Quite a few people at this school complain heartily about how much they dislike their Core classes for a variety of reasons including there is too much reading and the topics are irrelevant to one's major. Granted Core does require quite a bit of reading, so much that I struggle sometimes to complete all the assignments, but it isn't completely impossible--improbable on occasion. I also suppose one does not need to understand the Odyssey to be a successful chemical engineer; however, I think there are lessons one can learn from Core books such as the Odyssey that are beneficial in any field of study. Core essentially makes Oglethorpe a liberal arts institution which is one of the reasons I wanted to come to ogle-town; although I had no idea what I wanted to major in I knew that I wanted a liberal arts education. Hmm, things to get quite interesting here. One of my professors while explaining how the human body works refers to us being "created" that way while another one of my professors while speaking of the same human body refers to us "evolving" that way. Each professor, seemingly taking for granted the truth of his statement, uses rhetoric that does not allow room for a contrary view point.They make me giggle.
One of the three Core classes I am in this semester is called Art & Culture and plays the role of both an anthropology and an art history class. So far i am greatly enjoying it. All we basically do is discuss paintings, sculptures and artistic land forms as well as what significance they held in their time period and the significance they hold today. Out class is divided into groups and we've been taking turn presenting pieces of art. Well today it was my turn to present on an oil and canvas painting called The Large Blue Horses by Franz Marc. The piece wasn't controversial nor was it surrounded with folk lore and interesting theories like Stonehenge so needless to say I didn't have much to compete with talking amounts compared to the person who presented on the Stonehenge. Thus, after providing the class with all the details of the painting I began to tell them m own interpretation of the piece based on my research about the artist. Honestly I thought it sounded like a bunch of bull but apparently the professor was okay with it because he said he thought the artist would be pleased with my interpretation. That works. I'm kinda starting to like wondering what an artist was trying to communicate when they painted something though the thought that i can never be sure or 100% correct is quite discouraging if I do say so myself.
I like the idea of our core program and I really enjoyed most of the books in freshman core. this year not so much. I think it's because last year we spoke about defining the self and all that jazz and those are great things to think about first year of college when you are trying to find a voice. This year I've had to change my approach to core. I have to take it as Aristotle view of the world. yay him!
ReplyDeleteAs far as art goes I figure if you have thought about it and get anything from the piece than any interpretation has value.
Anyways I love you