"because it's from outer space? what do you want from me?"

[rocknload]

This is the first time I've ever written a paper that's a whole page longer than the minimum specified requirements. Possibly because I got to speculate on the motivations of a carnivorous alien menace and include phrases like, "It's unfortunate that the scientifically motivated characters didn't get a chance to speculate more before they were killed and eaten."

It's possible I may be choosing the long line of work, here. Is there a line of work where you get to speculate about aliens? I'm totally there.

Edit: Though I may be ill-suited for science stuff, at least I didn't spent the entire class doodling about Dan the DNA Man and the wacky adventures of Mitosis and Meiosis. Unlike someone I know.

Also, I think I'm changing my schedule to take microbiology next semester. Holy crap, that topic drives me crazy. I must understand it.

Comments

[immelmanturn.livejournal.com]

That's kind of why I'm taking a Media Studies course next semester.

[rocknload.livejournal.com]

Oooh, what kind of media? Just movies? Or television and radio and stuff?

[immelmanturn.livejournal.com]

I'm actually NOT SURE. The course description is possibly one of the most useless things I've ever read.

"References to the power and prevalence of “the media” are
commonplace. But what are “the media?” How do they work and for
whom? As media increasingly pervade the fabric of daily life, and
as fewer and fewer entities dominate media ownership, the urgency of
asking and answering these questions only grows in importance.

Yet, these questions are incredibly difficult to ask—much less to
answer—owing in part to the ways in which the structure and
functioning of the media remain, for many of us, taken for granted,
perhaps even something of a mystery. This course will introduce you
to the basic vocabularies of visual and media literacy and hone your
skills at analyzing media texts, institutions, apparatuses, and
audiences critically. We will focus on four prevalent media genres—
film, radio, television, and the internet—and our goal will be to
explore the relationships between and among form, content,
ownership, and meaning with respect to each. C190 will help you to
appreciate more fully the complex ways in which the media inhabit
and affect social, cultural, political, and economic life. More
importantly, it will provide you with the analytical, interpretive,
and critical skills by which to navigate and begin to make sense of
the densely mediated landscapes we inhabit.

Assessment will be based on attendance and participation, screening
notes, two exams, and two writing assignments."

I have heard, however, that the prof. is the bee's knees. So.

[rocknload.livejournal.com]

He might be the bee's knees, but he is a stranger to concise prose.

[immelmanturn.livejournal.com]

Straight up. I think I've wandered into his class on accident once before, actually! I was scoping out Ballantine Hall for a clothing swap (that had actually happened a month ago), and wandered into a huge lecture hall showing an episode of the office. I kind of chilled in the corner until it was over.

[rocknload.livejournal.com]

Did you learn?

[immelmanturn.livejournal.com]

Nope. I had to scram to get to a cloth-dyeing demonstration, so I left before the learning part started.

[rocknload.livejournal.com]

Damn. Well, I guess you'll have to find out how educational he is the hard way.

[immelmanturn.livejournal.com]

By actually taking the class? Yep. It's going to be rough.