Andy Warhol...

Last Thursday there was no class with Dr. Edwin but the attendance still counts for we have to watch a movie clip about a famous person named Andy Warhol. Here's a biography about him, taken from Wikipedia Encyclopedia:

Andy Warhol was an inspiring artist and filmmaker is considered a founder and a major figure of the pop art movement. Born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania in 1928, Andy Warhol graduated from the Carnegie Institute of Technology before moving to New York. His first big break was in August 1949 when Glamour Magazine asked him to illustrate an article called "Success is a Job in New York". Although born Andrew Warhola, he dropped the 'a' in his last name when the credit mistakenly read "Drawings by Andy Warhol."

By 1955 Andy Warhol had almost all of New York copying his work. He was well known for creating ink images with slight color changes. Andy Warhol was into doing popular items like Coca-Cola bottles and celebrities faces, like Marilyn Monroe. His Campbell's Soup Can is a classic and an easily recognized work of Andy's. In the 1960s, Andy Warhol also made a series of films about time, boredom and repetition like Empire and The Chelsea Girls which are now underground classics.

Andy Warhol had the privilege of working with the rock band The Velvet Underground in 1965. He traveled around the country, not only with The Velvets, but also with 1965 superstar Edie Sedgwick and the lightshow The Exploding Plastic Inevitable.

On June 3rd, 1968, Valerie Solanis, founder and sole member of SCUM (Society for Cutting Up Men), walked into Andy Warhol's studio, The Factory, and shot him three times in the chest. He was rushed to the hospital and doctors said he was dead. Still, they decided to open up his chest and massaging his heart - just in case. It did the trick and Andy Warhol survived. Valerie turned herself in, was put in a mental institute and was later given a three-year prison sentence. After recovering, Andy continued to work. He started interview magazine and published The Philosophy of Andy Warhol: From A to B and Back Again. And though bullets didn't do him in, his own gall bladder did. Andy Warhol died February 22, 1987 after routine gall bladder surgery. In May of 1994, The Andy Warhol Museum opened in Pittsburgh.

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Done with a bit about him. What interest me the most is this guy really has lots of issues to be portrayed in each of his masterpieces. For example the car crash picture with several background colours editions. Why did he choose the picture? Is he trying to tell the viewers something? Why most of the pictures chosen have special background colour? There are so many unique pieces of works done by him that could spread lots of messages to his viewers and to whom who loves his works. Some of them could not be expressed in a form of words.

To me, having an artist like him in this wide world is a necessity, actually. What he did was not only to display his work of arts or to entertain people, but he is educating the world society with his 'colourful messages,' up until today, even he had turned into ashes already.

Making Up An Appointment...

It was sunny today, and it even windy a bit. During the gap after Dr. Nooreen's class and Cik Pah's, I went to look for Pn. Juridah, at her room to set up an appointment on behalf of my group for the research paper, since Dr. Edwin had decided that she's our supervisor. But unfortunately, I didn't manage to meet her, both at her old room and the new one. I guess she must have lectures at the moment. It was really frustrating to me, but I accept the fate that I'm not able to see her today.
Perhaps, tomorrow.

Right now, I'm choosing a few stories and novels to be considered as my topic for research. Maybe I should look for local writers or authors. I choose to do stories rather than poems because for me, it is easier to assess and less complex. Besides, I cannot be the person who is daring enough to use heavy materials, so I must choose wisely not to put myself in a 'booby trap' created by myself.

All of us were busy setting up for appointments with our supervisors since last week. Some of them are meeting today and even started last week. I truly hope tomorrow Pn. Ju is available for us to meet her for the appointment date...

Composing The Draft...Part I

This few days I manage to go back to my hometown, but not with empty hands. I planned to do "Open Window" by Saki, and did my first draft on position paper. Unfortunately, I didn't manage to get Mr. Omid to look at my thesis statement, for second time. Well, next time I'll be the first person to give him to take a look at my thesis statement...

First Assignment... D' Lesson Plan

Last week Dr. Edwin asked us to work in pair to do the lesson plan using the text from the myth, 'Daedalus & Icarus' by Ovid and the painting of 'The Fall of Icarus' by Pieter Bruegel as the set induction. So, I did it with Munirah Ismail. We spent one hour at the FPP Library to discuss and create the lesson plan together. Finally, we made it. I was so relief and felt glad because I brought the notebook along with me and we really felt that it was a quick discussion. I love doing work with Moon. The ideas that she gave combined with mine truly made the task easier and fast.

The idea on making the painting as a jigsaw puzzle for the whole class activity was really brilliant! I really like it. I can really assure that students will love the activity and are willing to participate. Just making these kind of activities will definitely draw students' attention to the lesson.

The Tutorial Session with Mr. Omid

Today is our fourth session, he asked us on the progress for our position paper, mainly about the thesis statement. Actually, this has been the continued session because last week, we did the same thing only that not all of us able to walk to the front and write their thesis statement. Then, he asked us to discuss the sample article about 'The Barn Burning' by William Faulkner. He guide us to identify the introduction and supporting details of the article.

To me, it would be most helpful to do this activity together in order to sharpen our skill in identifying the sentences, why did the writer point out such arguments and the conclusion. During the session, he asked one of my classmates to read the article and discuss. This activity is very effective as my classmates and I can evaluate each other's opinions and we could elaborate more on it.

What do I Learn....

First and foremost, Dr. Edwin assigned us to read the blue, photocopied book about 'Icarus & Daedalus' and look out for the story mentioned in the text. Well, honestly for me, it is quite challenging because although we do took all the subjects regarding English Literature, but I still feels awkward reading those ancient text. But at last, after several times reading it and searching for the information about the myth, I truly comprehend the story line.

Furthermore, he actually asked us to look for the painting drew by Pieter Bruegel entitled 'The Fall of Icarus.' Besides, he also asked us to search for the poem written by W.H. Auden that have the connection with the painting itself. It was truly amazing when you finally able to see the inner aspect of the myth through looking at the angle from the poet and by 'reading' the painting as a whole class activity. With the help from Dr. Edwin, the explanation, the guided questions that he asked us, and the materials that we brought to his class, made us to appreciate more about the myth. He also teach us on how to connect the painting along with the poem as set induction to be taught in the literature classroom. I find it is very interesting to do so because by doing that, we have three elements to open the view of the myth to the students later which is the picture of the painting, reading them the poem and asking them question to go deep into the myth.