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The Dual Degree Dilemma

Alexandria Strother Leave a comment

The best part of being a double major is its function as the ultimate Trump Card in the subtle game of Who Has The Most Work To Do? that we all play on a daily basis. Hanging out with engineers complaining about the 370 project they just started and is due Sunday? Mention the 12 hours a week you spend in rehearsals for non-class related projects. Musicians complaining about having to write a three page paper for Musicology? Politely excuse yourself to go study for the Semiconductor Device Fundamentals midterm next week.

The worst part of being a double major? That moment after you have first met someone and they ask you, “What are you majoring in?” You reply, and at first the look of surprise on their face makes you feel great about your choice and the sacrifices you make to handle the required course load. But then, the criticism starts. From both musicians and engineers I have been told that because I am a double major there is no way I can be successful in either career. From peers who claim that I do not care about music because I “have no desire to be the conductor of a small town church choir located somewhere in the Bible Belt”, to faculty advisers who would not help me choose the best technical electives until I had “dropped my other major and was serious about engineering”, there are few people who genuinely believe that my choice to double major was a good and valid decision.

Earlier today, a professor told me “Double majors are for the undecided” upon overhearing my conversation with another student, and this is one of the first critiques I actually agree with. I am undecided. Though I am a junior, I do not know what I want to do when I graduate. Do I want to work? If so, do I work as a musician or as an engineer? Do I want to go to grad school? If so, do I pursue a Masters in Music, Engineering, Business or Law; all of which I have seriously considered within the past month? Even within Electrical Engineering: do I want to focus on Digital Signal Processing or Power?

So yes, I am undecided, but I do not think that is a bad thing. In a world as volatile as ours, who is to say what any of us will be doing in 10 years? My indecisive choice to not choose means that I would be happy in either field. By pursuing higher education in both, I am affording myself a larger scope of opportunities later in life rather than limiting myself when I have demonstrated that I am perfectly capable of managing both majors.

It was Albert Einstein who said “If at first the idea is not absurd, then there is no hope for it” and yes, a double major in Vocal Performance and Electrical Engineering is unconventional at best, and an absurd waste of time at worst. But, until the day comes when my performance in one field is negatively impacted by my involvement in the other, I do not see the folly in my refusal to choose, rather, hope for others to recognize its merit.

A Style is No Means to a [Tr]end

Justin & Ersun Leave a comment

Not only in fashion, but in technology, language, behavior, and design, there is a clear distinction between trends and style. Trends are always changing, but style is timeless. Specifically in fashion, trends change with the seasons. New lines of clothing roll out in advertisements as the trees lose their leaves. As celebrities set new bars and companies put out new lines, trends dictate the decisions of society. Perhaps a ploy of a consumerism, trends keep people spending their time and money on conforming to the latest change. New smart phones slip into our pockets with trivial changes in speed or new aesthetic value to the interface, new shoes slip onto our feet as the laces make minuscule alterations, and new words slip between our lips as Internet and TV icons develop fresh lingo. There are stages to this construct, from ignition to burning out. Initially, influential members of society, be them celebrities or anonymous people we cross paths with, set the trend. They update the ever-changing indicators of what is relevant. These individuals or groups hold an incredible power of suasion, and once they define the new “in”–be it with intention or not–the new line is set for the masses. The second stage in the life-cycle of the trend is acceptance. Once adopted by the general public–or a specific community–the trend becomes commonplace. Those who embrace it are seen as aware, and those who do not are irrelevant. The third stage of the trend is death. Trends typically have a short life, but the process of death may vary in length. Sometimes, trends may perish overnight, but in others, the death may be a slow process of decay. Those who are trendy know when a trend is on the decline and jump ship to avoid the look of ignorance. This is the stigma trends create.

Style deflects this.

Styles is a matter of personal choice. True style can withstand the test of time and conditions, and while it may be influenced by both, it is dependent on neither. Style, be it in any industry–fashion, behavior, or design–is a form of expression and art and something that is eternal. It is an outward display of personality and originality and gives a unique edge over the masses who conform to the current trends. Styles cannot be “out,” and therefore, cannot ruin an image. In a broader sense, it is an immortality and speaks louder and stronger than any trend. While trends are means to an end, style is a sustained source of identity. Developing a style is a practice of developing character and forming something that cannot be destroyed. Although many styles may be created in physical mediums–things that can be lost or destroyed–the spirit behind the idea lives on.

Invest in style, it doesn’t go ‘out.’

Functionality Over Taste

Jeannie Marie Leave a comment

This weekend, I attended a conference with a group called InterVarsity, which took place in enemy territory. That’s right, I went to East Lansing, home of MSU. Besides the fact that I was unable to wear anything from the maize side of my closet and I saw a LOT of green, I noticed a few things about the hotel I stayed in.

Pointed out to me by my (new) friend Mary, art student extraordinaire, the conference center and hotel was beautiful. From the way the sinks were designed, to the calming waterfall welcoming guests into what will hopefully be a home away from home, the layout was appealing, stylish, and modern. I noticed small touches, such as the way the comfortable chairs were placed near large windows, were the sunlight could filter in and provide a pleasant atmosphere when having a chat with friends. I enjoyed the placement of a revolving door, optional next to the regular door yet still an instillation that made the institution feel like a hotel. Yes, as Mary said, the architecture was great.

So that makes it artful, right?

When going to wash my hands, I had no idea where to place the complimentary bar of soap. When I found it could be tucked between the faucet handle and the raised edge of the sink, I felt proud…until it slipped of back into the sink.

Put on, slip off.

Put on, slip off.

The fountain, while gorgeous, spanned two stories. The water fell from the main lobby into the garage floor, into a pool with…what kind of sculpture? Really, what is that supposed to be? Did they actually pay money for that?

And why in the world would I want to look at a bale of hay right before I’m supposed to slip into pleasant dreams filled with friendship, laughter and rainbows? Hay is not particularly calming to me. In fact, I really don’t like hay (too many encounters on Rodeo Day. This is what I get for growing up in Texas).

All of these things culminated into a single question that both my friend Mary and another friend of mine Dean posed: Does art HAVE to have a reason?

In this case, I would solidly argue with yes, since a hotel is primarily functional rather than artful. I’m not sure if I necessarily agree all the time, but every time I’ve encountered art, either in audio or visual form, it’s made a clear statement. Deep? Maybe not. But a clear idea, theme, statement, whatever you have it? Yeah.

So I’m not sure what statement the bale of hay was trying to make. But hopefully, it was making a statement, and I just happened to miss it.

Zhan Wang: “My Personal Universe”

AgnesG Leave a comment
My Personal Universe, Zhan Wang
My Personal Universe, Zhan Wang

If you could have a superpower, what would it be? For me, I always wish to be able to stop time, when all my surroundings would freeze and only I could move. And this wish periodically gets stronger when it is the last minute before my exams or before due dates of my papers. Just kidding. Nonetheless, freezing time is definitely a cool superpower to have. As you can expect, just like my other childhood fantasies, the existence of superpowers also got denied by my science teachers back in primary school as I grew. However, an exhibition that I saw in 2012 by the Chinese sculptor, Zhan Wang, made my wish come true by showing the freezing moment of the explosion of a rock.

The exhibition was called “My Personal Universe” and it was held in Ullens Center for Contemporary Art in Beijing. When I entered the gallery, I was surprised to find myself surrounded by floating and shimmering rock fragments, which were hung from invisible wires. On the ceiling, the ground, and the four walls in the gallery, there were six large screens showing video-clips of the explosion from six different angles. I felt like entering a space where time stopped; however, the videos continuously played in super-slow-motion on the screens kept me aware of what was happening around me.

According to the artist, by suspending rock fragments throughout the gallery, he was trying to recreate the birth of the universe. The explosion reminds people of the big bang theory. To do this, the artist did record the explosion of a boulder on-site from multiple angles. After that, he brought all the fragments back to his studio and made stainless steel replicas of these fragments. He installed these replicas in the gallery in a way that each fragments moved along its own trajectory, and finally formed this fascinating scene of the explosion.

I was amazed by the idea of recreating the start of the universe, and the beauty of the destruction itself. I felt as if I was experiencing the explosion, and I could imagine the tension between all the rock fragments and me. They were moving toward me. They were about to smash my face. However they stopped before they got too close, leaving me standing in the middle of the rocks adrift in the space and marveling at the beauty of this apocalyptic moment.

Interview with a Southerner: Oak Alley Plantation

Sarah Ogar Leave a comment

For Fall Break I went on an amazing (and delicious) mini-vacation with my mom to help celebrate her fiftieth birthday in New Orleans.  Both of us are huge francophiles and relished every French detail that we took in during our stay.

On the Saturday of our trip we ventured out of the city to Oak Alley Plantation, a gorgeous estate that was built to do exactly what it did to us.  It was built by a man to lure his wife away from the thrills of New Orleans.  The guide said the wife was not impressed though my mom and I could barely keep our mouths closed as we walked wide-eyed through every hall and corridor, including the super famous alley of 28 oaks (all of which are 300 years old, which is roughly middle age in oak years).

Oak Alley was built between 1837-1839, as a typical Greek Revival antebellum-era plantation complete with massive doric columns, high ceilings, and stark white chunky crown molding around the edge of the ceilings.

This picture doesn’t do it justice.  In terms of scale, it is the opposite of the ramshackle homes that are still being revived in New Orleans.  The wrap-around second floor porch alone could fit several one-room homes around it.

We also toured their slave quarters where the names of all the Oak Alley slaves were posted on the wall, along with clothes, cooking utensils, and shackles.

Slave quarters are always unsettling to me, especially in light of the fact that 50 feet away lies an entirely different world.  I always feel guilty walking through these things.  Like I need to apologize to someone or donate some of my things to make a better life for someone.  However, it made me glad that they had taken the time to preserve the details about the lives of the people who built Oak Alley and not just those who enjoyed its delicacies.

After the slave quarters, we toured the house, which was magnificent and beautiful with its interior Greek revival style.

This was my favorite room because of the blue and green that seemed to bring nature inside.  I also loved the heavy, sweeping effect of the drapery around the beds and windows.  After learning about the history of the family, involving sickness, death, and amputations, I saw these rooms as more than paint and fabric.

Our guide that day was an amputee.  She later told us that she lost her right arm from the elbow down in a car accident twelve years ago.  But that wasn’t the first thing I noticed about her.  The first thing I noticed was that she was warm and lovely and seemed completely at ease. She had the brightest smile with a prominent gap in her two front teeth and the blackest hair that was elegantly pulled back into an intricate bun.  And she knew a lot about the family history of Oak Alley.

For one, after the Civil War, the plantation was economically not sustainable.  This did not surprise me at all. The sheer magnitude of the 25 acre plantation and the ‘big house’ as it was called could not be sustained by anything besides free labor.  In 1866 it was sold for $32,800.

The house was not restored until 1922, but when it was, a trust was established so that more renovations and also archeological work could be done.  Air conditioning, electricity, and other ‘modern comforts’ were added without changing any of the aesthetics of the house.

When our tour was done, my mom and I decided that we are glad to be out of the era of slave labor, but were grateful to take part in the preservation of architectural styles and human stories, both those of the plantation owners and the slaves.  If you get a chance to ever go, I highly recommend it!

Opposites Attract

Erika Bell Leave a comment

Everywhere I turn I see myself. Well, not exactly. The popularity of reflection/illusion/kaleidoscope photography has been more prevalent than ever. The symmetry, the identical composition, the  trippy shapes are all interesting factors that play into the attraction that is literally of opposites. Professionally this artistic style of enhancing images has added interest in the photograph. From the aspect of fashion photography and selling garments, this double-view is a cheap way to market clothes more than once.  The image below caught my attention because of the way the center of the image branched off to the left and the right, creating this butterfly-woman rocking a white, lace jumpsuit. I’m a closet fashion photography lover (well not really you can catch me in Barnes and Nobles devouring a Vogue any day), and what I’ve noticed throughout time is the standardized composition and atmosphere coming from fashion photography (not including certain amazing photographers). I believe this resurgence of photo-editing and the illusion photography is a great way for these images to add interest and more sales.

trendland.com

I’ve also come across the everyday use of reflection in photography. The photo-editing applications for smartphones has made it so easy and fun to make reflective images of your personal photographs. In the everyday market, this style of doubling your own images puts you at a different level than other images. From Instagram, to Tumblr, to Pinterest, the sharing of images is all about their popularity. Who has the cooler shot?  Who can get the most likes? This mindset brings people to want to download apps like that of reflection photography, so we have something new and unique to present to the people we know.

Thisiscolossal.com