Showing posts with label central st martins. Show all posts
Showing posts with label central st martins. Show all posts
Monday, September 1, 2008
Monday, June 30, 2008
Sexual Health Survey for 50s and Beyond
If you are in the UK and know anyone who is over the age of 50, please send them my Sexual Health Survey. I'd be eternally grateful. And I'll be your best friend.
Click Here to take survey
Thanks so much, and please spread the word!
Click Here to take survey
Thanks so much, and please spread the word!
Thursday, May 22, 2008
Viagra: Ten Years on the Rise
This was the title of the documentary I watched last night on TV 5. I got some names of experts that I could possibly contact for my own project, so that's good. There wasn't a whole lot of information about STDs among the senior citizen set, but there was a little. This is a good thing because it shows that more information needs to get out there.
The funniest part of the show was when an expert pulled out the following items to describe the different types of erections:
Type 1: Tofu
Type 2: Peeled Banana
Type 3: Unpeeled Banana
Type 4: Cucumber
I'm sorry.
Hold on a minute.
Tofu?
Yup. Tofu.
Chew on that one for a while...
The funniest part of the show was when an expert pulled out the following items to describe the different types of erections:
Type 1: Tofu
Type 2: Peeled Banana
Type 3: Unpeeled Banana
Type 4: Cucumber
I'm sorry.
Hold on a minute.
Tofu?
Yup. Tofu.
Chew on that one for a while...
Tuesday, May 20, 2008
My MA Project!
I finally found a focus for my MA project. I was going around in circles trying to identify what I wanted to do. First, I considered the poetry of genetics as opposed to the biology of genetics. I thought about studying the life of my paternal grandfather and drawing comparisons between him and me and the rest of my family. Then, I thought about creating an "Adult Kindergarten" and using child-like behavior to unlock creative potential in adults. Then I read something about the truancy rate of primary school kids in London increasing, and I wanted to know why, and whether or not there was anything I could do about it. Then, it hit me.
But first, a little back story. In the spring of 2007, I was living in Brookline, MA, and occasionally, I would go to a monthly brunch at a co-op in Cambridge. One of the guys who lived at the co-op was doing his PhD on why Sex and the City became such a global phenomenon. While researching, he came across a factoid that stuck in my head: the STD rates in the elderly were increasing rapidly.
A few months later, I was having a conversation with my parents. They said that an acquaintance of theirs told them the same thing, and that men in the Sun City Center area were
hiring prostitutes in the neighboring town, catching a "phage" (as my dad says), and spreading it to their next partners. This intrigued me.
Throughout my course, the idea kept popping into my head, and I kept pushing it back. I mean, seriously. Did I really want to spend 6 months of my life researching "old people" sex?
But it wouldn't leave me alone. There was too much of an opportunity in it:
1) It could create positive change in people's lives, both young and not-so-young (it could stimulate conversation between generations, and make them aware that everyone is at risk. It could change the way seniors view themselves, and the way our society views seniors.)
2) It has HUGE potential for humor and would allow me to use my comedy background (side note to all Carharts: you will be participating in brainstorming sessions with me via email and phone, so consider yourselves forewarned) and create advertising that is more effective that this:
3) I could parlay this into a career at an innovation consultancy or innovative company because it would prove that I can:
a) identify a problem that the majority of the population can't see
b) take risks by choosing topics that are uncomfortable, and that most people wouldn't touch with a ten foot pole (huh, huh...I said "pole").
c) find a creative solution to a problem and
d) follow it through
Here's the first version of my question/thesis (trumpets blaring): How can I potentially reverse the significant increase of STDs among the elderly?
So, there you have it.
Spread it around (and let the horrible double entendres fly)!
But first, a little back story. In the spring of 2007, I was living in Brookline, MA, and occasionally, I would go to a monthly brunch at a co-op in Cambridge. One of the guys who lived at the co-op was doing his PhD on why Sex and the City became such a global phenomenon. While researching, he came across a factoid that stuck in my head: the STD rates in the elderly were increasing rapidly.
A few months later, I was having a conversation with my parents. They said that an acquaintance of theirs told them the same thing, and that men in the Sun City Center area were
hiring prostitutes in the neighboring town, catching a "phage" (as my dad says), and spreading it to their next partners. This intrigued me.
Throughout my course, the idea kept popping into my head, and I kept pushing it back. I mean, seriously. Did I really want to spend 6 months of my life researching "old people" sex?
But it wouldn't leave me alone. There was too much of an opportunity in it:
1) It could create positive change in people's lives, both young and not-so-young (it could stimulate conversation between generations, and make them aware that everyone is at risk. It could change the way seniors view themselves, and the way our society views seniors.)
2) It has HUGE potential for humor and would allow me to use my comedy background (side note to all Carharts: you will be participating in brainstorming sessions with me via email and phone, so consider yourselves forewarned) and create advertising that is more effective that this:
3) I could parlay this into a career at an innovation consultancy or innovative company because it would prove that I can:
a) identify a problem that the majority of the population can't see
b) take risks by choosing topics that are uncomfortable, and that most people wouldn't touch with a ten foot pole (huh, huh...I said "pole").
c) find a creative solution to a problem and
d) follow it through
Here's the first version of my question/thesis (trumpets blaring): How can I potentially reverse the significant increase of STDs among the elderly?
So, there you have it.
Spread it around (and let the horrible double entendres fly)!
Thursday, January 17, 2008
Just Say No
I got offered a flat a couple of days ago. I said no. The flat itself was fine, but the people in it were just too bizarre. They both go to Central St. Martin's (not on my course), but they were just so damn anti-social, I knew that I would be miserable there. They go to school, come home, go to their rooms, shut the door, put their headphones on and work. They have a lounge. Do they use it to hang out? No. They use it to dry their laundry. I think that sums it up.
Yesterday, my course had to elect student representatives to act as messengers for any problems people on our course might have. These reps then deliver the messages to the staff. Two people volunteered themselves, and then two of the people in my group tried to elect me. I would have been the only one who was actually elected. I was flattered, but I said no. I've done that sort of thing already...I worked in Student Activities for 2 years...and there were two other people who were excited about it...I didn't want to take it from someone who really wanted it. Call me crazy, but I don't want to be a complaint messenger right now. I've got other things to tend to at the moment. ;)
Yesterday, my course had to elect student representatives to act as messengers for any problems people on our course might have. These reps then deliver the messages to the staff. Two people volunteered themselves, and then two of the people in my group tried to elect me. I would have been the only one who was actually elected. I was flattered, but I said no. I've done that sort of thing already...I worked in Student Activities for 2 years...and there were two other people who were excited about it...I didn't want to take it from someone who really wanted it. Call me crazy, but I don't want to be a complaint messenger right now. I've got other things to tend to at the moment. ;)
Monday, January 14, 2008
First Presentation: The Pub and Pie House
We had our first presentation today, and I have to say...I think it went over quite well. As I mentioned earlier, my group was taken to a pub/pie house. We set up the chairs in small groups of semi-circles to make it feel more like they were sitting in a pub. Our presentation started out with Polly telling everyone a bit of history along with some photos that we took. We were sure to include little jokes (such as: "Mark to us to a very special place: a brothel...actually, let me rephrase that...he took us to a former brothel) throughout the history part.
Then we talked about the pub itself. While Richard was talking about the pub, I played background/ambient sounds that we recorded while we were in the pub, and the others passed out small glasses of bitter to everyone in the class to taste. All the while, we showed more pictures.
Then we got to the pie house part. Julea was the narator for this bit. We had everyone close their eyes and Julea took them on a journey up the stair to the pie room. While people's eyes were closed, Polly, Richard, and Subi (who was the interviewing queen) went to each group with a pie and let everyone smell them. When they opened their eyes, we had the video playing that we recorded when we were in the pie room. Once I figure out how to upload it I will. In the meantime, here's a picture of the pie.
Then we put a few reviews up on the screen, and I gave a somewhat off the cuff conclusion, where I explained that our target audience was Mark (our tutor) and his demographic: people who work in the creative industry somewhat near the pub, who come after work, but who have never set foot upstairs into the pie room. Our goal was to make people choose whether or not they wanted to venture off and find something new about a place that they had a preconceived notion about. We didn't want to change anyone's opinion, but deepen the existing perception of the average person who goes to the Newman Arms.
For our next assignment, we have to present one of the places that one of the other groups went to, so it's a combination critique/presentation. The group we have to swap information with went to the Imperial War Museum, and their presentation was very well done. It will be interesting to see how my group goes about presenting the Imperial War Museum, and how they go about presenting the Newman Arms. I'll keep you updated...
Then we talked about the pub itself. While Richard was talking about the pub, I played background/ambient sounds that we recorded while we were in the pub, and the others passed out small glasses of bitter to everyone in the class to taste. All the while, we showed more pictures.
Then we got to the pie house part. Julea was the narator for this bit. We had everyone close their eyes and Julea took them on a journey up the stair to the pie room. While people's eyes were closed, Polly, Richard, and Subi (who was the interviewing queen) went to each group with a pie and let everyone smell them. When they opened their eyes, we had the video playing that we recorded when we were in the pie room. Once I figure out how to upload it I will. In the meantime, here's a picture of the pie.
Then we put a few reviews up on the screen, and I gave a somewhat off the cuff conclusion, where I explained that our target audience was Mark (our tutor) and his demographic: people who work in the creative industry somewhat near the pub, who come after work, but who have never set foot upstairs into the pie room. Our goal was to make people choose whether or not they wanted to venture off and find something new about a place that they had a preconceived notion about. We didn't want to change anyone's opinion, but deepen the existing perception of the average person who goes to the Newman Arms.
For our next assignment, we have to present one of the places that one of the other groups went to, so it's a combination critique/presentation. The group we have to swap information with went to the Imperial War Museum, and their presentation was very well done. It will be interesting to see how my group goes about presenting the Imperial War Museum, and how they go about presenting the Newman Arms. I'll keep you updated...
Thursday, January 10, 2008
MADS
The acronym for my program is MADS. I don't think it could be more fitting.
The last time I wrote, I had my first class. In this class, we were split into small groups and assigned a tutor/instructor who had to take us to his favorite place in London. While there, we were given a brief with questions we had to think about and the target of our project. Here's the brief:
"Working in the group to which you have been assigned, you will visit the locations chosen by your project tutor and will define the sensory qualities, the myth, and the most affective strategy for communicating these values. You will be working towards a re-presentation of your destination that is targeted towards changing the perception of its value by a particular type of visitor. So you will make the decision on the target demographic, the myth, the sensory quality, and the most effective mode of presentation."
Vague enough for you? That's the point.
The place where we went was a pub called the Newman Arms. That's right. My first assignment requires me to visit a pub/pie house multiple times. Only in the UK! This was the sign on the women's room door:
(I'm not sure why it won't rotate, so just turn your head.)
Oh, and my group for this project seems to be great. We have a man from Taiwan whose background is in business, a woman from India whose degree is in fashion design, a woman from England whose degree is also in fashion design, and another American Woman (I think there are only 3 Americans in the class of about 30, and I'm the only one from the East Coast) whose degree is...yup...fashion design. Maybe they'll make me some clothes.
Yesterday, we met up again, this time with the part-time students as well. We had a lecture, and then, once again, we were split into small groups that included both full and part time folks. In this group, we have the same English Woman from my other group, a guy from England who's a menswear designer, a woman from Spain who's a Chemical Engineer for a makeup company, an Egyptian woman who's worked in TV, and another British woman who's degree is in Architectural Studies.
This group is posed with a question that we have to research in the outside world and then present to our classmates. My group's question is: To compromise or not to compromise? If anyone has any thoughts, feelings or experiences they'd like to share about this, feel free to reply to me or to this blog. It's part of my research.
I'm off to the pub again this afternoon with my first group. This time, we are going to the pie house upstairs. We had to call and book ahead because the book days in advance.
In other non-school related news, I went to open a bank account yesterday. I will pick up my bank card next Friday, and the other stuff will be mailed to where I'm staying now. I also have another flat to look at this evening. Let's hope I get there before someone else snatches it up. Flats go fast here. A few days ago, I walked out of Anne's flat to check one out, walked ten feet, and got a text saying that the room had been taken 2 minutes before. That's pretty typical here. It's almost a first-come, first-served kind of thing sometimes.
OK. I need to get back to working my brain.
The last time I wrote, I had my first class. In this class, we were split into small groups and assigned a tutor/instructor who had to take us to his favorite place in London. While there, we were given a brief with questions we had to think about and the target of our project. Here's the brief:
"Working in the group to which you have been assigned, you will visit the locations chosen by your project tutor and will define the sensory qualities, the myth, and the most affective strategy for communicating these values. You will be working towards a re-presentation of your destination that is targeted towards changing the perception of its value by a particular type of visitor. So you will make the decision on the target demographic, the myth, the sensory quality, and the most effective mode of presentation."
Vague enough for you? That's the point.
The place where we went was a pub called the Newman Arms. That's right. My first assignment requires me to visit a pub/pie house multiple times. Only in the UK! This was the sign on the women's room door:
(I'm not sure why it won't rotate, so just turn your head.)
Oh, and my group for this project seems to be great. We have a man from Taiwan whose background is in business, a woman from India whose degree is in fashion design, a woman from England whose degree is also in fashion design, and another American Woman (I think there are only 3 Americans in the class of about 30, and I'm the only one from the East Coast) whose degree is...yup...fashion design. Maybe they'll make me some clothes.
Yesterday, we met up again, this time with the part-time students as well. We had a lecture, and then, once again, we were split into small groups that included both full and part time folks. In this group, we have the same English Woman from my other group, a guy from England who's a menswear designer, a woman from Spain who's a Chemical Engineer for a makeup company, an Egyptian woman who's worked in TV, and another British woman who's degree is in Architectural Studies.
This group is posed with a question that we have to research in the outside world and then present to our classmates. My group's question is: To compromise or not to compromise? If anyone has any thoughts, feelings or experiences they'd like to share about this, feel free to reply to me or to this blog. It's part of my research.
I'm off to the pub again this afternoon with my first group. This time, we are going to the pie house upstairs. We had to call and book ahead because the book days in advance.
In other non-school related news, I went to open a bank account yesterday. I will pick up my bank card next Friday, and the other stuff will be mailed to where I'm staying now. I also have another flat to look at this evening. Let's hope I get there before someone else snatches it up. Flats go fast here. A few days ago, I walked out of Anne's flat to check one out, walked ten feet, and got a text saying that the room had been taken 2 minutes before. That's pretty typical here. It's almost a first-come, first-served kind of thing sometimes.
OK. I need to get back to working my brain.
Monday, January 7, 2008
I Done Be Registrated
Well, I'm officially an MA candidate at Central St. Martin's. I had my first class today. This building is like the freakin' catacombs. Our classroom is on the 10th floor. I took the stairs for the hell of it. The elevator (aka "lift"), I'm told, is touch-and-go, so I can look forward to many more flights of stairs in the coming months.
I have much more to say about my first day, but I'm pretty "shattered" at the moment, and should get some sleep. I will continue this tomorrow.
I have much more to say about my first day, but I'm pretty "shattered" at the moment, and should get some sleep. I will continue this tomorrow.
Thursday, January 3, 2008
Signing Loan Checks and the Return of the Nickelbagofunk
Yesterday, I went to the International Student Center to sign my loan checks. Scary. They come in two installments and are based on the exchange rate, which could change by the time the checks are transferred from dollars to pounds. I'll have to live off of my savings for the first 6 months, but I was aware of that. Good thing I was a penny-pinching kid! Others might not be so lucky. Anne is already scheming to get me in with her company as an intern. Hopefully, this will help with my finances a little bit. I've also been scouring flatshare websites to see what's available. I've emailed a few, so we'll see what happens.
Today has been chill. Literally. It's cold outside (not by Beantown standards, but still), so I haven't ventured out today. Tomorrow, on the other hand, I'm going to try to procure a cell phone. This may be difficult without a bank account, but we'll see. The whole process is a mess of red tape, but it's doable. I wonder if it's any different than if a Brit came to the US.
On another note, Anne returned from her marathon flying jag this morning. She went from Seattle to Minneapolis to Amsterdam to London. ¡Pobrecita!
Today has been chill. Literally. It's cold outside (not by Beantown standards, but still), so I haven't ventured out today. Tomorrow, on the other hand, I'm going to try to procure a cell phone. This may be difficult without a bank account, but we'll see. The whole process is a mess of red tape, but it's doable. I wonder if it's any different than if a Brit came to the US.
On another note, Anne returned from her marathon flying jag this morning. She went from Seattle to Minneapolis to Amsterdam to London. ¡Pobrecita!
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