Overall: Total Impression of School So Far

I thought since I can draw and paint pretty well, and people usually respond well to my art, that studying at VCU would be pretty easy for me.

I could not have been more wrong. I have never been challenged more in my entire life, and that's saying a lot for me, because I used to be a bridal gown alterationist, and brides are very challenging.

I work hard and put a lot of effort into my assignments, so I have very little free time to rejuevenate myself. That's something I'm going to have to re-calibrate next semester. I'm going to have to find time for the fun side of life.

I posted the post about Meganck's Surface Research a few days ago. I went to the final in his class this morning and was amazed to learn that I earned an A in his course. Upon further reflection (I'm probably just thrilled to have an A) I realize that Meganck is not a bad man, nor a Nazi. He was pushing us to achieve our artistic heights, and I'm glad I had him.

The picture is of flowers, a card, and chocolates my boyfriend just brought home for me to reward me for the hard work I've put in this semester. All the pain is finally paying off in the form of A's and candy!

Focused Inguiry

Focused Inquiry has been an enlightening class, overall. It's 'Focus' is to teach us how to write and research, but also to be more aware of ourselves, our immediate and far-reaching communities, and to critically think about and question any pre-existing beliefs we may have regarding the previously mentioned.

Despite a rocky start with this course (I thought it was lame that I had to write all these research papers, because, after all, I'm an ARTIST) I now count it among my favorites. I like that my peers have questioned certain beliefs I held and made me rethink them. Ultimately, I feel like I'm a better writer and I think before I voice an opinion now. I feel like a better citizen, having been forced to research topics that relate to community affairs and world affairs.

One thing that bothers me a little about my professor, however is that he doesn't leave any room for creative writing. My sentence structure style and his don't mesh, but I do admit I tend to write run-on sentences.

I wish Surface Research wasn't SO VERY time consuming for me, because I know that I could research and write better papers if things were more balanced for me.

Art History (Survey of Western Art)

Art History has been enjoyable all along. Simply a lecture class, all I've done is listen, take notes, and take four exams.

My teacher has allowed us to take our exams on blackboard with open notes and textbook help. I've still had to study quite a bit, because most of the exam questions aren't in the text, but are taken from lecture.

My prof for this course is extremely knowledgeable. She's a delight to listen to because her speech and thoughts are very fluid and she has a broad vocabulary.

As much as I love Fashion Design, this course shook my faith in my Major a little. I find Art History to be fascinating stuff and thought briefly about majoring in it. I'll probably end up making it my minor.

Time Studio

Time Studio is a time-based media class that deals with art-making processes like film, sound, video, performance art, etc. I call it "technology class." We make things like photo sequences, flash animations, videos, performance art, and blogs.

I have learned the most new information in this class. I often call myself 'remedial' when it comes to the latest technology or computer-related endeavors. At least, I'm remedial compared with most of my fellow students (but I still know people who don't know how to e-mail). I didn't have a computer or internet for the five years I traveled the country before I came back to school, so technology eludes me, for the most part.

That's why this class has taught me the most. It's definitely forced me out of my comfort zone regarding technology. And unlike Surface Research, my professor critiques fair but firm. I've never felt unmotivated to make art for her class, and have had a few moments of inspiration.

The picture is of my boyfriend biting into a lemon for me! I took over 200 photos of him for my Time Studio flash project.

My favorite project I made for Time Studio was, by far, the Jack and Jill movie. Can you believe the set cost me $72 to build?!! It really doesn't look like it, where'd the money go, ha ha ha! But I was really pleased with the end result and will definitely use it in my portfolio. I have to admit that sometimes I pop the DVD in my laptop and watch it just for fun.

Surface Research

"Surface Research" is fancy terminology for "2-d Design." I guess my art college decided that boring names for courses just didn't cut it. I was the unfortunate recipient of a hard-ass teacher, Robert Meganck, whose expectations are through the roof! We were assigned usually two projects per week, sometimes three. Class time consisted of critiques that left everyone in shame by the brutal tongue of our professor.

I came to college wanting to do really well and exceed everyone's expectations of me. My surface research teacher grades with such high standards, it's nearly impossible to get an A in his class. He told us on the first day that even if we came to class every day and completed all our assignments on time according to the instructions, it would still be possible for us to get a C or D, if our projects weren't made well, or weren't interesting.

He offers us no instruction, mostly assuming that we already know the material covered. His "teaching" method consists of merely assigning projects and letting us attack them. Of the entire semester, he's only lectured twice, and then not thoroughly enough that his students fully understand the content. Many students are even as in the dark on the basic principles of design as when they began.

I think that since he's normally an upper-level teacher, he's used to teaching high-concept stuff, and may find basic principles below him, or thinks that we've all come to art school knowing these things already.

Since I've always been an all A student and really want a 4.0 in college, I've busted my ass to make the grade in his class. Sometimes, my work for other classes gets pushed aside or postponed because Surface Research takes up all my time. My poor, neglected, boyfriend often comes home to find me hunched over one 8 x 8 inch painting for more than 12 hour streches, just praying that my professor will find it deserving of an A. I'm mildly obsessed with A's.

Even if I didn't care about making an A in this course, the workload is such that C students can still spend upwards of 30 hours per week or more simply trying to complete the assignments on an average level.

I must say that even though the workload and harsh critiques have made me less enthusiastic about making art, I do see the value in the process. It has made me perform at my peak ability, but not because I'm inspired to do so, just because I want an A.