O, Winter Break, Where Art Thou?
I am fried. And I'm counting down. Three weeks from now (Dec. 15th to be exact), I'll be handing in my last paper of the semester and will be on to a deliriously happy 4-week break between semesters (not to mention a new niece on Dec. 20th!). Needless to say, I can't wait. To do before then?
- 15-20 page research paper about American Indians' participation in Buffalo Bill's Wild West Show
- Presentation to give on above topic
- Adaptation of a Chekhov short story for the stage, plus a brief explanatory paper supporting my choices in representing Chekhov's dramaturgical modalities (how's that for a big fancy college boy term?)
- 3 page paper on the film Borat, in the context of the ethnological term "dialogical performance"
- Final presentation for my Race and Culture in Performance class - utilizing interview text, music, image work, etc.
And then aside from school work:
- Participate in a week-long rehearsal and presentation of a staged reading of a play
- Participate in interviews and lectures for 3 more theater faculty candidates
- Possibly attend a rehearsal at Theatre de la Jeune Lune
- See the Mu Daiko concert
- Celebrate my, my sister's, and my mom's b-days
- Participate in the University of Minnesota Twin Study
...okay I'm getting a little carried away...
My brain has taken in so much new information these past few months that I think my head is going to explode. The closest analogy I can think of is language acquisition. It's quite the struggle, and I'm hearing and understanding more than I can articulate. That's the most frustrating part. With all of these new ideas, concepts, terms, and frameworks swimming around in my brain, the actual words I end up putting on paper seem like a 3rd grader's ramblings in comparison. Sigh. I'm sure my writing skills will improve over time, but getting to that point seems a long and arduous process. Especially after meeting with a professor on my first grad school paper, only to have it torn apart word by word. Double sigh.
Another interesting conundrum I've encountered: what to do with the boat loads of information I'm learning. Unlike a specific training program, where the info learned applies only specifically to a trade or job, the ideas we've been discussing this semester relate broadly to life at large. Philosophy, culture, anthropology, ethnography, issues of race and class and gender, etc., etc., etc. Things that completely change my world view on topics. Not a day goes by that I can't relate something I've learned to real life. But only so in my brain. So, my quandry is, how do I relate this to the rest of the world? I really feel this is crucial...otherwise why am I doing it? If the ideas are only bandied about in seminar rooms and academic journals, what's the point? Why talk of changing the world if we don't do it? Perhaps I am more inclined to this practical translation to the rest of the world due to my past 6 years experience in it. Perhaps it's my personal mission. Some days I think I might chuck it all and go into social justice work. Or maybe I can do that through theater and performance. We'll see. For now, it's back to studying. ..if that's possible. My brain is rebelling big time.
Oh, and if anyone has any handy tips for writing research papers, pass them along! It's been over six years, and I am discovering that I'm really rusty!
I hope your Thanksgiving holidays were wonderful, and that I'll see you all soon!
2 Comments:
Steph,
I hear you! I have, hmmmm...., 11 days to accomplish all my work. Then, suddenly, I will be whisked away to Minneapolis for three intensive days of taiko, and then relaxation. I have to say I envy the fact that you've had feedback, even if it is difficult to take. Our incoming class is so huge the professors are barely giving us any feedback on drafts, and it is driving me insane. Oh, how I long for a small seminar class... Oh well. In 12 days I won't care. Looking forward to hanging out!
I can't wait to see you and catch up! I have a feeling we could talk for hours.....
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