Twitphonic?

The National Symphony introduces real-time program notes via Twitter.

This is going to stir up a bit of controversy. I am far from a purist and all about embracing technology for musical audiences but does this take it too far? Surely, going to the symphony is about experiencing the music as it happens and how each individual audience member engages with that performance in his/her own way. I view these live tweets from the conductor creating two potential problems: disengagement from the audience (aren't the symphony, opera, ballet, theatre, etc. places we go to get away from our smartphones?) and changing the way an audience member might receive and react to a piece. I feel the last one might be more harmful than the first and interfere with the audience member's interpretations of the piece by being fed the conductor's insights to the work in real time.

Also, by allowing the live feed from Twitter on the lawn and not in the house, aren't we promoting an even further division of highbrow/lowbrow value judgments by reserving the technology for the less elite lawn-seating? As if those on lawn seats would benefit from the tweets?

Tweeting from the opera probably isn't in our future but pending the reaction to this it might be at the next symphony concert we attend. What are your thoughts?

Visual Representation

Here is a visual representation of all 28,266 words of my master's thesis from Wordle. Good to know that it all looks pretty common in the end!

Transitioning

I'm back from the blogging hiatus of a ridiculously busy spring quarter which was filled with writing too many research papers and grading too many from my students. However, I was quite pleased with the variety of topics and overall writing skills my students developed throughout the past year. I'd say most, if not all, improved their writing skills, which was no small feat (for either of us) but I trust it will pay off for them in the long run. But the best news is that I am finished with coursework. HALLELUJAH! Now, onto prepping for exams and writing that darn dissertation... Oh yes, and welcome back to the real world (see above comic for real life experiences with this so far).

Moving from the frenetic pace of reading, writing, teaching, and pumping coffee just to stay awake into this stagnant stillness of not having any classes and having to gear up for pending exam studying is quite disconcerting. I'm spending many hours a day looking for work (apparently, not a huge market for us overqualified academics at the moment) and trying to build up a core of students to teach lessons to. It's amazing how quickly life can shift from completely crazy over-scheduled madness into unfettered sluggishness. No close deadlines or upcoming projects--it all feels so foreign and far-removed. Thankfully I've had friends to entertain me to keep me from cleaning my living room AGAIN and trying out a ton of new recipes for fun.

But really, WHAT'S NEXT? I recently experienced high competition applying for a barista job. The sad part that everyone looked over 30 and probably was either in or finished with grad school. Oy. (Again, see above comic).

I guess this is a lesson in how to transition. I think I'm not doing very well as I'd much rather plunge forth into work than figure out whatever it is I'm supposed to be figuring out but I guess during the "figuring out," everything will fall into place.