Semester Takeaway

I made it through this semester. And though I know this class was supposed to enhance creativity, the projects and assignments presented more of a therapeutic value to me. Each assignment made me think - about me - in ways that I had never spent time doing.  It opened wounds of my life and allowed me to analyze them and work on healing them. Maybe these wounds and insecurities are what have held me back from being openly creative. I know I was supposed to spend time being creative with my projects, but I actually spent time thinking about what the symbolism was in each project and how did it apply to my life. I think this semester made me see myself from a different perspective - sideways I guess...I've questioned my most inner being throughout this entire semester and I came out with a new understanding of 'me'. Now it's time to build a better me. There should be a Seeing Sideways part 2. LOL.

Class Takeaway 16

Yesterday's class was very powerful for me. As I revealed my final project my emotions overcame me. I had what I would consider a breakthrough. Everything I had been holding back came rushing to the surface because my final project introspective illustration of me. And sitting there reading it out loud was very revealing. Hearing myself talk about myself and my inner feelings made me realize what I needed to work on to better myself - inwardly. It was truly a crazy moment for me because I don't really like to share things like that about myself, but I did - in front of so many. I think it was easier to do it in that class simply because we all were there opening up to one another - even though we don't really know each other. It was a freeing experience.

Altered Book

The idea of combining biology and technology is awesome. I had actually wondered if there was a way to "eat" something and change the smell of your body odor. I knew there were some things that people would eat and the smell would emit through their skin. The combination of technology and the human body is an amazing thing and I believe it is the way of the future.

I'm not against combining media arts with your body either. I support it. New ways of creating as well as new creations are evolving everyday. I embrace it.

The transformation of this book into something that represents me has been a wonderful experience. It allowed me to really have a self analysis session.  This entire journey in this class has been a therapeutic journey.

What is identity of self in the digital world?
I originally did not really think about "identity of self" prior to this class. But this class made me realize there is so much more to who I am, than what I have actually shown. And, I have an idea of how to identify my self within my digital art. There is a deepness that has been missing from my work. I've tapped into that now, and will actually incorporate ME into my digital works from now on.

All the exercises / assignments in this class helped me to get to know some of the deepest parts of me - parts of me that I knew existed, but gave no special attention to. This book project really helped me to identify those "parts" and allowed me time to have some introspective thinking - in an effort to heal myself, strengthen myself, and praise myself. It was much needed. It may not seem like much to someone else, but this altered book project was really enlightening.