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Something New - Month Twelve
Apr. 29th, 2021 04:21 pmI have posted elsewhere about the new crafts I've tried out, but otherwise there has been limited opportunities again.
This week has been the last Imperial Lates (run by Imperial College in London) until after the summer. I'm rather sad about that, I've enjoyed taking part. The week's theme was Wildlife and encouraging wildlife in all its forms. I listened to an interesting panel discussion on what can be done by individuals and organisations in this country to provide more spaces for wildlife, whether larger mammals, or birds and insects. One of the points they were keen to promote was that man has always sought to manage nature, for thousands of years, so there is no fixed point that one can get back to.
The following day I took part in their art activity. This time it was drawing part of an imaginery hedgerow with a pencil and coloured pencils. My sketch is below - it's pale because of my coloured pencils. The researcher who spoke was very realistic, and also inspiring.
I've also completed four FutureLearn courses this month, two of which I'd started last month:
US Anti-Black Racism and Black Agency: Resistance and Resilience both by University of Connecticut. I followed these two courses because I'd hoped they could be applied outside the US, but I felt they were very narrow. I could see their relevance in their own context, but it seemed misplaced within an international platform. On a personal note, much of what they introduced was done by audio rather than video, a form of learning I don't find useful, and so I ended up simply reading the transcripts.
The Art of Washi Paper in Japanese Rare Books by Keio University. This was in Japanese, with sub-titles, but that was okay because the examples were clearly shown and the presenters were able to share their information clearly. The subject matter was quite narrow, and not something I would pursue, but it all adds to my store of knowledge. (Not that I will remember the specifics, but there's a sense of what it is.)
Cultures and Identities in Europe by the European University Institute (EUI). This is one of a series, which I don't find as engaging as I would like. Lots of talk about cultural activities by academics, nothing from the creators themselves.
This week has been the last Imperial Lates (run by Imperial College in London) until after the summer. I'm rather sad about that, I've enjoyed taking part. The week's theme was Wildlife and encouraging wildlife in all its forms. I listened to an interesting panel discussion on what can be done by individuals and organisations in this country to provide more spaces for wildlife, whether larger mammals, or birds and insects. One of the points they were keen to promote was that man has always sought to manage nature, for thousands of years, so there is no fixed point that one can get back to.
The following day I took part in their art activity. This time it was drawing part of an imaginery hedgerow with a pencil and coloured pencils. My sketch is below - it's pale because of my coloured pencils. The researcher who spoke was very realistic, and also inspiring.
I've also completed four FutureLearn courses this month, two of which I'd started last month:
US Anti-Black Racism and Black Agency: Resistance and Resilience both by University of Connecticut. I followed these two courses because I'd hoped they could be applied outside the US, but I felt they were very narrow. I could see their relevance in their own context, but it seemed misplaced within an international platform. On a personal note, much of what they introduced was done by audio rather than video, a form of learning I don't find useful, and so I ended up simply reading the transcripts.
The Art of Washi Paper in Japanese Rare Books by Keio University. This was in Japanese, with sub-titles, but that was okay because the examples were clearly shown and the presenters were able to share their information clearly. The subject matter was quite narrow, and not something I would pursue, but it all adds to my store of knowledge. (Not that I will remember the specifics, but there's a sense of what it is.)
Cultures and Identities in Europe by the European University Institute (EUI). This is one of a series, which I don't find as engaging as I would like. Lots of talk about cultural activities by academics, nothing from the creators themselves.
