College :-)
Sep. 2nd, 2011 06:58 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
beccaelizabethTutor did reply to email, tells me when my lessons are this year. Apparently only just got the timetable.
This year will be Wednesdays & Fridays.
Is good I find this out in time to reschedule the Wednesday cleaner.
... I will no longer be in Norwich for the Thursday dancing lessons. That'll make it harder to go. :-(
Semester 1: Contemporary Narrative 10 credits Weds and Victorians & Victorianism 20 credits Fri.
... somewhere around here I have bits of paper telling me what those are.
... my college offers precisely enough credits to get the degree. 'optional' isn't. so I do what's there. It makes choosing pretty simples.
*reads bits of paper*
actually, no, it doesn't much tell me what they are. Not least because Contemporary Narrative and National Cinema has almost the same description.
Victorians and Victorianism: This module will allow students to engage with significant texts produced between 1837 and 1901 and to bring to bear knowledge of texts and theories gained in earlier modules. Students will be encouraged to read key texts from different genres, including the visual arts, and from the early, middle and late years of the century, both in their cultural context and in terms of the ways in which they have been subsequently reread and reinflected. This course will lead from the study of eighteenth century literature in Revolution and Reaction [which I have done] and lead into work on Modernism in the final term [which I have also done, because it used to be a level 2 module with R&R in level 3, until someone pointed out it didn't make any sense. I really didn't like Modernism.] encouraging students to make their own connections and syntheses across the English programme as a whole. [I like it when things connect up.]
Contemporary Narrative: In this module students will undertake the study of contemporary forms, genres and artefacts within the framework of a range of theoretical accounts of contemporary narrative theory.
At the end of the degree programme the intention is to return to theoretical issues introduced in the first year, put into practice in relation to specific case studies in the second year, so as to reflect more critically and self-consciously in the final year, consolidating their thinking on theoretical issues in relation to their own critical practice to explore them in greater depth.
National Cinema: Students will undertake the study of contemporary, national cinema; this will involve the focus on a European case study.
At the end of the degree programme & etc & etc & etc
So the main specific is 'contemporary'. Also, that tends to mean 'not quite as old as the new undergrads'. *big shrug*
forms, genres, artefacts, and cinema.
... I forsee lots of subtitled movies. Probably involving serial killers and prostitutes. Maybe just crime and death.
... that's what all the other units this teacher does were about.
I want to go to the UEA and do a unit on Science Fiction. They teach one. Or taught, the website is a bit untidy. I'm reading books about it right now. It sounds quite a lot more interesting than all crime all the time.
On the other hand it is still all about (a) Class (b) Sex and (c) The (First/Second World / Cold) War.
The more I study the more I think entire bookcases can be compressed down to a+b and a splash of c.
Sometimes, in newer books, it is also about race. But this is Britain, so talking about race is still, once it loops around, talking about class. :-p
Fandom is actually having more interesting conversations.
Fandom is also talking about sexuality and disability in ways the CCN library hasn't got around to yet.
Fandom has suggested some ways of fixing things.
I'm getting a bit heartily sick of studying stuff that's all about What It's About and none about How We Can Do Better. I'm studying it with the point of Doing Better. It's a more interesting topic.
Also, I could be quite happy if I never read another word about Freud or Lacan. It's all rubbish. Freud was just a very influential text, not an actual description of how people work.
:-p :-p :-p
Oh dear, I really am getting quite fed up of quite a lot of my chosen field.
Dissertation Preparation: The module aims to prepare second year students for work on the Dissertation module offered in Year Three. The skills acquired develop further those in year one - close reading of texts, construction of academic argument, etc- by opening up the whole field of bibliographic research, by encouraging the student to place their topic within current critical discourse and, most importantly, by developing the student's confidence as an independent learner.
... does that translate as 'throw them at the library to think up a diss topic'?
Semester 2: Dissertation Prep 10 credits Weds and National Cinema 10 credits Fri.
There should have been another 10 credits but, surprise surprise, it clashed. This is what happens when am studying at two levels at once. slowness begets more slowness.
on the plus side, the level 3 module I can't do, Life Writing, says it develops skills from level 1 Writing and Genre and level 2 The Short Story. When I was doing level 1 The Short Story was a level 1 module, and I did Doctor Who instead, though it went into my degree as Independent Study. I've not finished level 2, and I may be able to do The Short Story, but only if it's in the right semester. Otherwise I'll (a) do Life Writing without either of the aforementioned precursor classes and (b) go back to do The Short Story later if I can't find another 10 credits at level 2.
... yeah, that makes the kind of sense that's not.
... the course keeps getting changed around me so the modules and levels don't quite work the same any more. I hope there won't be cracks.
On the other plus side, if it's about learning to write, I think I have some relevant experience in that area. If it's about applying theory to it then might want to do things in order. But 'Life Writing' is about writing about your life. Biography or autobiography in whichever form you like, poetry or prose. Maybe I could hand in a selection of blog posts with a critical commentary...
What I had planned to do was some more UEA continuing education units, but they vanished before I could study them :-(
I don't think the UEA will let me in to regular daytime degree classes just because CCN ran out of modules.
Of course technically the 'missing' ten credits are Preparation For Work. The thing is, it is widely agreed, with many reassessments, that work is one of those things that don't happen to me. So how do I prepare for it? Stop being autistic? Plus, I don't know what kind of work I'd want to do. I definitely don't know how to do preparation work for being a writer. Or to be precise, I don't know how to do more preparation in a costs money but untaught ten credit module than I have done in the past... call it twenty years. I have books on writing, I have films and DVD commentary tracks covering relevant topics, I have read the reading list of several UEA modules I can't actually get in to that are about writing, I have researched relevant industry stuff (in three English speaking countries), I have gone to events and talked to people who already do this work about how to do this work, the only thing left to do in my chosen career is write something good enough.
... which may well be an insurmountable obstacle, and 10 credits of toddling off to the library and writing a CV won't do anything about that.
I haven't the first tiny clue what other work I could do. The world of work is a vast blankness I know not of.
... I do know I will not become a teacher. And nobody can make me. Nope.
(Most of the people at college are planning to become teachers. I have regular nightmares about that. *shudders*)
Teachers I like think I could go on to do more English studying and be academic and stuff. I guess I could write books about other books.
... oh dear god I do not want to spend my professional life writing books about other books. Or films. I just... no.
Yes I spend half the time in my blog doing that, but there's a difference.
I just... I look at work, and it does not compute.
I mean, I attend about 90% of the time on courses that last 6 to 8 hours a week, with frequent school holiday weeks. What kind of work can I do in 90% of 6 hours a week with lots of holidays?
I have no clue what will happen with finances this year. I haven't got any forms to fill in. I can fix this when college starts by going up to the desk and going wah at them. but I don't know if I'll get any money. I'm always pessimistic about that.
Friday lessons finish at 3pm in semester 1 and 2pm in semester 2. This is early enough I can go straight from lessons to conventions.
*happy dance happy dance happy dance*
Monday lessons means skipping class to do cons, or skipping cons to do class, neither of which I like.
Friday lessons means factoring in travel time and starting about 5 hours later than usual. That means some cons are still possible. Even on college weeks. And with no lessons until Wednesday I can even have recovery time and a working brain.
Now I just have to find cons I want to go to...
This year will be Wednesdays & Fridays.
Is good I find this out in time to reschedule the Wednesday cleaner.
... I will no longer be in Norwich for the Thursday dancing lessons. That'll make it harder to go. :-(
Semester 1: Contemporary Narrative 10 credits Weds and Victorians & Victorianism 20 credits Fri.
... somewhere around here I have bits of paper telling me what those are.
... my college offers precisely enough credits to get the degree. 'optional' isn't. so I do what's there. It makes choosing pretty simples.
*reads bits of paper*
actually, no, it doesn't much tell me what they are. Not least because Contemporary Narrative and National Cinema has almost the same description.
Victorians and Victorianism: This module will allow students to engage with significant texts produced between 1837 and 1901 and to bring to bear knowledge of texts and theories gained in earlier modules. Students will be encouraged to read key texts from different genres, including the visual arts, and from the early, middle and late years of the century, both in their cultural context and in terms of the ways in which they have been subsequently reread and reinflected. This course will lead from the study of eighteenth century literature in Revolution and Reaction [which I have done] and lead into work on Modernism in the final term [which I have also done, because it used to be a level 2 module with R&R in level 3, until someone pointed out it didn't make any sense. I really didn't like Modernism.] encouraging students to make their own connections and syntheses across the English programme as a whole. [I like it when things connect up.]
Contemporary Narrative: In this module students will undertake the study of contemporary forms, genres and artefacts within the framework of a range of theoretical accounts of contemporary narrative theory.
At the end of the degree programme the intention is to return to theoretical issues introduced in the first year, put into practice in relation to specific case studies in the second year, so as to reflect more critically and self-consciously in the final year, consolidating their thinking on theoretical issues in relation to their own critical practice to explore them in greater depth.
National Cinema: Students will undertake the study of contemporary, national cinema; this will involve the focus on a European case study.
At the end of the degree programme & etc & etc & etc
So the main specific is 'contemporary'. Also, that tends to mean 'not quite as old as the new undergrads'. *big shrug*
forms, genres, artefacts, and cinema.
... I forsee lots of subtitled movies. Probably involving serial killers and prostitutes. Maybe just crime and death.
... that's what all the other units this teacher does were about.
I want to go to the UEA and do a unit on Science Fiction. They teach one. Or taught, the website is a bit untidy. I'm reading books about it right now. It sounds quite a lot more interesting than all crime all the time.
On the other hand it is still all about (a) Class (b) Sex and (c) The (First/Second World / Cold) War.
The more I study the more I think entire bookcases can be compressed down to a+b and a splash of c.
Sometimes, in newer books, it is also about race. But this is Britain, so talking about race is still, once it loops around, talking about class. :-p
Fandom is actually having more interesting conversations.
Fandom is also talking about sexuality and disability in ways the CCN library hasn't got around to yet.
Fandom has suggested some ways of fixing things.
I'm getting a bit heartily sick of studying stuff that's all about What It's About and none about How We Can Do Better. I'm studying it with the point of Doing Better. It's a more interesting topic.
Also, I could be quite happy if I never read another word about Freud or Lacan. It's all rubbish. Freud was just a very influential text, not an actual description of how people work.
:-p :-p :-p
Oh dear, I really am getting quite fed up of quite a lot of my chosen field.
Dissertation Preparation: The module aims to prepare second year students for work on the Dissertation module offered in Year Three. The skills acquired develop further those in year one - close reading of texts, construction of academic argument, etc- by opening up the whole field of bibliographic research, by encouraging the student to place their topic within current critical discourse and, most importantly, by developing the student's confidence as an independent learner.
... does that translate as 'throw them at the library to think up a diss topic'?
Semester 2: Dissertation Prep 10 credits Weds and National Cinema 10 credits Fri.
There should have been another 10 credits but, surprise surprise, it clashed. This is what happens when am studying at two levels at once. slowness begets more slowness.
on the plus side, the level 3 module I can't do, Life Writing, says it develops skills from level 1 Writing and Genre and level 2 The Short Story. When I was doing level 1 The Short Story was a level 1 module, and I did Doctor Who instead, though it went into my degree as Independent Study. I've not finished level 2, and I may be able to do The Short Story, but only if it's in the right semester. Otherwise I'll (a) do Life Writing without either of the aforementioned precursor classes and (b) go back to do The Short Story later if I can't find another 10 credits at level 2.
... yeah, that makes the kind of sense that's not.
... the course keeps getting changed around me so the modules and levels don't quite work the same any more. I hope there won't be cracks.
On the other plus side, if it's about learning to write, I think I have some relevant experience in that area. If it's about applying theory to it then might want to do things in order. But 'Life Writing' is about writing about your life. Biography or autobiography in whichever form you like, poetry or prose. Maybe I could hand in a selection of blog posts with a critical commentary...
What I had planned to do was some more UEA continuing education units, but they vanished before I could study them :-(
I don't think the UEA will let me in to regular daytime degree classes just because CCN ran out of modules.
Of course technically the 'missing' ten credits are Preparation For Work. The thing is, it is widely agreed, with many reassessments, that work is one of those things that don't happen to me. So how do I prepare for it? Stop being autistic? Plus, I don't know what kind of work I'd want to do. I definitely don't know how to do preparation work for being a writer. Or to be precise, I don't know how to do more preparation in a costs money but untaught ten credit module than I have done in the past... call it twenty years. I have books on writing, I have films and DVD commentary tracks covering relevant topics, I have read the reading list of several UEA modules I can't actually get in to that are about writing, I have researched relevant industry stuff (in three English speaking countries), I have gone to events and talked to people who already do this work about how to do this work, the only thing left to do in my chosen career is write something good enough.
... which may well be an insurmountable obstacle, and 10 credits of toddling off to the library and writing a CV won't do anything about that.
I haven't the first tiny clue what other work I could do. The world of work is a vast blankness I know not of.
... I do know I will not become a teacher. And nobody can make me. Nope.
(Most of the people at college are planning to become teachers. I have regular nightmares about that. *shudders*)
Teachers I like think I could go on to do more English studying and be academic and stuff. I guess I could write books about other books.
... oh dear god I do not want to spend my professional life writing books about other books. Or films. I just... no.
Yes I spend half the time in my blog doing that, but there's a difference.
I just... I look at work, and it does not compute.
I mean, I attend about 90% of the time on courses that last 6 to 8 hours a week, with frequent school holiday weeks. What kind of work can I do in 90% of 6 hours a week with lots of holidays?
I have no clue what will happen with finances this year. I haven't got any forms to fill in. I can fix this when college starts by going up to the desk and going wah at them. but I don't know if I'll get any money. I'm always pessimistic about that.
Friday lessons finish at 3pm in semester 1 and 2pm in semester 2. This is early enough I can go straight from lessons to conventions.
*happy dance happy dance happy dance*
Monday lessons means skipping class to do cons, or skipping cons to do class, neither of which I like.
Friday lessons means factoring in travel time and starting about 5 hours later than usual. That means some cons are still possible. Even on college weeks. And with no lessons until Wednesday I can even have recovery time and a working brain.
Now I just have to find cons I want to go to...