Exploring Literature and the Arts

  Source: Pixabay            Even after further assessing the overview and doing some thinking, the project itself seems hefty and really open-ended. There’s a lot of information to take in and material to manage over the following weeks. It can seem a little overwhelming when still unsure of the topic you want to pursue. The fact that the project can be about almost anything is nice since it gives everyone the freedom to choose whatever interests them, but at the same time, there’s almost a lack of direction as there’s not really a prompt or any previous examples. I think the hardest part for me is going to be managing my time for the project. Developing a solid plan is going to be a main focus in the beginning weeks. I also intend to just take everything one step at a time and not stress about the end product, the first step being a brainstorm, and this week’s post.

       Source: Wikipedia        The Enlightenment was a philosophical movement that swept across Europe as well as Western civilization, promoting a new era of thinking and reasoning. No longer were people blindly listening to rules created by the church and higher powers. They began to think individually and ask questions, seeking out knowledge. Many sought out to advance ideals such as liberty, equality, and progress. This movement and ideas like natural rights and the social contract ultimately led to the American Revolutionary War, where colonists fought to make a change and break free from a corrupt power.                     Today, and in recent years, there is a movement across the U.S pushing for change. Although not as extreme as going to war, the Black Lives Matter movement continues to echo ideas and morals found in John Locke’s  Second Treatise , the latter essay to...

Image: Reading of Voltaire's tragedy. Source Wikipedia The Enlightenment was an 18th-century movement based on individual thought and reasoning that valued liberty and progress. Dominated by science, this time period influenced the arts, as writing introduced untraditional concepts and sought to educate those about new ways of thinking. Here is my infographic summarizing the main ideas and themes of the movement: The Enlightenment  

    Source: Growthmindsetmemes                           The growth mindset is something I have yet to master. I see myself towards that end of the spectrum of growth-fixed mindsets but not quite all the way there. This way of thinking is promoted by staying motivated and always trying to learn and develop. Professor Carol Dweck believes in making challenge the new comfort zone, instead of celebrating or feeling good when things are easy ( Dweck ). Although I can’t quite apply this approach to my own thinking yet, I’m constantly trying to learn and improve as I’m never comfortable where I am.  Academics have always been fairly easy for me. The good grades come with being kind of a perfectionist, I work hard and try doing everything to the best of my abilities. It feels good to succeed in school and pushes me to put in effort, but the same thinking comes with a lot of stress and anxiety over big cha...

                                                                       Image: Scene from Contagion.  Source: Mashable Nonfiction writing should include an engaging delivery of information with clarity. When reading nonfiction, you’re not looking to follow the development of a storyline but to educate yourself on a topic or historical event. The text should effectively present claims backed by supporting evidence with the information given.  It’s important to open with the main idea while simultaneously grabbing the reader’s attention. “ Why We Need Dystopian Fiction Now More Than Ever ” b egins with referrals to major modern events and issues. This connects the topic of the article with something the reader can relate to, effectively spiking interest. Organization is a k...

      Image: "Social Distancing in the Mission" Source: Washington Post           I, like many people, have labeled the COVID-19 pandemic and how it’s defined the new “normal” as nothing but a problem and major setback. Online school, social distancing rules, and being unable to enter a store because you forgot your mask at home are all everyday obstacles we’re dealing with. However, there are still positives that can be drawn from the virus’s connection with modern art. Many of these are things I overlooked. The pandemic has caused people to reshape numerous aspects of their lives. Change isn’t easy but it’s situations like these that play a major role in shaping modern culture and the subject of modern art. It has forced new forms of communication and lots of creative thinking. The pandemic has also inspired many to try new things as they now have the free time while stuck at home. At first, the outbreak was catastrophic for the arts...

            Source: Pixabay                   Feedback can provide one of the most rewarding or unsatisfying feelings depending on what is said. Even when praise or encouraging words are given, they may not motivate as intended and oftentimes aren’t even feedback. Telling someone “Good job” without an explanation doesn’t address what they did right ( Wiggins ). Effective feedback needs to be specific. Praise needs to be given regarding a certain topic or idea and include why it’s right. Feedback should also focus on the efforts of a person to motivate a growing mindset ( Gonzalez ). I believe positive feedback and constructive criticism always trumps judging peoples’ work as it can lead to improvement and won’t discourage them. Although it’s important to give suggestions honestly, in my experience I’d much rather provide and receive feedback that commends ideas. It gives me confidence...

Architectural Blue Prints. Source: Pixabay                   I believe in self-expression. I believe in making a positive impact through creative thinking and art to influence the lives of others. Many people think of sculptures or paintings when talking about art. The truth is, art is much more than that and exists outside of museums. Architects, engineers, and all sorts of workers are all artists in their fields. Anyone who picks up a pencil can be an artist. The goal isn’t to sell expensive pieces but to create something that reflects you and impacts others.          The purpose of art is to present creativity and inspiration that reflects human experiences or the artist’s values. Art should spread positivity that improves both the artist’s and the viewer’s moods. This gives a sense of community via connections to the work. Through self-expression, one can create a work t...

Source: Author           Hi! Welcome to my blog, my first post is just a small introductory to who I am and the types of art and literature I enjoy. My name is Brandon Robinson. I'm a commuter student from Dedham, MA who came to Wentworth for the Construction Management program. More specifically, the concentration in commercial real estate development. Construction has always been a big interest of mine, I attended a technical high school where I majored in Electrical for about four years. After graduating, I decided to further my education as I didn't just want to be an electrician my entire career.           Normally during the first week of classes, students play ice-breaker games by exchanging names and what they like to do. Since this semester isn't like any other, we instead created a small snapshot of what we enjoy as an ice-breaker using apps like Padlet . Combining this tool with others like Pixabay , the finished “Av...