1. My name is Joanna Bugajska and this is my last semester. I will be graduating in May 2010 with BA in Studio Arts (emphasis on drawing) and BFA in Film Studies.
2. I have always been hands on, with art, with film and in life. While I am not thrilled about having to take history classes there is this old saying: History is meant to be remembered and not repeated, or something along those lines.
In History of World Art we have looked at the works of the masters, many of which I have loved and all which should be respected, mostly because of the learned skill and innate to each artist aspect, such as use of light or color. But what of modern and contemporary art? Where do the values in those works lie, concept?
3. I have taken several 3000 and 4000 level courses, most in film studies. Last semester, I have taken ARTS 4002 (Drawing 4) and FILM 3104 (Introduction to Film Theory).
4. The best class I have taken in the last four years was FILM 2610, or Animation. This class is open to all majors and does not have prerequisites, so that art majors can also take the class. I liked it so much that I took the class twice.
The course is taught alternatively by Stacey Steers and Chris Pearce, both good teachers. Stacey is an artist while Chris is the technology expert. FILM 2610 introduces the art of classical and experimental animation; starting with hand drawn animation to stop-motion animation using sand or paint.
5. I have written at least 12 research papers in the last five years, all which included bibliography, or works cited. The length of the process was heavily dependent on the length, but also on the subject, so it’s a difficult question to answer. Most of the papers I have written requires printed sources and allowed only limited online citations.
6. The last paper I have written was the one which caused me the most trouble, took the longest and required the most effort, but was also the most challenging and allowed me to learn the most. I have titled the paper “What’s Essential Is Invisible to the Eye.” This paper was about ideology and pedagogy in The Little Prince (1974), a children’s musical.
In the paper I argue that mainstream Hollywood uses children films to indoctrinate the youth of the world with the ideas of patriarchal society and those of a capitalistic imperialism. I will never look at Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs the same.
7. Truthfully, I don’t read a lot books. Most of my reading is online and I watch a lot programs and films to learn and entertain myself. Last book I have REALLY read, meaning active reading, was Indie Producers Handbook : Creative Producing From A to Z by Myrl A. Schreibman.
This non-fiction book about the process and challenges of independent and mainstream production has been a real eye opener. There is an enormous gap between film production and the experimental production that the CU Film program promotes.
8. Main reason for me taking the Contemporary Art class is that I have a limited knowledge of the contemporary art.
9. Art is such a wide territory that almost all my interests can be included in this category. The only other interest I have is technology, mainly computers – inside and out. I am a certified computer technician, a job I performed for several years.
I enjoy learning new software and finding new uses for those I already know. In my opinion, computers are the artist’s ultimate tool. Especially in film and animation, the technology defies the laws that govern this world, and transcends the reality.
10. In the last few years I have created blogs for different classes. Their purpose was usually to display my work and their use was short lived. Last semester we started a new blog for the CU Filmmaking Club at www.cufilmmaking.blogspot.com, which we use to communicate club events and projects.
11. Cultural events… 2009 BFA Show in Dairy Art Center was the last show Jackie and I attended.
12. When I watch a movie I always ask myself how it was done, how it was framed, how it was lit, how was the story told, and then of course if/how I could do also create those images. One of the best places to learn what took place behind the scenes and how the images on screen where created is ICG Magazine (ICG – International Cinematographers Guide). FREE COPY of the magazine is available in ATLAS building on the 3rd floor, and main articles can be read online at www.icgmagazine.com.
After seeing the 2009 version of Charles Dickens’ classic A Christmas Carol I needed to know more. ICG Magazine wrote an extensive expose on the feature which can be read online by clicking here.
13. Intellectual horizon – that is a difficult question to both take seriously and to answer adequately.
“It’s the things left undone that will torment you.” – Unknown
This quote has stayed with me since I read it in a fortune cookie. I have taped the original to my computer monitor to serve as a remainder. I think anyone can relate to this but for me its message rings more than one bell, till I am deaf – to the countless excuses I make for myself why not to do something.
