Inuit throat singing

Yesterday, I was at an event that included Inuit throat singing. I think it was the first time that I had heard through singing before. I would describe it as a mixture of humming and beat boxing.
The singers told us that traditionally, throat singing was a competition. That two women would sing together and the first person who missed a beat or started laughing was the loser. The women would be competing for clothes and/or other objects. They even said that a long time ago, the signers would also compete for hunters. Does that mean that women ruled the roost?
The singers were wearing traditional Inuit attire, which was beautiful. Features of the coats/tops include: long fabric that covered their bums (practical when sitting in the snow - and also, as one of the singers joked, good to cover up a big bootie!), a front piece decorated with coins (to protect them from evil spirits) and other special objects (e.g., beads), wide sleeves (practical so that mittens would fit under them), and a big hood (which could function as a baby carrying pouch).
So, when the two women sing, they are facing each other, holding each others arms (around the elbows, sort of) and standing actually quite close to one another. They kind of rock back and forth, presumably to help them keep time. Some of the songs seemed to maintain the same beat, whereas others seemed to speed up in parts. Most of the songs that they sang seemed to be set songs that they both knew. Some of the songs even represented different things - one song made the sound of a saw, and another was the sound of Canada Geese.
It was interesting to see - I think it would be neat to attend a competition at some point. For most of the songs that I heard, I found it difficult to tell who "lost" (although, maybe at this performance, it wasn't about who stopped first) because the singer whom I could see her face looked like she was half smiling and half laughing the entire time.

At the same event, there were many other Native American peoples in attendance and there was a moment where they all got up to dance. Their outfits were absolutely beautiful. I think the host of the event mentioned that there were 13 nations represented at the event. I definitely wasn't able to tell the difference between the people who were their based on their attire, but I'm sure that someone else who know more about the different cultures would have been able to.
Most of the ladies dancing seemed to do something akin to what I would call the "wedding walk". They moved forward around the space, kind of doing a step-touch movement. The men were a little bit more animated, some also doing a step-touch, but with a lot more zest and spring. The grass dancers were more pronounced in their style with some spins and other lunging movements. And I can't overemphasized how musical, ornate, elegant, and beautiful the outfits were.

Straight Outta Compton

I watched Straight Outta Compton last week. It was really good.
I know hardly anything about NWA. I'd heard of them, and more specifically Dr. Dre and Ice Cube. That's it. So I learned a lot from watching this film.
Gangster rap is definitely a music genre that I know very little about and I haven't not listened to. The lyrics of the songs are shocking, not necessarily for the content, but for the language (I blame my day job - I actually cringe when I hear someone swearing). The content, I find fascinating. I can't imagine growing up in that kind of context. A lot of the issues described in the film have come up in recent conversations and events in my life, so it's really made me think even more about race, culture, and discrimination. These are issues that many people don't like to talk about, and I'm still trying to figure out where I stand, what I think, and how I want to act (and maybe be a role model and/or make a difference). It's complicated.
Because I can't help myself, I started thinking about whether or not the portrayal of various characters and stories in this film were skewed. The widow of Easy-E, Ice Cube, and Dr. Dre were directly involved with this film. I started trying to dissect how those particular characters, and those closest to them were portrayed. 
Anyway, I left the film feeling wanting to learn more about various themes/topics/people from the film. I do wish that the film went into a little bit more depth about the characters, where they came from, who they're families are, that sort of thing, but I guess you can only do so much in a feature film. I mean, all of a sudden the characters had significant others...I wanted to know more. I mean, there's been some critique about the portrayal (or lack thereof) of women in the film, but I think the critique has to do more with something else than what I was looking for. I'm interested in people, character development, and how people's experiences/contexts shapes who they are so I'm always looking for that.

Also, I had a moment after the first scene where I got that glowing feeling. The opening scene is great...really amps you up for the rest of the film. And I felt that glow that I get when I'm perfectly happy and content. I haven't gotten that feeling in awhile, I think. But in this moment, I was encouraged to continue to keep at it, continue to live my life and do everything that I'm curious to do and live my awesome life. It was a nice feeling.

- picture courtesy of www.imdb.com

How to make a deaf musical

Deaf West is putting on a production of Spring Awakening. This video gives some insight into how the production was created.
Spring Awakening is a great musical. I saw it in New York a bunch of years ago. I happened to see the original cast which included actors/actresses who most people probably know from the TV show Glee.

On y va!

Bonne rentree a tous!

I enjoyed seeing the froshies running around campus last week. It brought back many memories from what seems like a lifetime ago. I still have a couple days before my jitters come back with a vengeance, but today is still special nonetheless.

Quiet

Quiet, by Susan Cain

I'm thinking that my summer of reading is over. I still have a couple books on my shelf that I had borrowed from the library during the summer, and maybe I'll try to read them during the year, but I'm not sure how successful I will be, but I will give it a go.
The most recent book that I read was Quiet, by Susan Cain. I'm not sure how I ended up borrowing this book. I had watched her TED talk, and I think this book popped up on my "recommended" list when I looked up Lean In online, and I find it interesting learning more about personality types...anyway, I borrowed it, and I'm sure glad that I did.
Simply put, this book is about introverts. I liked the book because I feel like I better understand myself. Reading a little bit more about my personality, and why I do what I do and why I like what I like and enjoy what I enjoy. To learn a little bit more about culture and culture clashes (first-generation problems!). I found the book reassuring.
Of course, we are all a mixture of personalities. We might lean towards one side of the spectrum than another. I had a moment when I was reading the book where I wondered it everyone reading this book would find part of themselves in it, just like reading the horoscope. On any given day (or day after), I can read the horoscope of any star sign and see myself and events that have happened in the day. So is this book naturally preaching to the choir because everyone will be able to see themselves in it? Or maybe there is a seriously extroverted person who will read this book and be completely surprised by what they read.
I was also thinking about the message of this book with my profession. I'm in a field where the pendulum is swinging many perceive that a cooperative, discussion- and inquiry-based approach is advocated for. While there are many benefits for this approach, how does this support the learning of introverted students? Personally, I advocate for a diverse and balanced approach to teaching. Our students are diverse. Our students learn and thrive in different contexts, and I want all students to have to opportunity to feel success and be successful. At the same time, I want all students to feel challenged and have an opportunity to develop areas of weakness or learn to make the most out of contexts that are not comfortable. Who knows what kind of context they will end up in and/or whether or not they will have the ability to alter their context to one in which they will thrive (because hopefully they will know more about themselves).
I had a eureka moment when I read about Free Trait Theory, or in general, the idea that you can display a completely different personality in different contexts. It helps me to make sense of my 'different personalities'. I have consistently gotten the feedback that I present myself in a certain kind of way. That impression is completely contradictory to the emotions that I'm feeling in those situations. I was always a little bit confused as to why that was the case, what caused it, how I am able to have the strength to give that impression, and how come I can't channel that person more often? I still don't really have the answer, but I liked reading about it.
Anyway, I really liked this book. It was very easy to read and a nice contribution to my current phase of self-discovery.

- picture courtesy of www.chapters.indigo.ca

La dolce vita

I write this from the floor of my balcony. This past week, I've realized that putting a blanket on its floor, bringing out a pillow, putting a good playlist on my itunes, some light reading, and snacks is awesome.
The weather's been fantastic this past week and why take the time to pack up your things and walk to the park when you can have a lovely picnic on your very own balcony? And then whenever you get tired of it, you doing have to walk home because you're already there.
Win-win situation if you ask me.
Sure, there are certain times of day that the sun hits the balcony and it gets too hot, but when there's shade it's pretty great because I get a nice breeze.
It's pretty fabulous.
So, I've been living it up here on my balcony for the past week. Making the most out of the final days of summer. I'm back to a more regular work routine starting tomorrow.
It's been a nice summer. I was able to slow down my pace and just 'be'. I feel well rested as I begin the year. And that's a good thing.

Phew!

I finally mustered up the courage to read my course evals from last year.
Folks, we take these things seriously. In a class filled with positive comments, even one negative comment can absolutely shatter an instructor's moral. It's terrifying to read these things. Absolutely terrifying. Those nasty comments stick, and no, I don't know who wrote them, so just knowing that someone out there thinks those things about me is crushing.
I came out of this round unscathed, but I'm still shaking. Opening that file takes courage.
Thank you to those students who took the time to give their thoughtful feedback, and even more thanks to those who are respectful in the process.

I love what I do...so much that sometimes it hurts. But it's worth it.

I Could Do That

I think this is a nicely done video. I wonder if they will create a video discussing how it's decided how much art is worth. I have been looking to purchase some art, but am unsure of my pricepoint. I'm also still in the stage where I don't think I've been exposed to enough art to know what I like to own. Sure, I know that there are certain artists' work that I like, but most of those pieces are not one that I will realistically be able to purchase. I haven't seen a piece recently that I've loved so much that I couldn't stop thinking about it. I do see nice things from time to time, but am never sure if I like it enough to purchase it.
I wonder if I'll ever get to the point of making the commitment and buying something?