User:Jenschenck

Bio
Jen Schenck Web Design and Interactive Media

Always Wanted To Schedule

 * Topic

Getting to know Seattle. Research local Seattle area points of interest and visit a minimum of three, documenting my experience. Utilize the Seattle area public transportation and gather any relevant physical mementos (pictures, literature, etc.) to be included in my experience journal.


 * Research Component


 * week 1

Research information on the history of Seattle. Discover landmarks, local favorites, museums, galleries, restaurants, etc. Make a list of my favorites.


 * week 2

Further research my top picks and decide on my top three. Think about and record reasons as to why these places took priority over others.


 * week 3

Confirm dates and times that I will attend/visit each location. Set approximate times such as dates, transportation, things to take with me, a list of some of the specific things I would like to see or experience at each place.


 * week 4

Visit location one.


 * week 5

Location two


 * week 6

Location three


 * week 7

Begin to turn notes into summary for each trip and experience.


 * week 8

Complete summaries which log my experiences. Consider which other Seattle attractions I would like to visit in the future. Create a journal/scrapbook with my summaries or journal entries and any pictures, literature, souvenirs, etc.

Why Do I Like What I Like?
Jen Schenck General Education, Steven Arnston Monday 8:00am-12:00pm May 4, 2009

In a time of custom, made-to-order computers, personalized Nike shoes, and daily (perhaps hourly!) coffee couture a la Starbucks, being forced to accept something “as is” becomes challenging. It even seems that letting something disliked or unenjoyable into one’s “world” borders masochism. Why choose to surround yourself with anything you did not create or at least have a say in some aspect of the finished product?

I embarked upon a new journey to visit the Olympic Sculpture Park intent on finding some displayed sculpture that would, by natural reflex, produce the rolling eyes, raising of a single eyebrow, thoughts of text message lingo/acronym, “WTF” suddenly making my list of the top 10 things technology has offered society. Some challenge. Ha. Not for a lifelong, world-class cynic. Proudly, I took the liberty of granting myself this title long ago. Years ago. In fact, let’s just say I was born with the title. Moving along.

Arrival : Sure the scale of the works and exhibited pieces turned out to be a bit, perhaps a very notable bit, underestimated on my part. However, this alone produced not an ounce of awe. Expected. Anticipated. My assumptions confirmed. Thou’s ego? Check. Thou’s confidence? Check. Thou’s comfortable and, might I add very common, sense of superiority? Double check.

I scan Terminator style and target some cartoon-looking exhibit of... ridiculousness. It’s calling for my constructive criticism! Immediate conclusion: Dr. Seusse’s Thing 1 and Thing 2 had a baby with the incredible Hulk and a box of old-school Crayola’s. This is the offspring. This is what would be produced. The artist wanted to put this picture into a tangible form. Next thought: What a waste of material, space, and, above all else, my time!

There it is. My chosen piece of unpleasant and pointless. I jot down the name and brief information about the... eh, “sculpture”, and depart with negative thoughts about the entire idea of sculpture in general.

Generally, when I invest time and a portion of my brain’s prime real estate to a matter, I desire to and succeed in finding pleasure, enjoyment in whatever it may be. For the sake of three credits and need to fulfill assignments and class requirements, I move on to the next step of researching and educating myself about the “Typewriter Eraser, Scale X” mass of mess.

Research, ho! Right off the bat I find an infinite amount of information on this sculpture by Claes Oldenburg. Wikipedia, Google, Art lovers and haters who blog, photographers, even my design class textbook! Suddenly, WTF has a new, positive flare of excitement! Intrigued cynic I have suddenly become.

I confirm The Typewriter Eraser, Scale X is “pop culture”. I’ve seen the term, used it, diagnosed objects with the description, pretended I knew what the term actually meant. Now, in the midst of curiosity, was the time to live up to those claims. What is pop art? How is this massive, intrusive structure fitting under the term’s umbrella of meaning?

Pop Art covers an era in which art was created using everyday, modern, otherwise mundane subject matter. Yes, Andy Warhol comes to my mind. The soup can! That, much like Oldenburg’s sculpture, is an everyday piece of culture. Problem is that I have never actually know about typewriter erasers. My mind shifts gears away from physical ideas and matters to conceptual thoughts, realizations, and brain-food.

I grew up in the realm of Word Processing, where dictionaries are obsolete thanks to Spell Check, mistakes are corrected without trace by pressing a singel computer key, and the ability to pick up, take a break, etc. is undetectible wiht the elimination of ink and handwriting.

This convenience doubles as a hinderance. Reading other’s views on The Typewriter Eraser, exemplifies this idea. Though I easily type this report utilizing modern technology, I’m reminded that these luxuries were not always part of everyday life. I begin to feel reminiscent despite never having been granted the opportunity to use a good-ol’ typewriter. Thoughts of cassette tapes, VCR’s, Ataries, evolving in to CD’s, DVD’s, and Play Stations are lured to my conscious. I can relate to this irrelative object! I love pop culture and I will get more.

I scoped out Olympic Sculpture Park like an ignorant dumb-downed citizen... Such a “VIP”, “couture” demanding society which ironically manages to determine the status quo. Let me out!

The reunion one week later. This sculpture, The Typewriter Eraser took guts, beliefe, determination. The idea of everyday tools or objects becoming mundane and in need of people’s attention in order to maintain the idea of art and design, is already impressive. To carry it out in a way that speaks to those willing to listen (or learn!) is fascinating. Oh yeah, so that’s what fascination felt like as a kid. Thanks, Oldenburg!

Notes: I have since explored typewriter erasers, which are currently nearly exclusively sold in the form/shape of a pencil with a paint brush like end. Much to my delight I happened upon a vintage version which resembles Typewriter Eraser Sale X the sculpture. WIth my new found knowledge, I actually wanted the item and responded to the item, offering the asking price plus additional shipping and handling costs. I thought, I would greatly enjoy having this small “replica” of the statue. Then I smiled remembering that, in fact, the sculpture was a large replica of this near-exact vintage find.

Conclusion: The sculpture Typewriter Eraser, Scale X by Claes Oldenburg is a work of art reflecting the era of circa 1960. It also reflects modernism, nastalgia, and confirms there will always be an element of unknown in the future.

Self-Assessment
I went in to this course with an open mind and no rigid expectations which helped tremendously in the quality of my experience in class. The open discussion and constant interaction with the instructor and other students allowed me to become familiar and comfortable in the campus and classroom environment.

I was presented and took advantage of the opportunity to analyze myself. Having to stick to a plan leading to my final presentation brought to light that I have a tendency to dive in to projects quickly. Taking the time to plan and create a process isn’t a waste of time, but rather, a key element in achieving of my goals.

My instructor was very encouraging and seemed to always find a way to view new and/or different opinions and ideas as positive. This set the tone for a supportive, encouraging class. The relationships formed in this class are surprisingly of the strongest which has a lot to do with the tone set by the course and Steven. The presentations were extremely helpful. As a result I am much more prepared and confident as I look to the future with AIS. Jenschenck