User:Nmostafa

Freshman Seminar [edit]

Bio
http://www.myspace.com/themostafa

Always Wanted To Schedule

 * Topic I have always wanted to learn how to play the guitar. When I was younger I started playing and learned how to play a couple of songs, but I lost interest, and now anytime I pick up a guitar and try to play I can't even come close. By the end of the Quarter I would like to know how to play "No Woman No Cry" By Bob Marley, and "Zombie" By The Cranberries.


 * Research Component I will research the history of the guitar, Including when the first guitar was introduced and who played it, What instrument inspired the creation of the guitar, and who played the first electric guitar. I will also include a short list containing a few of the legendary guitar players throughout history, and what contribution they had that pioneered the way the guitar is played today.


 * week 1 I will start guitar lessons with a friend of mine who plays and start learning a few basic cords.


 * week 2 Continue guitar lessons with my friend and try to learn a few basic riffs.


 * week 3 Start learning how to play "No Woman No Cry" by Bob Marley.


 * week 4 Continue with learning how to play "No Woman No Cry"


 * week 5 If I have been able to succesfully play "No Woman No Cry" Move on to "Zombie" by The Cranberries.


 * week 6 Continue to learn how to play "Zombie"


 * week 7 Begin research on the guitar, and continue to brush up on the two songs will have hopefully learned.


 * week 8 Continue research and If there is time, possibly learn another song.

Midterm Assignment 1: Taste & Aesthetics
The piece I chose that I didn't really like was "Wandering Rocks" by Tony Smith. I looked up information on Tony Smith and checked out a few of his other pieces such as "Fourth Sign", "Free Ride" and "Light up". I did not really like any of his art. I did like some of the art from his influences, mainly Clyfford Still. Tony Smith was a minimalist sculptor. He started out as an architect working for Frank Lloyd Wright and he also did some painting as a part time art student. He did not begin sculpting until he was 44. He also taught at various institutions such as New York University, Pratt Institute, and Bennington College. He was asked to anchor the seminal 1966 show at the Jewish museum in New York entitled, "Primary Structures." A major retrospective, "Tony Smith: Architect, Painter, Sculptor," was held at the Museum of Modern Art in New York in 1998.He was the father of artists Chiara "Kiki" Smith and Seton Smith. As well as the underground actress Bebe Smith.Tony Smith died in 1980 at the age of 68. The Estate of Tony Smith is represented by the Matthew Marks Gallery in New York. Though I have tried to change my mind about the piece and make myself like it, I can't. I did not really like any of his Art and looking at his background did not change my point of view. Though I know there are probably good number of people out there that appreciate his work, I think it is simply a matter of opinion and perception, as well as taste. It's just not my kind of thing because it is too simplistic for me to appreciate the time spent on it.

Self-Assessment
I think I did alright this quarter. I learned not to depend too much on other people though because I was late and absent a lot due to my ride not showing up, and I was depending on him to help me learn guitar for my presentation but he was kind of flakey about it so I probably could've got a lot further on it if I wasn't depending on somebody else so much. But overall I know I did everything I could so I did my best. At least I can say that.