Dublin Their Pleasure: Summer Sessions in Ireland
Continued from page 8
other senses of humor, other ways of telling a story than what you
see coming out of Hollywood.”
Students in McHardy’s Irish Film course had the chance to
further that appreciation by talking to the actors and directors.
Another possibly career-enhancing opportunity for students
in the communications field was a trip to Blarney Castle. There,
students could plant their lips on the famous Blarney Stone to
receive “the gift of eloquence.”
Turner said that in addition to the planned attractions, there
typically are a significant number of students who come to recon-
nect with their family roots. “Their grandparents are telling them
to go look in this graveyard or go visit so-and-so in Cork. So
there’s a strong ethnic attraction.”
SMAD junior Melissa Williams said a personal benefit of the
trip was the improvement in her writing. “We wrote all the time,”
she said. “For one class we wrote five blog (entries) every week:
two 500 and three 200 words.”
Ancient views, new horizons: Senior Amy Drewes, taking in the Atlantic
Senior Jaynelle Stoneman agreed, saying she could “really see
view, was among the students gaining new perspectives in the six-week
program.
a difference” in her writing after the summer session. She wrote
several film reviews in addition to the blog entries and said the
writing “made me pay more attention to the details of things” as
seemed a bit strange to be back in school addressing McHardy as
she traveled around the country.
“professor” after getting used to calling him “Tom” during the
The stay in Dublin was of special interest to SMAD senior
summer.
Emily Langhorne, who has a double major in English. “Some of
For his part, McHardy said after his experience, a “better
the greatest writers of the 20th century all wrote in Dublin,” she
appreciation of students will influence every course I teach.”
said. “James Joyce, Oscar Wilde, Samuel Beckett: it’s easy to see
For some students, the scenery alone was enough to make up
what influenced them.”
for the lack of beaches suitable for tanning.
Students and faculty typically find that one unplanned benefit
“I can’t even begin to express how beautiful the country is,”
of the trip is the familiarity that comes from spending six weeks
Langhorne said. “It’s something that everyone should see before
living in close proximity and sharing experiences.
it gets developed.”
illiams and Stoneman found that to be the case and said it W
--Jacqueline Quattrocchi
Yes UKan Get Major Credits in London
Continued from page 8
a film adaptations course, a media and great literature.
politics course and a British media and Students live in an apartment
society course. complex in central London near the
Pending approval is an 18-credit British Museum. The living quarters are
minor in British Communication and new this spring.
Media. At least 12 of the credits must be SMAD professor Charles Turner, a
completed in London and three must be former director of the program, said
earned at JMU. London is an enriching environment for
While in the UK, students meet for SMAD majors because it’s one of the
classes twice a week, typically a lecture media capitals of the world -- along with
and an outing, both on the same day. New York, Los Angeles and Tokyo. “The
Professor. Rustin Greene, director of greatest artists are there, the greatest
JMU programs in London, said the Art producers and directors work there. So
History class visits museums, Media & you get to see the finest of whichever
Politics students observe Parliament in (your concentration) is.”
session or visit the BBC studios, theatre
students attend plays, and those in the — Jacqueline Quattrocchi
film course watch film adaptations of
9 The School of Media Arts and Design
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24