Graduate School

It seems that my blogging interest waxes and wanes, but sometimes I have a few moments and the right topic arrives.

I'm currently taking a course on the Avant Garde, and it's unfolding well. It is in most respects a good course. We're looking at both art and literature of the period, and the first half of our weekly sessions is art, and the second literature.

I'm mildly disappointed that the prof has decided to give us a lecture style presentation on the art. I would have preferred to hear what my fellow classmates would have had to present about the art. The second half discussions are far more interesting because the scheduled presenter discusses the literature and then we have a proper seminar.

However, I have my two paper topics under control, although I'm behind schedule in getting them written - the deadline is the 28th of November, which is not that far away.

Several of us in the class have taken to visiting Steamworks after class, most of them from my cohort. We were chatting about what we were planning to do to finish, and during this conversation, I had an epiphany...

Neither of the January course offerings really grab me - I was contemplating the merits of the seminar on Madness Self and Society over the one on War and Society.

The epiphany was this - I should take a directed studies course from my favorite GLS prof.

He was a guest lecturer for one session in the very first course I took - he talked about Verdi's opera Otello; his passion about music rubbed off on me.

I took his course on opera last fall, and loved every minute of it. Indeed, I got my paper back and for the first time ever in my academic history took the notes and comments and revised it! I'm even considering submitting it (in a slightly revised form) for publication in an academic journal.

He a guest lecturer again this semester, talking about Debussy, Schopenauer and Stravinsky in the context of the Avant Garde.

So, I emailed him that very same epiphanous evening, and he said he'd be delighted to do something with me, provided it would be next summer, and that I get the department to ok it (he's a sessional). They did. Done and done. Win-win.

The icing on the cake is that he's teaching a course on 18th century music next fall, so it will be a fitting penultimate course in my GLS program (the final course being the graduating seminar in January 2008).

One of the things I enjoy most about school is the interaction of the live classroom. I've done directed studies before in my undergrad degree. I had my favorite philosophy professor run a one person section of Workplace Ethics for me, and my French professor allowed me to do a third year French literature course independently of the class. I've also done online courses.

However, working one-on-one with someone who is not only passionate and knowledgeable about their subject matter, but can bring out those same strong emotions in me about what they're teaching is an opportunity not to be missed. Especially in a program that is both interdisciplinary and "is designed to satisfy wider needs".

Now if only I can persuade the department to have him teach the graduating seminar too... :-)