1. Which was your favorite class so far? And why?
Sound Art was one of the most interesting classes I've ever taken. Most people are confused at the idea of sound art, because sound is hard to explain, and people want to compare it to music that they are familiar with. “Sound Art” is music, but highly experimental music with more emphasis on concepts and even politics behind the meanings. If you are interested in sound art look up Karlheinz Stockhausen, John Cage, Luigi Rusolo or Steve Reich, the list goes on. I really enjoy experimental art, basically anything that questions what is normal.
2. How many pages was the longest paper you have written? Did it include endnotes and bibliography?
Six pages was the longest paper I've written, but looking back on it it seems like 25 pages, and no endnotes or bibliography. It was about avant-garde art and how institutions can make any piece of art look important. I wish I took this class first.
3. What was your favorite paper? Please tell us about the topic in a couple of sentences.
My favorite paper was for the course History of Jazz, and it was about a concert I saw on campus. The Pat Bianchi Group played some well known standards like Herbie Hancock and Art Blakey. We simply had to describe the concert which was actually enjoyable, but not as much as the concert.
4. Which books did you read of late - art, fiction, non-fiction, graphic novel? Comments are welcome.
I'm not sure if this comes close to answering the question, but a book I read for my sound art class called “Microbionic: Radical Electronic Music and Sound Art in the 21st century” it went over the various sound artist of this generation and how performance art has influenced the development of Sound Art. Really fascinating stuff.
5. Which artist or writer or musician or director really impresses you? And why?
As some of you may know, I'm a huge Miles Davis fan. He was one of the few composers and musicians who really created the most original music to date, but for people who don't music that well it may seem like his music is similar to other artists. A lot of Miles earlier projects weren't too daring, compared to his fusion experiments, but nevertheless, his expressive and heavily lyrical style is captivating and enduring. Miles music is so influential even to artist today, but his sound cannot be copied or compared to any other art form.
6. What is your main interest besides writing, art, music, (i.e., the humanities)?
I'm interested in computers. Originally, I was going to get A+ certification, which is basically a computer technician, but it requires far too much involvement and money. I also like repairing and modifying bikes. There is a certain art to these hobbies, I guess.
7. Please describe briefly an article in a newspaper or a magazine that got you thinking lately.
I saw an article in Scientific American which tells you how to become smarter, or something stupid like that. They said exercise and even music training does that, but I don't know about that, but I'm skeptical because I don't like all the “junk science” that has bombarded the media. I figured out that the only thing that makes you smarter is putting down Scientific American.
8. Please share an event that you found out about through the media, including an on line news or blog that made you more aware of the culture you live in.
To be very honest, I don't read too much news or blogs, especially anything that made me more aware of “culture”. What is “culture” anyway?
9. Which cultural event has really impressed you lately? This can be a museum, a concert, or anything like that, but also a sports game (if you consider this a cultural event, for which there are good reasons). Or anything I am not even thinking of … Again, tell us why.
I went to a musical last semester for my music appreciation class. It was called Carousel by Rogers and Hammerstein. I don't know that much about the culture behind musicals, but I know that I was shocked at how talented all of the singers and dancers were, but I was even more shocked that they could all stay in-sync. Although the subject matter didn't appeal to me too much, it was very emotional, but I wasn't moved to tears or anything. That says a lot coming from a metalhead.
10. Please share with us a thought or an idea that really widened your intellectual horizon. If possible, give a source for this idea so that those among the others who are interested know where to go to.
This is a hard question to answer because there are so many bits and pieces of books I had to read for class and independent research that I do on my own time and for my own interest. One interesting book however was Reflecting on Art with one of my professors John Fisher. As an artist it forced me to think about art from a philosophical perspective, which is quite challenging.
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