Monthly Archives: October 2016

NEW STUDENT SURVEY

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1. Where did you move from to attend the UO? And, briefly describe how you landed on the UO AAD program. Any interesting, funny, anecdotal stories/details are welcome.

I grew up in Eastern Washington, and attended undergraduate school in Bellingham, WA. I double majored in Anthropology and Theater, and a large focus of mine was in collaborative, devised theater, and theater for social change. In the realm of anthropology, I became passionate about exploring creative forms of ethnographic research, especially in combination with devised theater and performance.

In considering the AAD program, I felt that it would be a wonderful way to explore my interests, especially in the intersection of anthropology and performance. I was also particularly drawn to the hands-on nature of the program, as well as the focus in learning about technological tools and their relation to Arts Management! I am highly interested in Cyborg Anthropology theory, exploring the ways in which we form and utilize online communities, and how those translate to physical communities. This is a topic that I am interested in exploring for my research in the program.

2. Area of concentration in AAD?

Community Arts Management, and/or Performing Arts Management, and/or Media Management.

3. Describe your knowledge and use of technology systems.

I do not consider myself to be highly competent when it comes to technology, but I am a quick learner, and I am very enthusiastic about becoming more competent!

4. What software do you commonly use? Briefly describe purpose/application for software on your list.

I am currently co-producing a Sci-Fi Radiodrama podcast based in Portland, OR. Since we have a small team, and no editor, I have taken on some of that responsibility! Over the past few months, I’ve become familiar with Audacity, and have had a lot of fun exploring it as an audio editing tool.

I’ve applied this small amount of experience to editing audio ethnographies from field work experiences as well (which are typically similar to soundscapes).

I’m a visual artist as well, and have had some experience scanning drawings, then editing them using both Photoshop and Gimp. I’m out of practice in this, but I enjoy it very much.

5. Do you have any graphic design or media production/management experience? Have you taken any graphic design or media production courses?

I have not taken any proper graphic design or media production courses. The extent of my experience has been in co-producing the podcast I mentioned in the previous question, and in digitally editing my own images–through trial and error, and a small amount of guidance from friends.

6. Know anything about typography?

I haven’t been trained or taken classes in typography, but I am EXTREMELY interested in learning more. I love looking at different examples of typography, and have dabbled in creating with typography design myself.

7. Do you use Web (2.0) apps? Name those that you use or are familiar with.

I do not know what is considered a “Web (2.0) app”…

8. Do you use Social Media (Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Snapchat, Vine, Yelp, etc.)? Name those that you engage in.

I use

9. Tell me something unique about yourself.

A couple years ago, I started a theater ensemble dedicated to exploring the ways that people build relationships and communities online, with people living physically far apart. There were 20 total ensemble members, and we met weekly for rehearsals online using Google Hangouts, and collaborated through Google Docs and Facebook. It was very challenging, experimental, and I wish to revisit it in the future.

As a part of the “research phase” of our ensemble, I created a comic outline the basic principles of Cyborg Anthropology theory.

10. Anything else?

I am interested in exploring ways to incorporate both digital audio and graphic novel-style art into marketing strategies, and in the presentation of research.

This summer, I attended an anthropological field school in the country of Malta, where I began to explore this. I conducted field research, using graphic anthropology and audio ethnographic methods. I would like to do more of this in the future, and build upon this experience within the AAD program!