end of series

after my adrenaline level returned to normal i was able to respond.

As your instructor, it's my responsibility to make clear to you why the reflection was unacceptable, and what you can do to avoid making similar mistakes in the future. I responded only to what you gave me in regards to this assignment: your attendance of the film and your written reflection of the film, both of which were dismissive and not at the college level.

It is difficult to interpret statements like these:

All that I learned from the movie was that the black people were forced to live in government built housing called the Meadowlands. Other than that, I couldn't find any other reasons that the black people disliked the white people.

I have no idea what it had to do about art other than the singing in that movie. Music is art and that was the only artsy thing I found in it. Maybe the end of the movie would have answered all my questions but it was lasting forever with no signs of ending and I had to go to study group.

I'm not trying to be your life mentor but I won't let work like this go by without responding to it - it's part of the teaching/learning process regardless of subject matter. Anything you read as personal was unintended.

and that was it. i haven't heard anything back and the student didn't show up for the final (consequently failing the class). as a teacher i knew that i'd have to deal with situations like these but you know, i'm never quite prepared for them and they're always more frustrating than i imagine.

so then...

i wasn't sure what would happen next. i hoped that my student would be compelled to take responsibility, maybe even come talk to me in person. after two days passed (and the student didn't show up to class) i wondered if i'd hear anything at all. i was beginning to think that the student really didn't care... about anything. but on day three i got this:

you dont have to accept it [the assignment] if you dont want to. the reflection i wrote was entirely about the movie and had absolutely nothing to do with my actual feelings on the subject. i dont know anything about aparthied, only what i saw on the movie. i was only stating that i wish the movie would have done a better job of explaining what was going on. it felt to me like it would have been a good movie for someone to watch that already had knowlege of what the situation was like in south africa. if you think my feelings about the movie are the same as my feelings about racism and how the black people are treated poorly over there, you are very wrong.

i didnt appreciate these lines: I suggest taking a few minutes to research apartheid and get informed before making such BROAD GENERALIZATIONS AND SWEEPING JUDGEMENTS. You are now an adult which means that your ignorance is no longer an asset, it's your problem and responsibility, as is your grade in this class.

You dont know anything about me, so you are not entitled to act as a mentor for me in life. there are many things i dont like about the way you teach your class and i dont lecture you on it. so let's just stick to teaching and learning art. if you dont like my paper, fine. dont accept it. i dont care how you feel about it because your opinion has become meaningless to me.

okay... um... yeah.

champions of the 'ordinary people'

* * * names have been withheld to protect the ignorant * * *

in an effort to get my students out into the world of art and culture i give an assignment at the first of the semester that requires them to attend an 'art activity' in the community. believe it or not, Ephraim has a lot going on in this department relative to its size: opening receptions at the Central Utah Art Center and Snow Art Gallery, visiting artists, and this semester i started an art and foreign film night on Wednesdays. after attending the activity students need to write up "a brief, thoughtful reflection" of their experience (as it is stated in the assignment description). nothing complicated - i just want to see what they think of trying something new.

two weeks ago at film night we featured Amandla! A Revolution in Four-Part Harmony, a documentary on the musical protest of apartheid in South Africa - i highly recommend it.

one of my students came to the film, left half way through, then emailed me this to fulfill the assignment:

For my art activity I watched Amandla! on film night. I think it was made to show how the power of song was used to communicate, motivate, unite, and create a change against South Africa’s apartheid. I didn’t really enjoy the film. All that I learned from the movie was that the black people were forced to live in government built housing called the Meadowlands. Other than that, I couldn’t find any other reasons that the black people disliked the white people. I knew that in South Africa there were problems with racism. I learned that from a movie on the Disney Channel. I thought that it was cool that the black people rallied together and supported each other and it was cool how they expressed themselves through song. But I also thought some of the things they were singing about were creepy. I can’t remember anymore what the exact lyrics were but I do remember that they had something to do with inflicting violence upon the white people. I had a very hard time understanding what the people were saying a lot of the time. I wish that everything was captioned. The movie didn’t win me over and make me feel sorry for the black people of South Africa because they didn’t do a good enough job of teaching me what the black people were so mad about. I know that they were moved to the Meadowlands and that doesn’t sound very fair. Was that the only reason they marched down the streets with signs and why they gathered together as soldiers singing songs about overthrowing the white man? I would have liked to have learned more about what the white people did and I wanted to hear the white folks side of the story. I have no idea what it had to do about art other than the singing in that movie. Music is art and that was the only artsy thing I found in it. Maybe the end of the movie would have answered all my questions but it was lasting forever with no signs of ending and I had to go to study group.

yeah. needless to say i was shocked and very disappointed that a student would turn something like this in - especially after walking out half way through the film. the worst part though, is that it's fairly well-written by Snow's standards (i know this is sad and it's a subject for an entirely different post) but most papers i get from students have grammar, spelling and punctuation errors galore. not this one. this student is smart and yet for some reason s/he choose to take an anti-intellectual approach. why? -- This is where i would go off on how American culture, corporations, our president, etc. reinforce this notion of anti-intellectualism but i don't feel like it right now.-- instead, this is what i wrote back to the student:

I would like you to explain to me why I should accept this assignment considering that you left half-way through the movie (the reason why you left is of no importance to me - you had the entire semester to do this assignment and if study group came up, it is still your responsiblity to complete the assignment).

Also, the reflection that you wrote illustrated only that you had a bad attitude about the film and didn't care to understand. If you are still confused about why black South Africans were against the oppressive (white) government, I suggest taking a few minutes to research apartheid and get informed before making such broad generalizations and sweeping judgements. You are now an adult which means that your ignorance is no longer an asset, it's your problem and responsibility, as is your grade in this class.

the next question was, 'will he respond?'

site specific

i must admit i'm pretty excited. i recently designed a website for a photographer colleague of mine and it's up on the web now. of course the most important art is her photographs, but hopefully my my art does a good job of letting hers be on display.

an army

and so it begins... along with paying the rent, the first of December brings the making of gingerbread men - and lots of 'em. i don't even remember where we found the recipe five years ago but after several seasons of adding a bit here, and taking a bit out there it's now perfected. that means a slightly chewy cookie with crispy edges and enough ginger to be worth its name without kicking you in the mouth.

i found out today that Asian cultures have long time believed that ginger "may have a cleansing effect, help digestion and encourage inner harmony." (see the back of a Nature's Path Optimum ZEN cereal box).

what more can i say? it's time...


Gingerbread Men
DO NOT DOUBLE THIS RECIPE... FOR YOUR OWN GOOD

1/4 cup butter, softened
1/4 cup Crisco (butter flavored)
11/3 cup packed brown sugar
1 egg
1 teaspoon vanilla
11/2 cup molasses
1/3 cup warm water
6 cups all-purpose flour
2 teaspoons baking soda
2 tablespoons baker's cocoa
1 teaspoon ground allspice
2 teaspoons ground ginger
1 teaspoon ground cloves
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon

1. In a medium bowl, mix butter and Crisco together until combined. Cream in brown sugar and egg. Add vanilla, molasses and water and mix until smooth.
2. Combine flour, baking soda, cocoa, allspice, ginger, cloves and cinnamon. Stir them into the wet mixture until all of the dry is absorbed.
3. Cover the dough and chill for 15 to 30 minutes.
4. Preheat oven to 350º F. On a lightly floured surface, roll the dough out to 1/4 inch thickness. Cut out into shapes. Place cookies at least 1/2 inch apart onto ungreased cookie sheets. Use parchment paper if possible.
5. Bake for 8 to 10 minutes. Remove from the cookie sheets to cool on wire racks. Makes an army.