Welcome to Critical Reading and Writing at Taliesin. I have a great summer session planned
out for us, and I'm looking forward to getting to know you while we
explore these texts both on this blog and face-to-face in
the classroom. This blog will serve as the platform for our online
discussions. Every week, I will have questions posted to inspire your
blog posts. Students should expect to post weekly on the blog and should check in frequently to comment on students' ideas and engage in the general discussion. For more
information on blog posting and how it factors into the course see the
section on "Blog Posts"in our syllabus.
To get you comfortable with using the
blog forum before our class starts, (and to help me get to know you better!) I would like students to post a
little bit about themselves and try out a few fun ways to comment on
blogger. I've asked you to make an attempt to post links, pictures, and
videos, but don't feel discouraged if you can't figure out how to do
so. To get started, click on the "comments" button and feel free to
answer a few questions about yourself. I have some ideas listed below:
1) What's your name and where are you from?
2) Who are some of your major architectural influences and why?
3) Do you have any experience studying critical theory?
4) What literature courses have you taken in the past, and
what were your experiences?
4) What's a website that you frequent? Why do you like it? Can you post a link?
5) What is one place in the world you would like to visit? Can you post a picture in your comment?
6) Post a funny video in your comment that always makes you laugh.
My name is Pablo Moncayo, I was originally born in Chihuahua, Mexico. English is my second language and I think I will benefit a lot from this class. I don't think I have experience studying critical theory, but I'm ready and excited to learn all that. A website that I frequently use is YouTube. I like using YouTube sometimes to listen to music, but most of the time whenever I need a break from work, I enjoy watching funny videos or pranks. My dream is to visit Spain, I've seen pictures of the architecture there and it seems like there is a lot to see.
ReplyDeleteI don't know how to upload pictures, but here is a link to a YouTube video that I watched sometime ago and I thought it was funny... :)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dgDlV0f6lx4
Pablo, Is there a place in Spain you might want to visit? My husband and I might go there next year, and I'm looking for ideas.
DeleteConfession:
ReplyDeleteI went to write this blog post and somehow decided finding a youtube video was of the upmost importance. Turns out I just waisted a considerable amount of time and came up empty handed.
My name is Connor McKell Bingham and I grew up in Colorado, however, Hawaii was the last place I called home.
When I was younger my family and I took the occasional trip to Europe and I fell heavily for the nostalgic yet rigid facades of Gothic Architecture. The density of detail and craft is mesmerizing and I find that the work of Louis Sullivan carries that through but includes blank and simplified surfaces that allow your eyes the rest they need. I believe Tadao Ando offers a striking simplicity that if paired with the strong ornamentation of earlier eras of work would result in my idea of strong, beautiful Architecture.
A recently discovered project that I find inspirational is E. Fay Jones' interior of the Throncrown Chapel.
http://assets.inhabitat.com/wp-content/blogs.dir/1/files/2007/06/Thorncrown-Chapel-E-Fay-Jones-2.jpg
As far as studying critical theory goes, hmmm. My last two english classes were more so literary criticism courses. They were simply English 101 and 201 at BYU-Hawaii. I enjoyed them; it was beneficial for me to be forced to sit down and read. I love discussing the psychology behind characters. Why they made certain decisions, the effects that resulted, and how it will inform their futures.
I look at my sister's blog nearly everyday even though she only posts about once a week. There is a heinous photo of me about three blog posts in. Enjoy!
awaitingada.com
Next on my list of places to visit is Japan. I cannot wait to sit for hours in these Japanese gardens that hold generations of history and beauty. Sigh.
Look forward to posting more!
-Connor
It's funny, but I feel like I'm your sister's target market for the beer ponchos!
DeleteI love that picture of Thorncrown Chapel, and I'm really interested in what you're saying about Japanese gardens and the natural world. Do you see that playing a big role in your work?
I mean Eastern architecture and the natural world. My question was very clear.
DeleteI mean *wasn't*, ugh.
DeleteHello, my name is Edgar Irakiza and I am from Burundi, Central East Africa. I enjoy architectural works done by Frank Lloyd Wright, Louis Kahn, Francis Kere and others. I am interested in people who do a non-typical architecture. I believe that Architecture is more interesting and improved because of non-typical architects.
ReplyDeleteI do not believe I have an experience in studying critical theory. About literature courses, I have taken French and African literature classes but I have not taken any English literature course. My experience with literature courses was great; in these classes, I learned about languages, cultures, and history, in addition to literature
I frequently frequent Google, Facebook and sometimes CNN Africa because they are great source of information.
http://www.cnn.com/video/?/video/international/2013/05/17/african-voices-chimamanda-ngozi-adichie-a.cnn
A place on earth, I would like to visit would be the Caribbean Islands, more specifically Jamaica. If the world were defined as the whole of the physical universe, then the moon would be my first choice.
About a funny video, I like Chris Rock’s comedy and movies in general.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jOZ4GmCJ8g8
Edgar, What are some of your favorite African authors? I teach a postcolonial literature class, and I'm always interested in broadening my horizons.
DeleteHere are some names of authors who talk about colonialism and post-colonialism. It is a mix of African and Caribbean writers.
Delete-Frantz Fanon (MARTINIQUE- CARABIAN COUNTRY)*
-Cheikh Anta Diop (SENEGAL- AFRICAN COUNTRY)*
-Leopold Sedar Senghor (Senegal – AFRICAN COUNTRY)
-Aime Cesaire (MARTINIQUE- CARABIAN COUNTRY)*
-Camara Laye (GUINEA- AFRICAN COUNTRY)
-Wole Soyinka (NIGERIA- AFRICAN COUNTRY)*
-CHINUA ACHEBE (NIGERIA- AFRICAN COUNTRY)
-SEYDOU BADIAN KOUYATE (MALI- AFRICAN COUNTRY)
PS - (Asterisk) * means highly recommended.
Thank you!
Edgar Irakiza
I love Frantz Fanon and I always teach _Things Fall Apart_ by Achebe in my postcolonial lit classes. What a great list! I'm not familiar with many of these. Thank you!!!
DeleteMy name is Daniel Knox and I am from Leawood, Kansas. Many of my architectural experiences began at a young age when I developed a love for sketching.
ReplyDeleteI began to look at sites such as archdaily.com for interesting buildings to draw. Little did I know that it would bloom into a passion in architecture.
My experiences in regards to critical theory lie in previous college courses at the University of Kansas. I took a few philosophy courses, psychology courses, and a reason and argument course that entailed such ideals.
I have taken many literature courses in my day, but the one that stands out the most would be a fictional English course from KU. We had a recurring theme of suburbia throughout our novels. We read fight club, the ice storm, revolutionary road, and few more that do not come to mind. Our final paper was to connect a minimum of 3 novels together and articulate our opinion on suburban lifestyle of the day.
Websites that I frequently visit include:
www.thechive.com (for funny pictures, videos, gadgets, and interesting architecture)
www.archdaily.com (architectural inspiration)
www.tapiture.com (similar to the chive, male version of pinterest)
One place in the world that I would love to visit would be Spain and all of its contents. Barcelona, Madrid, etc all has amazing architecture that excites my architectural interest. I can’t forget the best soccer team in the world, “mas que un club” (1968 motto originated from the Barca president Narcis de Carreras).
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iXT2E9Ccc8A
I have a friend who teaches a Literature of Suburbia class at Beloit College, and she's been hugely influential in helping me develop my syllabus for this course. Do you remember what you wrote about for this class?
DeleteI believe it was an analysis and reflection based on the novels we read. I will find the paper and book list. They were all very good. Ill bring that to class Friday.
DeleteMy name is Colleen Booker Halverson, and I currently live in Richland Center, WI, which is about 20 miles west of Spring Green. My father was in the military, so we moved around a great deal, but I’m glad to call the Driftless Area my home. I can’t say that I have “architectural influences,” but I’ve been greatly influenced by my former professor Andrew Kincaid who teaches at UW-Milwaukee. He was on my doctoral committee, and his seminal Postcolonial Dublin tremendously influenced the way in which I’ve thought about modernization, space, ideology, postcolonialism, and the built environment. I see a great deal of my work being influenced by critical theory, namely feminism and postcolonial theory, but I’ve recently been reading a lot of Derrida’s later works. I’m currently writing about ghosts in Irish literature, and I’m finding his ideas concerning spectrality incredibly useful in an Irish, postcolonial context.
ReplyDeleteA website I tend to frequent is a tumblr website called “When in Academia.” I don’t go there so much anymore now that I’m finished with my dissertation, but it was always good for a laugh when I was in the thick of it.
http://wheninacademia.tumblr.com/
A place I would love to visit is Mach Pichu. I’m obsessed with ruins and ancient civilizations, and I can’t wait to visit this sacred place http://famouswonders.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/02/machu-picchu-wide-view.jpg
I can’t think of a funny video that would be acceptable for a professional setting, but perhaps I could think of one later…
This comment has been removed by the author.
DeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
DeleteProf. Colleen- I am very interested in the history of Ireland and more specifically into Irish struggles. I hope we will have a chance to discuss ghosts in Irish literature, which I think that it is fun topic to talk about.
DeleteEdgar Irakiza
Be careful--once I get started on Ireland, I can't stop! I'll bring a copy of Kincaid's book to class tomorrow. I think you might find it of real interest given what you're working on this session with your box project.
DeleteSalutations,
ReplyDeleteMy name is Mark-Thomas Cordova. I was born and raised in Denver, CO but for the last 4 years I have called Orange County, CA my home.
One of my greatest architectural influences has been Frank Lloyd Wright. I became fascinated with him not because of his architecture (which I do admire) but more so his philosophies on architecture, the cosmos, and life. It was because of my captivation with his ideas which drove me to attend Taliesin, the Frank Lloyd Wright School of Architecture.
Upon entering college, I declared philosophy as a major. Philosophy required extensive reading and pushed me to critically analyze and interpret various philosophical concepts.
I cannot recall all the literature courses I have taken. They ranged from analyzing poetry to creative writing courses. I am usually uninterested with the selected reading which, in turn, causes me to become inattentive in class discussions.
I frequently visit AOL.com because of the variety of stories they post on their home page. They is usually one or two articles that intrigue me which then contribute to me procrastinating.
www.AOL.com
If there is be one place in the world I would like to visit it would have to be India, specifically ancient Indian temples. The image below is one example of a building from this area of which I am fascinated.
http://www.dreamstime.com/royalty-free-stock-photography-ancient-hindu-temple-image15074087
Here's a funny and inspirational link which I enjoy.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l-gQLqv9f4o
Mark, That's so cool you majored in Philosophy. I minored in Philosophy, and I do feel that it was in my Philosophy classes where I really learned to "read." These texts take time and attention, and it's so rare that we're willing to give that kind of focus to the written word. Very glad that you can bring that experience to our class.
ReplyDelete