Doug's Meme Mix

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AaSkJMH3-Pw[/youtube]Yob, a doom metal band from Eugene, OR, was described by Ben Ratliff in Monday’s NY Times The Arts, as possibly one of the best bands in North America.

“Language is forever changing – and forms such as tweets and text messages are no less valid than any textbook version, says the linguist David Crystal, whose latest book encourages children to engage with the possibilities of their lingua franca.” Article by Joy Lo Cico in The Independent.

Posted by Mike Fisher on Digigogy.

[vimeo]http://vimeo.com/9641036[/vimeo]

Abstract Comics, published by Fantagraphics in 2009, challenged common understandings of the comic. Andrei Molotiu, who edited the volume, included works that pushed the form to the edge. Associated with the book is a blog of the same name that publishes on a regular basis the work of artists who continue to challenge the form. Recently featured was Alex Chauvel’s 24 hour comic, a portion of which appears below.

Image from The Art History of Games Conference

Weight of Fall (Waltz), is a site-specific video installation created by Zerek Kempf for the Eyebeam window gallery. “Installed in a street-level window, Kempf’s Weight of Fall (Waltz) erects obscuring materials that directly abut the glass: plywood, curtains, and styrofoam refuse viewing access to the space beyond the window…Weight of Fall (Waltz) exploits the viewing constraints of the window to sculpturally reiterate the operative logic of the screen.”

WESTAF has released transcriptions from a recent cultural policy symposium. Messaging I: Constructing the Argument, and Messaging II: Arts and Culture Redefined, are now available. A podcast of Steven Tepper’s presentation “Shifting Gears in a New Era of Audience Participation and Engagement” is also available.

During Helen De Michiel’s visit to the Arts and Administration Program last week, I asked her to describe what the program should be encouraging in students given the complexities of the cultural environment that graduates of the program will be entering. Helen said that AAD students should graduate with:

1.  Vision:  an ability to see the broad and deep cultural landscape they are operating within and respond to it;

2.  Passion: to be sparked and enthusiastic about the work that they will be doing and the values that infuses it;

3.  Action:  be able to discover and develop a particular and unique skillset that they can offer their future employers to get things done; and be able to advocate on behalf of the arts in the world at large.

Helen’s recommendations could not be more congruent with AAD’s mission to prepare students to “make a difference in communities.” This is also what I hope to achieve through my own teaching, advising, and mentoring. It is important for you to take the time to come and see me, if for any reason, you believe you are not being encouraged in this way.