Monday, December 5, 2011
Thursday, December 1, 2011
An end of semester reflection
It's hard to believe our time in Multimedia Authoring has nearly come to an end! As the semester draws to a close I thought I would take a moment to reflect on the rhetorical skills I've learned through each unit.
Unit 1: Marry content and design. Through making a collage I learned to choose visual elements that not only reinforce but enhance the message I want to convey. Create visual elements that direct the viewer to the text and frame your message appropriately. Attract the viewer's eye with interesting and well-crafted visual imagery, and you've got their attention long enough to communicate your argument.
Unit 2: Target a specific audience and communicate intent through design. In creating my website I chose a design that I felt would appeal to the student audience I hoped to attract. By referencing zine culture and activism in my design elements I communicated the "feel" of a grassroots movement to my audience, reminding the viewer that his/her opinion can make a difference. While "content is king," design is the vehicle that supports and communicates your argument.
Unit 3: Communicate content through design. As I mentioned in my last blog post, I've come to rely on my writing abilities as I progress further into my major coursework; as a result I have few opportunities to communicate a message exclusively through visual imagery. Though we all think in pictures to some degree, it's difficult to capture just the right images that will express our thoughts in a logical fashion so that viewers unfamiliar with the context can receive the message. As I often process my thoughts through very literal images, leaving room for abstraction and conjecture in my images for this project has been challenging. Through this final project I've learned to communicate abstract, complex content through image in a non-literal way.
It hasn't been an easy ride and there have been a few surpises along the way, but I know the skills I've learned and practiced in this course will serve me well throughout my college career and beyond. As our society continues to integrate new technology into nearly every aspect of life, today's artists and writers must become technologically literate or become left behind in today's fast-paced, consumer-driven world. I believe the multimedia skills we've learned this semester will be indispensible not just in our careers but in our everyday lives as consumers and creators of media content.
Unit 1: Marry content and design. Through making a collage I learned to choose visual elements that not only reinforce but enhance the message I want to convey. Create visual elements that direct the viewer to the text and frame your message appropriately. Attract the viewer's eye with interesting and well-crafted visual imagery, and you've got their attention long enough to communicate your argument.
Unit 2: Target a specific audience and communicate intent through design. In creating my website I chose a design that I felt would appeal to the student audience I hoped to attract. By referencing zine culture and activism in my design elements I communicated the "feel" of a grassroots movement to my audience, reminding the viewer that his/her opinion can make a difference. While "content is king," design is the vehicle that supports and communicates your argument.
Unit 3: Communicate content through design. As I mentioned in my last blog post, I've come to rely on my writing abilities as I progress further into my major coursework; as a result I have few opportunities to communicate a message exclusively through visual imagery. Though we all think in pictures to some degree, it's difficult to capture just the right images that will express our thoughts in a logical fashion so that viewers unfamiliar with the context can receive the message. As I often process my thoughts through very literal images, leaving room for abstraction and conjecture in my images for this project has been challenging. Through this final project I've learned to communicate abstract, complex content through image in a non-literal way.
It hasn't been an easy ride and there have been a few surpises along the way, but I know the skills I've learned and practiced in this course will serve me well throughout my college career and beyond. As our society continues to integrate new technology into nearly every aspect of life, today's artists and writers must become technologically literate or become left behind in today's fast-paced, consumer-driven world. I believe the multimedia skills we've learned this semester will be indispensible not just in our careers but in our everyday lives as consumers and creators of media content.
Processing Unit 3: Visual Imagery
As most of my time over the next 5 days will be spent finishing up my unit 3 project, I thought I'd take some time to examine my process and think about the way I'm choosing to convey my concept.
I've got my topic nailed down and I thought I had a solid plan for each frame...until I brought my storyboard into class on Tuesday and got some much-needed feedback. It was then I realized I had a powerful concept but didn't yet have a clear conception of the images I would need to get that concept across. As a writing major, I've learned to show the reader an image through words. By contrast, I've rarely had the opportunity to convey a complex, abstract concept through images.
I've come to think of my images as snapshots of the concept I want the viewer to understand. These snapshots, when aligned in the proper sequence, will communicate my argument in the most effective way.
The key to a successful visual argument is the key to a successful piece of writing: "Show, don't tell." Strive to create an image that leaves room for interpretation. Allow the viewer to draw his own conclusions. However, that simple refrain becomes a lot more difficult to carry out in the context of imagery.
In my opinion, the best way to improve your imagery is to put yourself in the viewer's position. If you didn't know the context of the images or were unfamiliar with the issue at hand, would you understand the argument being made? Do the pictures follow a logical pattern? What feeling do you take from the images, and what do they lead you to think about? Then, ask an impartial peer to check your images and answer the same questions.
How has the Unit 3 project taught you think visually? How are you communicating your argument using the values of multimedia we discussed in class?
I've got my topic nailed down and I thought I had a solid plan for each frame...until I brought my storyboard into class on Tuesday and got some much-needed feedback. It was then I realized I had a powerful concept but didn't yet have a clear conception of the images I would need to get that concept across. As a writing major, I've learned to show the reader an image through words. By contrast, I've rarely had the opportunity to convey a complex, abstract concept through images.
I've come to think of my images as snapshots of the concept I want the viewer to understand. These snapshots, when aligned in the proper sequence, will communicate my argument in the most effective way.
The key to a successful visual argument is the key to a successful piece of writing: "Show, don't tell." Strive to create an image that leaves room for interpretation. Allow the viewer to draw his own conclusions. However, that simple refrain becomes a lot more difficult to carry out in the context of imagery.
In my opinion, the best way to improve your imagery is to put yourself in the viewer's position. If you didn't know the context of the images or were unfamiliar with the issue at hand, would you understand the argument being made? Do the pictures follow a logical pattern? What feeling do you take from the images, and what do they lead you to think about? Then, ask an impartial peer to check your images and answer the same questions.
How has the Unit 3 project taught you think visually? How are you communicating your argument using the values of multimedia we discussed in class?
Tuesday, November 29, 2011
Final Project: Thoughts and Resources
After grappling with technical difficulties and mastering the ins and outs of Dreamweaver (well, almost) through the Unit 2 project, our final project feels like a simple task. At first glance, the concept a "digital collage portfolio" seems like a return our famine collage project. Instead of making a paper collage, just take some digital pictures, Photoshop them together, tie it all up in a slideshow, and stick it on a website. Easy, right?
Not quite. Even though I have previous experience in artmaking, I'm not a trained photographer and this project feels a lot like a crash course in Photography 101. Plus, I can't rely on my experience in persuasive writing as I did on the unit 2 site. You know the rule of thirds? Negative space? Contrast is good, right? So, I'm not feeling prepared this time around. But I'm starting to understand how each of the units we've covered has contributed to build a set of solid composition skills that I can apply to any task. I'm not 100% solid on each frame of my Unit 3 collage yet, but I can see how the skills I learned through the first 2 units will help me get there.
For my digital collage I've decided to tackle the issue of school bullying as it affects lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) teens. Over the past few years bullying has resulted in a dramatic increase in the suicide rate among LGBT teens and young adults. Last fall this issue made national news when at least 5 teens committed suicide within a 6 week period. Among other daytime TV celebrities, prominent LGBT advocate Ellen DeGeneres spoke up about the devastating effects of bullying. Many are working to save lives by putting an end to bullying in our nation's schools. Here's a few helpful resources from around the web:
Dan Savage's It Gets Better Campaign went viral last year and continues to inspire teens worldwide with its message of hope for the future. Celebrities, corporations, activists, and all manner of public figures submitted YouTube videos to the "It Gets Better" channel. I found Pixar's submission especially sincere and touching.
The Trevor Project aims to prevent suicide and self-harm among LGBT teens and young adults through providing resources, guidance and a listening ear during times of distress. In addition to online materials the organization runs a no-cost phone help line for teens who may be contemplating suicide. Learn more about the project's namesake and how this effort came to be.
Everyone is Gay is a nonprofit organization committed to making a difference in the lives of LGBT youth. The cornerstone of the site is a laugh-out-loud hilarious advice blog, in which founders Dannielle Owens-Reid and Kristin Russo guide readers through everyday struggles and relationship drama. Though the blog focuses on gay and lesbian relationships, the witty yet wise advice featured can help anyone through the confusing business of growing up (and yes, the relationship advice often applies equally to straight readers).
Their resources page provides a gateway for LGBT teens and young adults to access community centers, alliances, and non-profit organizations in their communities.
Not quite. Even though I have previous experience in artmaking, I'm not a trained photographer and this project feels a lot like a crash course in Photography 101. Plus, I can't rely on my experience in persuasive writing as I did on the unit 2 site. You know the rule of thirds? Negative space? Contrast is good, right? So, I'm not feeling prepared this time around. But I'm starting to understand how each of the units we've covered has contributed to build a set of solid composition skills that I can apply to any task. I'm not 100% solid on each frame of my Unit 3 collage yet, but I can see how the skills I learned through the first 2 units will help me get there.
For my digital collage I've decided to tackle the issue of school bullying as it affects lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) teens. Over the past few years bullying has resulted in a dramatic increase in the suicide rate among LGBT teens and young adults. Last fall this issue made national news when at least 5 teens committed suicide within a 6 week period. Among other daytime TV celebrities, prominent LGBT advocate Ellen DeGeneres spoke up about the devastating effects of bullying. Many are working to save lives by putting an end to bullying in our nation's schools. Here's a few helpful resources from around the web:
Dan Savage's It Gets Better Campaign went viral last year and continues to inspire teens worldwide with its message of hope for the future. Celebrities, corporations, activists, and all manner of public figures submitted YouTube videos to the "It Gets Better" channel. I found Pixar's submission especially sincere and touching.
The Trevor Project aims to prevent suicide and self-harm among LGBT teens and young adults through providing resources, guidance and a listening ear during times of distress. In addition to online materials the organization runs a no-cost phone help line for teens who may be contemplating suicide. Learn more about the project's namesake and how this effort came to be.
Everyone is Gay is a nonprofit organization committed to making a difference in the lives of LGBT youth. The cornerstone of the site is a laugh-out-loud hilarious advice blog, in which founders Dannielle Owens-Reid and Kristin Russo guide readers through everyday struggles and relationship drama. Though the blog focuses on gay and lesbian relationships, the witty yet wise advice featured can help anyone through the confusing business of growing up (and yes, the relationship advice often applies equally to straight readers).
Their resources page provides a gateway for LGBT teens and young adults to access community centers, alliances, and non-profit organizations in their communities.
Thursday, November 24, 2011
Trying My Hand at Photography
As I discussed in my last post, I found out about photojournalist Lowell Handler through a course assignment for my Therapeutic Arts class. Our investigation of art and disability also included a personal artmaking activity: after researching an artist, we were to create a piece of art that references the artist's style or vision. I snapped a series of photos using my webcam, manipulated the lighting and texture, and combined them using Photoshop.
This picture incorporates many of the photoediting skills and collage elements we utilized while working on the Unit 1 famine collage project. Like Handler's work, my photo collage transforms a movement into a series of static images. I have very little experience in photography (so I'm all set for the Unit 3 project, right?) and wanted to push myself out of my comfort zone for this project. I'm satisfied and surprised by the end result...here's hoping for the same outcome for Unit 3 as I piece together my Digital Collage Portfolio.
A series of images of me stretching, edited and combined to make a photo collage.
This picture incorporates many of the photoediting skills and collage elements we utilized while working on the Unit 1 famine collage project. Like Handler's work, my photo collage transforms a movement into a series of static images. I have very little experience in photography (so I'm all set for the Unit 3 project, right?) and wanted to push myself out of my comfort zone for this project. I'm satisfied and surprised by the end result...here's hoping for the same outcome for Unit 3 as I piece together my Digital Collage Portfolio.
Photojournalist spotlight: Lowell Handler
While poring over the work of my favorite photographers for Mini-Project 6, I remembered an acclaimed photojournalist I recently learned about in my Therapeutic Arts course. We were studying artists with disabilities and how artists express their views on disability and contextualize their life experiences through their work. Lowell Handler is a professional photojournalist who has traveled across North America to document the experiences of individuals with Tourette syndrome. After being diagnosed with Tourette’s, Handler turned to photography as a way to cope with the socially isolating symptoms of the disorder, which causes the affected individual to perform repetitive movements or vocal inflections.
He finds a sense of community in documenting the experiences of others who struggle with the disease. Many of Handler’s photos depict individuals at the moment when they are overtaken by Tourettic movements; the artist chronicles these involuntary movements in a series of static images.
By documenting these physically uncomfortable and socially unacceptable motions, Handler directs the viewer’s attention to moments that typically make us uncomfortable. Through his photographs Handler seeks to examine the relationship between the observed (people with disabilities) and the viewer.
“I want to force people to observe that which is usually ignored,” Handler writes of his work. “If people are going to look away from me in shame because of my oddity, I will force them to see, through my photographs, every aspect of life, however vile or beautiful.”
Handler’s photos have been featured in LIFE magazine, the New York Times, and the Washington Post, along with other highly selective publications. Handler served as associate producer and narrator of the Emmy-nominated PBS Documentary Twitch and Shout (1995) and published a memoir entitled Twitch and Shout: A Touretter’s Tale (1998). The images in this post are featured in Twitch and Shout, which is available at your friendly local library.
Wednesday, November 2, 2011
Monday, October 31, 2011
Introducing Texture
In my last blog post I discussed zine culture and how I want to instill a sense of community while referring to the look of old-school printed materials in my design scheme. In my side navigation bar I have reinforced my site's color scheme while creating a three-dimensional, hand-printed appearance.
1. I tore off a strip of paper from my sketchbook, considering the size and shape of the "buttons" I wanted for my side navigation.
2. I scanned in the torn piece of paper and refined the image in Photoshop to create a JPEG file suitable for the web.
3. I chose a font from dafont.com that reminded me of an old letterpress or news bulletin typeface.
3. I downloaded this image of a horned frog from the TCU Image Library and resized it to fit on my tabs.
4. I found this free watercolor background from Sad Monkey Design and altered its coloration in Photoshop. Sad Monkey offers a variety of backgrounds to complement any design scheme. They are free to use with no obligation; just consider crediting the designer somewhere on your webpage. (I really wanted to make my own watercolor background, but we're quickly running out of time and I don't have transportation on campus to pick up adequate supplies. If you have the time and supplies, you can also create your own watercolor background in about 10 minutes--just mix the colors you want, get some watercolor or sketchpad paper and splatter away!)
5. I added the watercolor background to my CSS style sheet, inserted the tab images, and linked to the appropriate page for each.
My only question about the whole background-in-sidebar thing: when I try to create a line break in my text, a blank white line appears between the lines of content. Does anyone know how I can prevent this from happening?
The whole process of creating the sidebar took about an hour to perfect the torn paper images, insert the text and horned frog logo, and adjust the watercolor background to fit my design. It was a bit frustrating at times but I believe it's well worth the time to add personal touches that will distinguish your site and capture the viewer's attention. How are you incorporating texture into your site design? How have you referenced your content and reform idea in your site's imagery?
My sidebar navigation directs viewers to the main content areas of my site. Below I have described how I created this effect.
1. I tore off a strip of paper from my sketchbook, considering the size and shape of the "buttons" I wanted for my side navigation.
2. I scanned in the torn piece of paper and refined the image in Photoshop to create a JPEG file suitable for the web.
3. I chose a font from dafont.com that reminded me of an old letterpress or news bulletin typeface.
3. I downloaded this image of a horned frog from the TCU Image Library and resized it to fit on my tabs.
4. I found this free watercolor background from Sad Monkey Design and altered its coloration in Photoshop. Sad Monkey offers a variety of backgrounds to complement any design scheme. They are free to use with no obligation; just consider crediting the designer somewhere on your webpage. (I really wanted to make my own watercolor background, but we're quickly running out of time and I don't have transportation on campus to pick up adequate supplies. If you have the time and supplies, you can also create your own watercolor background in about 10 minutes--just mix the colors you want, get some watercolor or sketchpad paper and splatter away!)
5. I added the watercolor background to my CSS style sheet, inserted the tab images, and linked to the appropriate page for each.
My only question about the whole background-in-sidebar thing: when I try to create a line break in my text, a blank white line appears between the lines of content. Does anyone know how I can prevent this from happening?
The whole process of creating the sidebar took about an hour to perfect the torn paper images, insert the text and horned frog logo, and adjust the watercolor background to fit my design. It was a bit frustrating at times but I believe it's well worth the time to add personal touches that will distinguish your site and capture the viewer's attention. How are you incorporating texture into your site design? How have you referenced your content and reform idea in your site's imagery?
Processing: white space and thematic design elements
From the beginning I knew I wanted to incorporate a lot of white space in my site design. I dislike when a site's design is so cluttered that it obscures the content--the most important feature! Definatalie.com comes to mind as one site that uses white space to its advantage to highlight content--plenty of full color photos to catch the viewer's eye, detailed, whimsical illustrations, and social justice-minded essay and personal narrative.
White space helps draw attention to content while creating a clean, understated, modern look. Another reason I started with white space is that being a Dreamweaver novice, I'm not yet comfortable with complex patterns and fancy features. As I began to piece together my site design in Dreamweaver, however, I started to consider how my site's design could go beyond simple organization to reflect the topic and feel of my campaign. I was inspired by the way Natalie of definatalie.com incorporates her own illustrations into the naviagational scheme of her site, such as the intricate banner heading and the hand-drawn elements on the "about the author" panel at the bottom. My goal is to draw the viewer's attention to site navigation and key content in a way that creates an overall theme and frames my content appropriately.
How are you referencing your site's content through your choice of design elements? How do your content and design work together to build a theme?
White space helps draw attention to content while creating a clean, understated, modern look. Another reason I started with white space is that being a Dreamweaver novice, I'm not yet comfortable with complex patterns and fancy features. As I began to piece together my site design in Dreamweaver, however, I started to consider how my site's design could go beyond simple organization to reflect the topic and feel of my campaign. I was inspired by the way Natalie of definatalie.com incorporates her own illustrations into the naviagational scheme of her site, such as the intricate banner heading and the hand-drawn elements on the "about the author" panel at the bottom. My goal is to draw the viewer's attention to site navigation and key content in a way that creates an overall theme and frames my content appropriately.
The definatalie.com header prominently displays the artist's talent for illustration and helps establish a theme for the site's content.
In arguing for scholarship reform at TCU I want to focus on the idea of accessibility--making a TCU education more easily available and affordable to every qualified student. To reinforce the idea of inclusivity, I wanted to reference aspects of zine culture to create a feeling of community surrounding my campaign. Zines, or self-published magazines, were instrumental in social reform movements of the 90's--way back when printed materials were considered the most efficient way to circulate content. Zines integrated marginalized communities and helped to make resources and knowledge accessible to everyone.
As social media and blogging became more popular methods of communication, zines began to decrease in popularity. However, this medium has enjoyed a digital comeback over the past few years as free downloadable zines appear throughout the blogosphere. Sharable is a popular platform for comic artists, writers, and creatives of any stripe to self-publish zines and other works. "Share or Die: Youth in Recession," a collection of comics highlighting the injustice of post-graduate life in today's economy, is a great example of how zine culture has evolved from the printed page to the digital age. "Who Needs an Ivory Tower?" by Jenna Brager is a must see.
A screencap of "Who Needs an Ivory Tower?" by Jenna Brager.
Thursday, October 27, 2011
My TCU reform site...now with interactivity!
I've wanted to add an interactive element to my site from the beginning but found it difficult to choose something that complemented the main site content. Flashy music or videos would overwhelm my reform idea and wouldn't relate well to the cause. Today I had the idea of inviting visitors to sign a petition to show their support for my campaign. While reading through the QuickProject book I found instructions for creating a form in Dreamweaver and voila!
Creating a form might not seem like much to Dreamweaver experts, but for a novice like me, every small victory matters! Having a visible way for people to show their support will encourage more people to visit the site and spread the word about my scholarship reform campaign. How are you planning to include interactive elements in your design?
Dreamweaver resources
This Unit 2 project has been my very first experience using Dreamweaver and I have to say I'm a bit frustrated! I'm starting to miss the collage project right about now. While working on our Unit 1 project I had the advantage of a few graphic design related classes under my belt--I knew how to navigate Photoshop and could immediately harness that knowledge to make the project my own. With this unit, however, I'm forced to plunge into completely unfamiliar territory with Dreamweaver.
I signed up for Multimedia Authoring expecting a crash course in basic web design, and that's definitely what we've got--but I didn't expect to do this much learning on my own through trial and error. Making a website from scratch is a daunting task! At this point I have at least settled on the basic design of my site, but much of the HTML and CSS behind the design panel admittedly remains a mystery to me.
At the end of class today I mentioned that I've downloaded the 30 day free trial of Dreamweaver so I can work on my laptop. Here's the trial download for you to "enjoy." In my experience with graphic design coursework it's nearly impossible to finish my projects during open studio time and I love the convenience of being able to work from my room when inspiration strikes at 3 am.
I also found some basic Dreamweaver tutorials from About.com. Some of these are still over my head, but they do help to fill in the gaps between the incredibly basic level of the QuickProject guide book and the level of content we are being asked to produce. Hope this helps!
I signed up for Multimedia Authoring expecting a crash course in basic web design, and that's definitely what we've got--but I didn't expect to do this much learning on my own through trial and error. Making a website from scratch is a daunting task! At this point I have at least settled on the basic design of my site, but much of the HTML and CSS behind the design panel admittedly remains a mystery to me.
At the end of class today I mentioned that I've downloaded the 30 day free trial of Dreamweaver so I can work on my laptop. Here's the trial download for you to "enjoy." In my experience with graphic design coursework it's nearly impossible to finish my projects during open studio time and I love the convenience of being able to work from my room when inspiration strikes at 3 am.
I also found some basic Dreamweaver tutorials from About.com. Some of these are still over my head, but they do help to fill in the gaps between the incredibly basic level of the QuickProject guide book and the level of content we are being asked to produce. Hope this helps!
Wednesday, October 26, 2011
My Financial Aid Experience, continued
In my meetings with financial aid advisors, the ill-defined "requirements" for transfer scholarships seemed to shift depending on the situation and the person you're talking to. Sometimes I was told I would be able to apply for a full scholarship at TCU; sometimes I was told I could not receive any aid at all.
Fortunately for me, after speaking with several financial aid advisors, I managed to convince TCU to reinstate the Dean's Scholarship I had been offered as a first-time freshman. Without this support I would not have been able to enroll at TCU.
But here's the part that made me incredibly frustrated: after receiving the Dean's Scholarship, I was told by the financial aid office that if I performed well in my first semester at TCU, I would be able to apply for a full tuition scholarship in May. If you're a TCU student, you know that TCU has no provision for scholarships for currently enrolled students, outside of departmental awards. Being a naive freshman, however, I was blissfully unaware that this was the case. I trusted in the promise of a potential full scholarship and contacted financial aid again at the semester's end.
Of course, I was told that I was now a “current student” and therefore ineligible for any additional merit scholarships. The financial advisor was nice enough to call and break this news to me over the phone. He encouraged me to apply for a loan. I was seething and had a hard time holding back tears. I was essentially stuck—I had burned my bridge to my former college, fallen for TCU, and couldn't stand the thought of moving and transferring again. I would now have to take out thousands of dollars worth of government money to continue my education.
I’m not telling this story to complain—after all, I did receive the highest scholarship TCU offers to transfer students, and without it I would never have been able to make this important change in my life. Transferring after one semester of college was a huge risk, but the scholarship support I did receive from TCU softened the blow.
Instead, I’m telling my story to point out an area where TCU could improve. By offering scholarships to students outside of the incoming freshman class, TCU has the opportunity to make a private education available to a wider range of talented, high-achieving individuals—some of whom may not have the financial ability to pay anything higher than the application fee. Despite my struggles with financial aid, I’m so thankful I made the decision to come to TCU. The academic opportunities I’ve already experienced here are a world away from the limited options at my previous school. I believe increasing the merit scholarships available to transfer students AND currently enrolled upperclassmen will help ensure that everyone has that chance to reach for a better college experience and pursue their academic goals.
Fortunately for me, after speaking with several financial aid advisors, I managed to convince TCU to reinstate the Dean's Scholarship I had been offered as a first-time freshman. Without this support I would not have been able to enroll at TCU.
But here's the part that made me incredibly frustrated: after receiving the Dean's Scholarship, I was told by the financial aid office that if I performed well in my first semester at TCU, I would be able to apply for a full tuition scholarship in May. If you're a TCU student, you know that TCU has no provision for scholarships for currently enrolled students, outside of departmental awards. Being a naive freshman, however, I was blissfully unaware that this was the case. I trusted in the promise of a potential full scholarship and contacted financial aid again at the semester's end.
Of course, I was told that I was now a “current student” and therefore ineligible for any additional merit scholarships. The financial advisor was nice enough to call and break this news to me over the phone. He encouraged me to apply for a loan. I was seething and had a hard time holding back tears. I was essentially stuck—I had burned my bridge to my former college, fallen for TCU, and couldn't stand the thought of moving and transferring again. I would now have to take out thousands of dollars worth of government money to continue my education.
I’m not telling this story to complain—after all, I did receive the highest scholarship TCU offers to transfer students, and without it I would never have been able to make this important change in my life. Transferring after one semester of college was a huge risk, but the scholarship support I did receive from TCU softened the blow.
Instead, I’m telling my story to point out an area where TCU could improve. By offering scholarships to students outside of the incoming freshman class, TCU has the opportunity to make a private education available to a wider range of talented, high-achieving individuals—some of whom may not have the financial ability to pay anything higher than the application fee. Despite my struggles with financial aid, I’m so thankful I made the decision to come to TCU. The academic opportunities I’ve already experienced here are a world away from the limited options at my previous school. I believe increasing the merit scholarships available to transfer students AND currently enrolled upperclassmen will help ensure that everyone has that chance to reach for a better college experience and pursue their academic goals.
Monday, October 24, 2011
Scholarship Reform at TCU: My Story
So here's the story that inspired my campaign for scholarship reform at TCU.
I first applied to TCU as a "first-time freshman" (that's the financial aid terminology for someone who has never attended college before) entering college in Fall 2009. I was offered the Dean's Scholarship ($13,000 per year) and seriously considered attending TCU. However, one of my other top choices, Austin College, offered me a full-tuition scholarship. I don't come from a wealthy family and full tuition was an offer I couldn't refuse. I can't deny that the extra scholarship support was a huge factor in my decision to attend AC.
Fast forward through my first semester of college, and I'm beginning to realize that Austin College is just not the school for me. Having grown up with the convience and culture of a big city, I found adjusting to the small town atmosphere of Sherman (10 minutes from the Oklahoma border), along with its lack of medical resources and public transit, hard to get used to. With just 1800 students AC was just too small for me and didn't have the academic resources I needed to pursue my career goals. I decided I couldn't wait until the end of my freshman year to transfer (AC credits typically only count as elective hours at other colleges, so the longer you wait to transfer, the longer it'll take to graduate). I began the process of reapplying to TCU, hoping I could at least get my Dean's Scholarship back and then apply for other awards to try to make up the difference.
I had to sift through about a dozen pages on TCU's website to find the list of scholarships available to transfer students (a list that hasn't changed since I came to TCU in January 2010). The first thing you'll notice is the absence of a Chancellor's Scholarship equivalent; the highest award transfer students can receive directly from TCU Financial Aid is the half-tuition Dean's Scholarship.
Look a little closer and you'll see a seemingly insignificant restriction that could have prevented me from coming to TCU, had it been enforced:
As a freshman transfer student, I had not yet reached that 27 hour threshhold when I applied to TCU for the Spring 2010 semester. This means that technically, I was not eligible for ANY merit scholarship from TCU...despite the fact that I was on full scholarship at my previous college.
To be continued...
I first applied to TCU as a "first-time freshman" (that's the financial aid terminology for someone who has never attended college before) entering college in Fall 2009. I was offered the Dean's Scholarship ($13,000 per year) and seriously considered attending TCU. However, one of my other top choices, Austin College, offered me a full-tuition scholarship. I don't come from a wealthy family and full tuition was an offer I couldn't refuse. I can't deny that the extra scholarship support was a huge factor in my decision to attend AC.
Fast forward through my first semester of college, and I'm beginning to realize that Austin College is just not the school for me. Having grown up with the convience and culture of a big city, I found adjusting to the small town atmosphere of Sherman (10 minutes from the Oklahoma border), along with its lack of medical resources and public transit, hard to get used to. With just 1800 students AC was just too small for me and didn't have the academic resources I needed to pursue my career goals. I decided I couldn't wait until the end of my freshman year to transfer (AC credits typically only count as elective hours at other colleges, so the longer you wait to transfer, the longer it'll take to graduate). I began the process of reapplying to TCU, hoping I could at least get my Dean's Scholarship back and then apply for other awards to try to make up the difference.
I had to sift through about a dozen pages on TCU's website to find the list of scholarships available to transfer students (a list that hasn't changed since I came to TCU in January 2010). The first thing you'll notice is the absence of a Chancellor's Scholarship equivalent; the highest award transfer students can receive directly from TCU Financial Aid is the half-tuition Dean's Scholarship.
Look a little closer and you'll see a seemingly insignificant restriction that could have prevented me from coming to TCU, had it been enforced:
As a freshman transfer student, I had not yet reached that 27 hour threshhold when I applied to TCU for the Spring 2010 semester. This means that technically, I was not eligible for ANY merit scholarship from TCU...despite the fact that I was on full scholarship at my previous college.
To be continued...
Sunday, October 23, 2011
Unit 2 Project: How do scholarships impact your TCU experience?
In choosing a topic for my university reform site, I've considered all the usual suspects. Our relatively small campus is bursting at the seams. Parking is, of course, a huge problem, and it would have been nearly impossible for me to find an on-campus apartment as a junior had I not signed up for honors housing in January. In the end, I think it's best for me to address the issue that has a huge impact on my TCU education and my options after graduation.
I plan to argue for financial aid reform. Through my website, I want to challenge the TCU community to change the way we think about merit scholarships and to consider ways we can make a TCU education more accessible to potential students of diverse academic and cultural backgrounds. More specifically, I'll propose a campaign to increase scholarship funding for transfer students and upperclassmen who have excelled in the classroom, demonstrated exceptional talent in their major field, or made wide-ranging contributions to their college community.
My experience in navigating TCU's financial aid system as a transfer student has inspired me to argue for improvement in this aspect of the university experience. As I continue to develop my site ideas, I'll share my story here. But first, I want to hear from you. Are you satisfied with the scholarship opportunities available at TCU? As a scholarship applicant, did you feel the requirements/selection criteria for each scholarship were expressed clearly? How did merit scholarships influence your decision to come to TCU? How do scholarships or financial aid impact the quality of your TCU experience?
I plan to argue for financial aid reform. Through my website, I want to challenge the TCU community to change the way we think about merit scholarships and to consider ways we can make a TCU education more accessible to potential students of diverse academic and cultural backgrounds. More specifically, I'll propose a campaign to increase scholarship funding for transfer students and upperclassmen who have excelled in the classroom, demonstrated exceptional talent in their major field, or made wide-ranging contributions to their college community.
My experience in navigating TCU's financial aid system as a transfer student has inspired me to argue for improvement in this aspect of the university experience. As I continue to develop my site ideas, I'll share my story here. But first, I want to hear from you. Are you satisfied with the scholarship opportunities available at TCU? As a scholarship applicant, did you feel the requirements/selection criteria for each scholarship were expressed clearly? How did merit scholarships influence your decision to come to TCU? How do scholarships or financial aid impact the quality of your TCU experience?
Wednesday, October 12, 2011
Web design examples: the good...and the ugly
Among my favorite well-designed websites are:
http://www.esmewang.com/
http://www.biorequiem.com/
If you're a writer (like novelist Esme Wang) or a visual artist (like Zoetica Ebb of Biorequiem) in today's global market, it's important to establish a vocal presence within your community of fellow artists and potential supporters. A well-designed professional portfolio and personal blog is the first step to marketing yourself and your talents. These blogs present original content in a way that's visually appealing, succinct, well-organized, and easy to follow.
Now on to the websites that give me a headache:
http://www.esmewang.com/
http://www.biorequiem.com/
If you're a writer (like novelist Esme Wang) or a visual artist (like Zoetica Ebb of Biorequiem) in today's global market, it's important to establish a vocal presence within your community of fellow artists and potential supporters. A well-designed professional portfolio and personal blog is the first step to marketing yourself and your talents. These blogs present original content in a way that's visually appealing, succinct, well-organized, and easy to follow.
Now on to the websites that give me a headache:
OK, so I've always hated the navigational structure of myTCU! First, you have to click through at least five times to reach the page you're looking for. And the site can be nearly impossible to access from some mobile phones (making it impossible to check for deadlines or submit documents at the last minute before class!) Even more upsetting, important financial and scheduling notifications don't show up on the site's front page--instead, they're often buried beneath a mound of useless-to-me information. The links don't always work, the layout of information is confusing and the topics are poorly organized.
This retail site appeared on Vincent Flanders' annual Worst Websites list for 2010. Flanders wrote, "In the last 15 years, I've seen plenty of stupid navigation. This may be the worst." All I know is, this guessing-game of a navigational scheme makes me dizzy! If I came to this site to buy, I'd quickly put away my wallet and move on to the next Google search result. Click through to see why.
Wednesday, September 28, 2011
Web Design Inspiration from Mashable.com
After going over the requirements for our Unit 2 project, we spent a few minutes of Tuesday's class sketching out our ideal website. My only question about this project was "Where to start?" I'm just beginning to envision how I want my site to look and how viewers will interact with the content I plan to create.
If you're searching for examples of well-designed sites, look no further than Mashable's Top 10 Resources for Design Inspiration. Here you'll find design galleries and artist forums featuring hundreds of innovative sites. These showcases will help you define what navigation features you may wish to include on your site, figure out how to incorporate photos, audio and video files, and recognize what design elements capture your interest.
If you're searching for examples of well-designed sites, look no further than Mashable's Top 10 Resources for Design Inspiration. Here you'll find design galleries and artist forums featuring hundreds of innovative sites. These showcases will help you define what navigation features you may wish to include on your site, figure out how to incorporate photos, audio and video files, and recognize what design elements capture your interest.
Monday, September 19, 2011
Presenting donation options: How much text is too much?
During my peer reviews in class today, I asked my partners for advice on choosing how much text to include on my poster. My main concern is that featuring too much information--even if all of it is useful and pertinent to the cause--causes the viewer to become overwhelmed and look to an easier visual target. As a writing major I'm accustomed to whipping out five or six page papers at the last minute...so using an economy of words to express my message is difficult for me.
Most people I talked to today had chosen a phrase or slogan to encapsulate their pitch or donation appeal. I've decided which images and materials I'm going to use, and I'm now entering the final stages of putting the final product together. I'm still struggling with a slogan that neatly ties together the main concept I want people to pick up from my campaign. Does anyone have suggestions or advice on how to catch the viewer's attention in, oh, ten words or less?
As far as the total amount of text goes...I had originally planned to outline several different ways to donate on the poster itself. After looking at others' drafts and discussing the issue with my partners, I think it might be more effective to simply include a link with a simple explanation such as "To learn more, visit..." or "To donate, go to..." I could give viewers a link to my blog, then make a blog post detailing all of the donation options including information about my Etsy shop. Or, I could give a link to the shop itself, and post donation info my shop's homepage.
What do you think? I'm worried about retention--would you be able to remember a link long enough to get home and look up the site? Of course, I could use one of the link-shortening programs we discussed in class. Or, do you think a concise list of options is more effective than redirecting people to the web?
Most people I talked to today had chosen a phrase or slogan to encapsulate their pitch or donation appeal. I've decided which images and materials I'm going to use, and I'm now entering the final stages of putting the final product together. I'm still struggling with a slogan that neatly ties together the main concept I want people to pick up from my campaign. Does anyone have suggestions or advice on how to catch the viewer's attention in, oh, ten words or less?
As far as the total amount of text goes...I had originally planned to outline several different ways to donate on the poster itself. After looking at others' drafts and discussing the issue with my partners, I think it might be more effective to simply include a link with a simple explanation such as "To learn more, visit..." or "To donate, go to..." I could give viewers a link to my blog, then make a blog post detailing all of the donation options including information about my Etsy shop. Or, I could give a link to the shop itself, and post donation info my shop's homepage.
What do you think? I'm worried about retention--would you be able to remember a link long enough to get home and look up the site? Of course, I could use one of the link-shortening programs we discussed in class. Or, do you think a concise list of options is more effective than redirecting people to the web?
Entrepreneurship and an Etsy shop
As I'm putting the finishing touches on my collage design, I've been thinking about how I can extend my project beyond the poster. My collage focuses on the idea of female entrepreneurship and creativity. Through programs such as CARE's microfinance initiative, thousands of women have started businesses to support their families. Selling handmade products allows these entrepreneurs to provide food, clothing, and education for their children (and themselves), throwing a wrench into the cycle of poverty.
Since we have dedicated all of our donations from this project to Operation USA, the majority of funds raised will be used for immediate disaster relief rather than long term entrepreneurial programs. In the context of the extreme food shortage and overwhelming need that continues to plague East African nations, I think donating to a relief centered organization like Operation USA was the best choice to make. But I've been searching for a way to incorporate handmade goods and female entrepreneurship into my donation campaign.
I've decided to set up an Etsy shop as part of my donation effort. My shop will feature beaded bracelets and, depending on demand, may eventually feature other handmade jewelry items as well. All of the proceeds from the shop will go to Operation USA. On my poster, I'll include the link to my shop and give people several options for how to donate:
1. Link to my Crowdrise page
2. Text donations to Operation USA (Text AID to 50555 to donate $10)
3. Put change in the jar
4. Link to my Etsy shop
If my display space allows, I'll set out a couple of sample bracelets along with my collage and change jar. I'm curious to see whether this will generate a response...I might not get any buyers, but I'm happy to take a risk. You can set up your own Etsy shop here. I'll post a link to my shop when I've had time to fully set up my Etsy page.
How are you using online platforms to promote your donation effort? Have any ideas for extending this collage project into the "real world"?
Since we have dedicated all of our donations from this project to Operation USA, the majority of funds raised will be used for immediate disaster relief rather than long term entrepreneurial programs. In the context of the extreme food shortage and overwhelming need that continues to plague East African nations, I think donating to a relief centered organization like Operation USA was the best choice to make. But I've been searching for a way to incorporate handmade goods and female entrepreneurship into my donation campaign.
I've decided to set up an Etsy shop as part of my donation effort. My shop will feature beaded bracelets and, depending on demand, may eventually feature other handmade jewelry items as well. All of the proceeds from the shop will go to Operation USA. On my poster, I'll include the link to my shop and give people several options for how to donate:
1. Link to my Crowdrise page
2. Text donations to Operation USA (Text AID to 50555 to donate $10)
3. Put change in the jar
4. Link to my Etsy shop
If my display space allows, I'll set out a couple of sample bracelets along with my collage and change jar. I'm curious to see whether this will generate a response...I might not get any buyers, but I'm happy to take a risk. You can set up your own Etsy shop here. I'll post a link to my shop when I've had time to fully set up my Etsy page.
How are you using online platforms to promote your donation effort? Have any ideas for extending this collage project into the "real world"?
Sunday, September 18, 2011
Tying it all together: how to create unity instead of chaos?
Throughout the past few weeks as I’ve played around with my collage layout, I’ve come to realize that unity is the most difficult element for me to achieve in my design. In the early stages of design projects, I always tend to include too much text, too much information, or too many pictorial elements. “How can I make it all fit?” is the first question; the next is “How can I make it ‘go together’?” Brainstorming and coming up with ideas isn’t the hard part—it’s choosing which idea to carry out and tying my design elements together.
Creating unity in my poster design becomes even more challenging when I consider what materials to include: we must choose at least three non-paper materials to incorporate into our designs. Materials such as fabric, beads, plastic, canvas, or other textured substances can bring a three-dimensional effect to two-dimensional artwork, but if the artist doesn’t consider how to tie in these elements with the overall design scheme, they can look cheesy and forced.
I’ve refined my layout and spent hours editing my photos to create a cohesive picture. I’ve just bought some fabric, with which I want to accentuate the shawls and scarves that the women in my dominant photo are wearing. I think I’ll scan my fabric and take it into Photoshop to play around with making different textures and colors, building on top of the natural texture and folds of the fabric. How are you incorporating new materials into your collage? How can these materials enhance, rather than detract from, the photo-edited elements and overall concept of the poster?
Saturday, September 10, 2011
Images Hold the Key to Memory
This week in my Therapeutic Arts course, I explored the role of image-making in therapeutic experiences for people with Alzheimer's Disease and dementia. Memories in the Making, a project spearheaded by the Alzheimer's Association, brings creativity to nursing homes and assisted living facilities across the country. Facilitators and volunteers guide residents in the creation of unique watercolor paintings that reflect their memories, personal identity, and emotional experiences. MIM coordinator Lisa Buck spoke to our class on her experiences of making art with hundreds of Alzheimer's patients across North Texas.
So how does therapeutic art-making relate to multimedia authoring? Many aspects of the Memories in the Making experience reflect the basic principles of image-making that we've discussed in class. Images hold the key to memory. The images we choose can make or break the message we wish to communicate and the relationship we seek to develop.
1. Images last longer than words.
"Orange Flowers"
Check out more works by Memories in the Making participants at http://thememoriesinthemaking.com/gallery.
1. Images last longer than words.
Have you ever heard the hackneyed quip, "Take a picture, it'll last longer"? Well, it's true: the act of looking at a reference photo or making a picture can recall moments in time that have long escaped verbal memory. Memories in the Making participants who have lost the ability to speak in complete sentences have recreated scenes from their childhood with great accuracy and attention to detail. The abillity to express ourselves through images is so fundamental to our human experience that it often persists even after the artists can no longer communicate through language.
People can memorize and form associations with images more easily than words; as a result, images have a long-lasting impact on memory. Are your images "just illustrations," or do they carry the major theme of your piece?
2. Images reinforce--and inspire--narration or text.
Memories in the Making facilitators always encourage participants to discuss the subject of their artwork, both during the creative process and after they have finished painting. Ms. Buck observes that the act of painting often inspires participants to tell the story behind their artwork. She showed some examples of artwork with the accompanying narration. Sometimes the paintings reflect true events that transpired decades ago; other times, the stories are completely fabricated. Either way, the narration enhances the message of the painting by adding details or illuminating an aspect of the artist's personality.
When creating a multimedia piece, let the images lead and consider how the text supports, alters, and frames your images.
3. Images speak to our emotional memory.
Many MIM participants have lost the ability to create a representational likeness in their artwork. As a result, their paintings appear childlike--the lines aren't in exactly the right place, but the paintings often capture the essence of their subjects. Those in the end-stages of Alzheimer's Disease often create patterns or simple shapes (rows of circles are most common). Ms. Buck describes the participants' artwork as a "tangible expression of that person in that moment." Even if when we can't identify the subject of the painting, we can see that the artist has expressed her emotional state and personality through her work.
We form an emotional connection to the images we see every day. Think of the heartwrenching pictures used in charity brochures and TV segments--it's much easier to make an emotional appeal through images than through text.
To learn more about the local outreach efforts of the Alzheimer's Association and what you can do to help, go to http://www.alz.org/northcentraltexas/.
Sunday, September 4, 2011
Loose Fit: a mixed media video illuminates "what isn't there"
Doing a bit of research in preparation for our first class project has provided me with a perfect excuse to look at innovative, beautifully executed mixed media pieces around the web. As an artist, I can spend hours exploring online galleries, and tried-and-true sites such as http://www.stumbleupon.com/ provide an infinite source of inspiration. I've recently landed upon a new favorite hangout: http://www.portable.tv/.
Portable delivers the latest in fashion, art, film, and technology, featuring almost everything I love about the Internet (well, everything except for Facebook, with which I'm steadily developing a love-hate relationship). It combines the Sunday afternoon serenity of sketching at the Modern, the lazy pleasure of browsing my favorite fashion blogs for outfit ideas, and the intellectual challenge of a contemplating a well-crafted essay. While browsing the art channel a few days ago I came across UK animator and director Abbie Stephens' latest work, a music video for the Table Beggars' Loose Fit.
Loose Fit - Table Beggar music video from Abbie stephens on Vimeo.
Stephens utilizes negative space to tell the story of a man who wakes up one day to find himself slipping away. The result marries the static form of collage to the linear narrative form of the music video. "In a world overwhelmed with CGI and 3D, Stephens has created deep meaning using relatively simple means, resulting in a work that forces us to notice what isn’t there," writes Portable blogger Cassandra Martin.
In this behind-the-scenes video, Stephens walks through the creative process behind Loose Fit:
Loose Fit-Table beggar Making Of from Abbie stephens on Vimeo.
Negative space is one of the most basic principles we learn in art class, but as the Loose Fit video demonstrates, it's a fundamental concept that can change the viewer's relationship to a piece of art. As we begin the process of sketching out our collage ideas, how will we use negative space to direct our audience's attention? In the context of famine and overwhelming need, how can we incorporate a focus on "what isn't there?"
Portable delivers the latest in fashion, art, film, and technology, featuring almost everything I love about the Internet (well, everything except for Facebook, with which I'm steadily developing a love-hate relationship). It combines the Sunday afternoon serenity of sketching at the Modern, the lazy pleasure of browsing my favorite fashion blogs for outfit ideas, and the intellectual challenge of a contemplating a well-crafted essay. While browsing the art channel a few days ago I came across UK animator and director Abbie Stephens' latest work, a music video for the Table Beggars' Loose Fit.
Loose Fit - Table Beggar music video from Abbie stephens on Vimeo.
Stephens utilizes negative space to tell the story of a man who wakes up one day to find himself slipping away. The result marries the static form of collage to the linear narrative form of the music video. "In a world overwhelmed with CGI and 3D, Stephens has created deep meaning using relatively simple means, resulting in a work that forces us to notice what isn’t there," writes Portable blogger Cassandra Martin.
In this behind-the-scenes video, Stephens walks through the creative process behind Loose Fit:
Loose Fit-Table beggar Making Of from Abbie stephens on Vimeo.
Negative space is one of the most basic principles we learn in art class, but as the Loose Fit video demonstrates, it's a fundamental concept that can change the viewer's relationship to a piece of art. As we begin the process of sketching out our collage ideas, how will we use negative space to direct our audience's attention? In the context of famine and overwhelming need, how can we incorporate a focus on "what isn't there?"
The logos we love...and love to hate
Last Thursday we discussed what makes a logo work. A well-designed logo can do more than provide a first impression--that image begins a relationship. The exceptional logo can forge a customer's emotional connection to a trusted restaurant, store or clothing brand.
In addition to the message the company intends to convey, the logo carries a visual reminder of the consumer's past experiences. After long hours of driving on the highway, seeing a sign for your favorite restaurant (the infamous golden arches just up the road, for example) can bring a sigh of relief and contentment. The thought of gorging on french fries satisfies you before you take the first bite or even pull up to the drive thru window.
When a company changes a logo that generations of customers have come to rely on--an image that has become embedded in cultural memory--things can get messy. In an ill-fated effort to think outside the box last October, the Gap attempted to replace its iconic blue-box logo with an "updated" version.
I'm neither a graphic design major nor an advertising student, so I'll leave it to the design critics to delve into exactly what went wrong aesthetically. Blogger Ravit Lichtenberg believes the Gap, once a mall superpower, has lost touch with its dwindling conservative fanbase, and loyal customers agreed. Bloggers worldwide lampooned the rebranding effort; there's even a site where you can create your own Helvetica-based failure.
After only a week, the Gap reversed its redesign effort in one of the most prominent rebranding gaffes in recent memory. What does the Gap incident tell us about our personal connection to our favorite clothing brands? About our often unwieldy efforts to create a modern image...and our unwillingness to let go of the old?
In addition to the message the company intends to convey, the logo carries a visual reminder of the consumer's past experiences. After long hours of driving on the highway, seeing a sign for your favorite restaurant (the infamous golden arches just up the road, for example) can bring a sigh of relief and contentment. The thought of gorging on french fries satisfies you before you take the first bite or even pull up to the drive thru window.
Golden arches via University of Nevada Las Vegas Neon Museum
Left: the classic 1969 logo, as seen in every suburban mall in America. Right: the new logo, which lasted less than a week before public outcry prompted the corporation to take it down.
I'm neither a graphic design major nor an advertising student, so I'll leave it to the design critics to delve into exactly what went wrong aesthetically. Blogger Ravit Lichtenberg believes the Gap, once a mall superpower, has lost touch with its dwindling conservative fanbase, and loyal customers agreed. Bloggers worldwide lampooned the rebranding effort; there's even a site where you can create your own Helvetica-based failure.
After only a week, the Gap reversed its redesign effort in one of the most prominent rebranding gaffes in recent memory. What does the Gap incident tell us about our personal connection to our favorite clothing brands? About our often unwieldy efforts to create a modern image...and our unwillingness to let go of the old?
Tuesday, August 30, 2011
Create Change for Africa
Check out these organizations for more information on how you can join the fight to end hunger in Somalia and the Horn of Africa by donating funds, food and emergency supplies, or simply a few minutes of your time.
World Food Programme
The United Nations World Food Programme has begun relief operations in five countries affected by drought and food shortages: Somali, Ethiopia, Djibouti, Kenya, and Uganda. You can read about their efforts to end hunger in these troubled regions of the Horn of Africa and watch videos from the camps at Dadaab and Mogadishu.
CARE
CARE is working onsite at the Dadaab Refugee Camps to provide food and supplies as well as healthcare, education, and violence prevention services. Learn more about this organization's wide-reaching efforts and how thousands of families are fighting for survival at the Dadaab camps.
Medicines Sans Frontieres, more commonly known in the US as Doctors Without Borders, is on the frontlines providing emergency medical support to malnourished patients in Somalia and the Horn of Africa. Watch their homepage for real-time updates on their East African relief initiatives.
An elderly woman cares for her grandchildren in a makeshift tent at a refugee camp in Dadaab. Photo via AP Images
World Food Programme
The United Nations World Food Programme has begun relief operations in five countries affected by drought and food shortages: Somali, Ethiopia, Djibouti, Kenya, and Uganda. You can read about their efforts to end hunger in these troubled regions of the Horn of Africa and watch videos from the camps at Dadaab and Mogadishu.
CARE
CARE is working onsite at the Dadaab Refugee Camps to provide food and supplies as well as healthcare, education, and violence prevention services. Learn more about this organization's wide-reaching efforts and how thousands of families are fighting for survival at the Dadaab camps.
Medicines Sans Frontieres, more commonly known in the US as Doctors Without Borders, is on the frontlines providing emergency medical support to malnourished patients in Somalia and the Horn of Africa. Watch their homepage for real-time updates on their East African relief initiatives.
Sunday, August 28, 2011
Hunger Crisis in East Africa
Any work of multimedia--whether I choose to describe it as a collage, an installation, a website, a video, or a spoken word poem--has the potential to create community. No author truly works in a vaccuum, and today's rapidly growing internet culture has allowed us to forge more connections than ever before. Sharing our work online instantly connects us to thousands of potential viewers from our university community to the other side of the globe.
Our first class project in Multimedia Authoring will have a direct impact on communities thousands of miles away from Fort Worth, in places and cultures we have never seen or experienced. Each of us will create a collage to raise awareness of the famine that has depleted food supplies throughout eastern Africa, jeopardizing the lives of millions in Somalia and surrounding nations.
The region's worst drought in over half a century coupled with political unrest in Somalia have contributed to the severe shortage. In a recent bulletin, the US Agency for International Development (USAID) called the famine "the most severe food security emergency in the world today." You can learn more at http://www.usaid.gov/.
Our challenge as a class is to persuasively communicate our message through images and text, encouraging members of the TCU community to donate funds and supplies. We'll set up donation centers around the campus, and the fruits of our labor will go to the nonprofit organization of our choice.
PBS.org has compiled a list of disaster relief organizations that are working to end the food shortage in the Horn of Africa: http://www.pbs.org/newshour/rundown/2011/07/east-africa-famine-how-to-help.htm
This article provides contact information for each of the nonprofits listed. Your donations will help these committed organizations to provide emergency dietary rations and essential medical supplies. As I continue to research this developing crisis throughout the next week, I'll feature some outstanding organizations that are making strides to end hunger in East Africa.
Our first class project in Multimedia Authoring will have a direct impact on communities thousands of miles away from Fort Worth, in places and cultures we have never seen or experienced. Each of us will create a collage to raise awareness of the famine that has depleted food supplies throughout eastern Africa, jeopardizing the lives of millions in Somalia and surrounding nations.
The region's worst drought in over half a century coupled with political unrest in Somalia have contributed to the severe shortage. In a recent bulletin, the US Agency for International Development (USAID) called the famine "the most severe food security emergency in the world today." You can learn more at http://www.usaid.gov/.
Our challenge as a class is to persuasively communicate our message through images and text, encouraging members of the TCU community to donate funds and supplies. We'll set up donation centers around the campus, and the fruits of our labor will go to the nonprofit organization of our choice.
PBS.org has compiled a list of disaster relief organizations that are working to end the food shortage in the Horn of Africa: http://www.pbs.org/newshour/rundown/2011/07/east-africa-famine-how-to-help.htm
This article provides contact information for each of the nonprofits listed. Your donations will help these committed organizations to provide emergency dietary rations and essential medical supplies. As I continue to research this developing crisis throughout the next week, I'll feature some outstanding organizations that are making strides to end hunger in East Africa.
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