific muscles to achieve repeated movements to have a better balance and more strength. While I was training, I was completely invested in the movements and I stopped focusing on my blogs to simply follow the instructions. When the one-hour class ended, I was happy to start writing. Since my muscles were getting tired, I could now take a break to physically relax.

Tarde, por un día. Ayer salimos a recorrer pueblos para posiblemente mudarnos. Muy contentos con las opciones que vimos, pero muy cansados. Dejo una foto.

D’après Chapitre IV, c’est clair que Mme. De Staël pense que les journaux et la presse doivent êtres subis des règles différentes. En gros, Staël soutient la liberté de la presse. Elle croit que la liberté de la presse est le plus grand moyen d’arrêter l’oppression et de propager les lumières. Mais, même si elle le supporte, elle propose un système ou le gouvernement a le droit de suspendre provisoirement les journaux pour établir l’ordre dans la société. Elle sait que les journaux peuvent poser les calomnies qui blesse la communauté ou support les injustes. C’est la ou les journaux deviennent dangereux, au lieu d’être une manière à améliorer la connaissance du peuple. C’est pour ça que je ne crois pas que Staël supportait les représentations du Prophet Mohammed dans les journaux de Charlie Hebdo. À mon avis, Staël verrait que ces images comme des calomnies contre les gens musulmans dans la France, et serve à justifier le racisme contre eux.

Today was our final presentation. It was still mostly the same as the pitch, only this time with our extra characters, our posters and our new animations. We were the second to present, and although I was very nervous it went very well. 

Our second bus stop animation , showcasing what Brit Mill would look like with a proper bus stop.

Continuing with the QR code AR idea from the pitch, we added the QR code onto our posters, which again once scanned with people’s phones would show live information for bus times, delays, etc. Mine on the far left is all my three characters on a tree, with the shelter housing the QR code a repurposed version of one of my original ideas for the bus stop. I chose to stick with a similar colour  scheme as the characters, only more pastel. Another thing we wanted with the QR codes was to have the characters interact with people, as it is quite boring waiting around for a bus.

As mentioned previously, we wanted our characters to challenge stereotypes, and to represent diversity. Dimitry’s puffin, for example, is a punk rocker with bright hair, a contrast to the quiet and reserved creature you would expect, whereas Polly has made her flamingo casual and hipster, as opposed to snooty and upright. I have already explained about the Saffron Finch and the Eagle, but for my third and final character I decided to go with the Blue and Gold Macaw.

Macaws - and parrots in general - are normally quite loud, outgoing and brash birds, both in appearance and in personality. So I made my parrot quiet and thoughtful, opting to wear mostly grey and generally being in the background.

We achieved our aim of depicting Derby University as a hub for students (birds) from near and far, a welcoming place for people from all walks of life. With our characters, and designs for posters and the bus stops, we hope to allow students to access Derby travel information in a fun and engaging way.

Overall, I have really enjoyed working with my team. We all got along well, and there rarely any disagreements - if there were, they were quickly ironed out. We were all supportive of each other, and gave each other constructive criticism. The feedback I got for my characters helped improve them a lot. I loved working with people from the other courses, and we all hope to collaborate with each other in the future.

Conclusion:

How do you feel about this module, your practice and future ambitions? What is your action plan at this last point? 

I feel that this module has been extremely helpful in terms of my future career. I have learnt more about networking, about post-graduate options, and about freelancing. I have met an artist I have admired for years, heard very good advice from fellow graduates, have started posting on Instagram to build up a profile of my work, both presently and from my previous years at University and schools. Whereas before I was still a little unsure about Illustration and considered doing fine art, I am now more confident about it - although I’m not going to rule out other fields at this point as I use many mediums. I have enjoyed working in a team and collaborating with people from other fields, working together towards a common goal. The Networking Event was one of the best parts of this module, and I will definitely be going to many more, once I’ve built up more of a portfolio.

Action Plan at this last point:

Find and book onto more art courses to build my portfolio- look up Green Door, and maybe some of Sandra Orme’s courses over the summer

Start entering more competitions

Start being more productive art-wise

Don’t be afraid to make mistakes

Make a list of other artists I would like to meet over summer

Talk to QUAD and Derby Museum about work experience

Find out about getting a part time job

Find out if there are any letter-press courses

Growing up I spent so much time alone. Not by choice. Try as I might I would try to fit in. Say I liked a color, cartoon, or person just to connect with peers. But I never really worked out. I was always deem weird. Most notably was my third grade softball team. I was excited about the idea of joining a sport my older sister was actively involved in. All younger siblings at one point and time idolizing our older siblings/cousins. To make things even more cooler I was going to get to hang with my best friend, Stuck. You see, my mom made me move the second day of third grade to new school, thus leaving all my friends including Stuck behind. I was pissed to say the least. I went from a diverse school where I could wear jeans and purple shirts and siting at the same table as Stuck, to wearing hot navy blue slacks and white polo t shirts and isolated cause I did not look like everyone else. I guess signing me up for this sport was my moms attempt to make a subtle peace offering with me. 

But man, when I tell you the only person to really interact with me was good old pal, is an understatement. I remember this girl name Lisa, she couldn't stand me. And quickly she had all the other girls feeling the same way. Typical mob mentally stuff. Not passing me the ball as well as the constant taunting about how completely weird I was.

“Hey Pep, when are you going to get that brain transplant?” 

“Stuck, why are you even friends with such a weirdo?”

It’s it odd that even typing this makes me tear up a little.

It is incidents like these that made me quit trying to fit in and act EXTRA odd. I mean, Stuck, tried her best to get them off my back but, to no avail. I was an outcast so, needless to say I did not come back the next season. Softball, ballet, tap dance, heck even Girl Scouts troop with my cousins. The latter attempt hurt the more, than the former because at least then I would not be the only black kid and the whole “we are family” vibe it was stop the exclusions. Nope. No even there could I find the “I finally belong” feeling that had been missing.

Thus, no surprise I am an Introverted adult, begrudgingly I might add. I fallen into I, “ wish I had constant companion” trope again. I can help that I feel like somethings always missing feeling. The only time I really feel safe is when at least one person wants to be in my presence. I have the irrational fear of dying alone/never falling in love. I always have had that one lone friend that inner spidy sense tells them to checked up on me, called me often, or invited me to hang. But as I gotten older it’s gotten harder to do. Everyone one I know for the most part has paired up 2 by 2, like in Noah's ark, same and opposite sex partners alike. So, I end up spending nights and weekends and alone hoping that one of them remembers my “blast in a glass” attitude and include me in the third or fifth wheel activities. Not, that I want to be going out every night, cause that crap drains the shit out of me trying to look like a care about some bull-ish, when I just want to feel included. I also get tired as ALL HELL having my older sister, bug me to babysit constantly with her cavalier notion that I forever at her disposal because I have no boyfriend or real social life. She never bothers to invite me to any place unless she's on the outs with her current new rotation of friends/boyfriend. But that’s for another story.

I guess, what I hinting at is, the fact is, with everyone having someone to talk, cuddle, fuck, love, etc. all over the inter webs and social media, its hard for my mind not to wonder what am I lacking. Especially, when I see good friends of mine hanging out in groups of four or more, get the burning feeling like I was not included or constantly looked over on purpose. A simple phone call or text to see if I was working, have money, or whatnot would have been nice. But instead depending on how many Instagram or snapchat stories I view, leave me feeling empty and dissed. 

That’s why I decided to log off my three social media accounts for a week, or at least until Friday when I go out with my mom for my Mother’s Day treat. I am tired of looking and comparing and losing my self worth in things that would be happening regardless if I witness them or not. I mean even when I am out by myself and post no one bothers to interact through these sites anyway. If they do it’s usually just a quick lol not, questions and answer time. So, I’ll just go ghost since no one is going notice either way. It’s for my greater peace of mind.

Lincoln Logs

What do you feel is the most useful technology you have learned this semester?  How do you plan to use what you have learned?  How can you use technologies to engage your students in active learning?

I first of all cannot believe the semester has flown by so fast!! It’s been a wild ride.  This class has been extremely useful to me, and I have loved learning all of the new technologies and learning how I can apply them.

My favorite technology I have learned is probably Nearpod, because for me, slideshows are fun to make, but not so fun to listen to.  It’s easy to get distracted and completely miss important topics.  With Nearpod, it makes the slides interactive and different, so that it is easier to both control the classroom and to engage your students.  The fact that this technology existed and I had never seen it completely blew my mind!

I plan on using what I have learned in my own classroom, and even teaching my sister what and how to use it when she has to teach her senior year English class!  These technologies are incredible when it comes to active learning, an the way they engage students makes my job as a teacher that much easier.