These locations include, but are not limited to, the “hip” parts of town, back allies, and the more derelict parts of a city, such as current or abandoned warehouse districts.
Just like learning about famous works of art (e.g., paintings, sculptures, installations, etc.) from coffee table books, one can get a sense of graffiti and street art by reviewing photographs, either in books or websites devoted to this work, or social media accounts on Instagram.
But it’s tough to truly understand many elements of graffiti and street art, no less street culture, and urban space, unless you observe it up close, in its natural setting. The surfaces; the walls, dumpsters, utility poles, etc. where graffiti and street art is found, are the modern day equivalent of public museums and galleries.
Over time you will learn where graffiti and street art is located in a neighborhood, on a structure, and where and how it is juxtaposed with the built environment or other pieces of graffiti and street art, including the different shapes and vibrancy of the colors contained within. Not only do I look for trends, as in the styles, but how long a piece is up for before it is removed or added on by others.
That being said, it does not hurt to be or know one or more practitioners who may be able to point out elements of graffiti and street art that you may miss, keeping in mind that not all writers and artists can adequately explain what they see, have the patience to do so, or want to do it for outsiders.
It also helps to know a likeminded individual, a person who shares a similar interest in graffiti and street art who can show you the spots and provide their interpretation. Again, this is helpful, but not necessary. The important thing is to ask questions, to compare and contrast what you see, and to consult a variety of expert sources about graffiti and street art. This process is akin to developing a graffiti and street literacy.
Like a good detective or archeologist, you should document what you see, and list where it is located. You can do this by taking photographs with your iPhone of street numbers or cross streets to enable you to remember where exactly you saw. There may be a time date stamp on your camera to enable you in this process. Notes can either be taken on your phone or a smallish note book.
More importantly I try to both infer and deduce different aspects of the graffiti and street art. I ask myself what are the component parts? Why was it done? Why was it done there? And perhaps when was it done, including how long ago and what time of the day? Other questions you might ask is what elements did the writers or artist do first, second and third. I also try to figure out how the access points to the surfaces, and the types of materials they used. I try to understand the amount of work, planning and dedication that many graffiti writers and street artists put into their craft.
Yes there is a bit of a distinction between appreciating and studying graffiti and street art. You can be amazed at the skill it takes to do a piece, how it is actualized, and presented, knowing full well that this is vandalism, pure and simple.
photo Parque Balmadeda, Providencia
photo credit: Jeffrey Ian Ross
https://jeffreyianross.com/wp-content/uploads/IMG_2403-1-scaled.jpg25601920Jeffrey Ian Rosshttps://jeffreyianross.com/wp-content/uploads/jeffrey-ian-ross-logo-04.pngJeffrey Ian Ross2021-06-01 21:36:192021-06-25 17:45:11Why graffiti and street art hunting is important & what should you be mindful of if you engage in this activity
If you are a university student, and want to have a more enjoyable and productive experience when you return to classes this fall, I have some friendly advice.
In roughly three months classes resume. Regardless if they will be in person, hybrid, or on-line, during the summer you will have numerous distractions, but you will also have some down time. Although you can spend your free time away from your studies, catching up on your sleep, doubling down on social media, or watching more Netflix or Hulu, but you might also use this time to better prepare yourself for the fall semester.
How should you go about doing this? First, don’t be so quick to get rid of the textbooks that you were assigned for your class.
Second, go to the books that you did not finish, or read in their entirety, read the chapters that were not assigned, or that you skipped (like the foreword or preface), and if you have time, read the complete text from the beginning to the end.
Take notes like you are supposed to, and ask yourself some basic questions like the who, what, where, how, and why of the content. Keep these notes in a handy location, not the scraps of paper that you probably threw out.
Third, once you have completed this task, turn to the remaining books that were assigned, but you didn’t use. Similar to the ones that you partially read, start reading the ones you never touched. Again, ask yourself questions like why did the author/s write the book, what was their main intent and message?
Fourth, use your free time to consider subjects that you think might interest you, but have never had time to explore in the form of elective university courses you might take in the fall.
One way to approach this task is find out which instructors will be teaching classes on subjects that might interest you this fall, and to ask them for a copy of the syllabus. They may not have the final version, but should be happy to send you an old version. This request will accomplish a number of goals including demonstrating to your potential instructor that you are interested in the subject matter, allow you to get a head start on purchasing the required books, or lending them from a library and once secured, start reading them.
As a result of this process, you may discover that the subject does not interest you. If this is a required class then at least you know what you are getting into. But if it is an elective, then you have some time to switch out of the class and into one that might interest you.
Finally, if your instructor told you that you should improve your writing, then it might make sense to make some in roads in this direction. There are numerous websites where you can access free content and lessons that will help you step up your game.
All in all these suggestions should enable you to better succeed in the fall with your classes and studies, and hopefully assist you in enjoying your time in those courses.
Missouri State University
Students sell back textbooks
(Photo by Kevin White)
https://jeffreyianross.com/wp-content/uploads/8270324864_9a4d502c5d_c.jpg422799Jeffrey Ian Rosshttps://jeffreyianross.com/wp-content/uploads/jeffrey-ian-ross-logo-04.pngJeffrey Ian Ross2021-05-25 03:43:072021-08-27 20:46:04Have a good time but remember…Some friendly advice for university students who are about to take a break from their studies this summer
Those who are still inclined to reflect upon the Trump administration, including the damage that it left in its wake, may also want to consider the criteria that makes a good leader. In order to understand this important role it’s important to distinguish leaders from managers.
Each have distinct roles and responsibilities. In short, the leader develops a unique and realistic strategy for the organization, and the managers implement it. This presupposes that the leader (or the team that assists him or her) selects appropriate managers. And when things fail the leader cannot simply ignore the criticism, blame the manager or fire them, but takes responsibility. Sure we can excuse a handful of the leader’s picks for managers, but if the leader is continuously hiring and firing managers, one has to look much deeper including the ability and skills of the leader (and their subordinates) to make appropriate decisions that will affect the health of the organization.
I don’t have to tell you that Trump’s modus operandi both before the presidency and during it was to take pot shots at people whom he perceived to be his enemies, blame others for his setbacks. But this either seemed to go unnoticed or minimized by his followers and sycophants. Both saw Trump as someone imbued with superhuman powers.
Although there are lots of reasons why Trump came to power, but two of the most important included his ability to spin a believable bubbameister as a self-made billionaire, that many of his supporters lapped up, and his persistent criticism of Obama and his administration which resonated with many Americans.
Trump is not alone in this respect. Many leaders of organizations, and of political units no matter how small, whether we’re talking about the United States or elsewhere are neither good leaders nor managers. They often occupy these positions by default. And for good reason. Few of the competent people want the position. But it’s clear that Trump was a poor leader. A leader cannot base his or her agenda on principally tearing down the competition. He had no vision of a better future and no strategy. And when it came time to deal with one of the major crises of this century, (the ultimate test of a leader) (COVID-19), Trump stumbled and fell.
This brings us to month number four of the Biden administration. With 37 percent of the American population having been fully vaccinated against COVID-19, and mask mandates fading away (we’ll see how this works out), an infrastructure bill that in the waiting, we can probably say that both Biden and his administration demonstrated thoughtful and competent leadership and management.
But if we look across the aisle to the current Republican leadership we see Mitch McConnell and Kevin McCarthy floundering.
And no amount of rhetoric coming from either of them is righting a sinking ship. Neither McConnell nor McCarthy have a clear vision of where they want to take the Republican Party, and this country. Their only mission appears to be criticizing Biden, his administration and the Democratic Party, and putting legislative roadblocks in front of Democrats. McConnell did that for the eight years that Obama was in power. And as the Republican party slips into the ideological wasteland, for the time being at least, it appears that it is up to Biden and the Democrats to chart the future for this country.
Photo Credit: Gage Skidmore
“Kevin McCarthy” and “Mitch McConnell”
https://jeffreyianross.com/wp-content/uploads/Screen-Shot-2021-05-18-at-5.15.15-PM.png599638Jeffrey Ian Rosshttps://jeffreyianross.com/wp-content/uploads/jeffrey-ian-ross-logo-04.pngJeffrey Ian Ross2021-05-18 21:30:042021-06-25 17:46:10If almost all you do is criticize the opposition, then it doesn’t make you a good leader
Why graffiti and street art hunting is important & what should you be mindful of if you engage in this activity
/by Jeffrey Ian RossIn order to understand the different types and growth of contemporary graffiti and street art, the people who engage in this activity, and to contribute to a social science of graffiti and street art, I frequently and actively search for this work not only where I live, but in places I travel to.
These locations include, but are not limited to, the “hip” parts of town, back allies, and the more derelict parts of a city, such as current or abandoned warehouse districts.
Just like learning about famous works of art (e.g., paintings, sculptures, installations, etc.) from coffee table books, one can get a sense of graffiti and street art by reviewing photographs, either in books or websites devoted to this work, or social media accounts on Instagram.
But it’s tough to truly understand many elements of graffiti and street art, no less street culture, and urban space, unless you observe it up close, in its natural setting. The surfaces; the walls, dumpsters, utility poles, etc. where graffiti and street art is found, are the modern day equivalent of public museums and galleries.
Over time you will learn where graffiti and street art is located in a neighborhood, on a structure, and where and how it is juxtaposed with the built environment or other pieces of graffiti and street art, including the different shapes and vibrancy of the colors contained within. Not only do I look for trends, as in the styles, but how long a piece is up for before it is removed or added on by others.
That being said, it does not hurt to be or know one or more practitioners who may be able to point out elements of graffiti and street art that you may miss, keeping in mind that not all writers and artists can adequately explain what they see, have the patience to do so, or want to do it for outsiders.
It also helps to know a likeminded individual, a person who shares a similar interest in graffiti and street art who can show you the spots and provide their interpretation. Again, this is helpful, but not necessary. The important thing is to ask questions, to compare and contrast what you see, and to consult a variety of expert sources about graffiti and street art. This process is akin to developing a graffiti and street literacy.
Like a good detective or archeologist, you should document what you see, and list where it is located. You can do this by taking photographs with your iPhone of street numbers or cross streets to enable you to remember where exactly you saw. There may be a time date stamp on your camera to enable you in this process. Notes can either be taken on your phone or a smallish note book.
More importantly I try to both infer and deduce different aspects of the graffiti and street art. I ask myself what are the component parts? Why was it done? Why was it done there? And perhaps when was it done, including how long ago and what time of the day? Other questions you might ask is what elements did the writers or artist do first, second and third. I also try to figure out how the access points to the surfaces, and the types of materials they used. I try to understand the amount of work, planning and dedication that many graffiti writers and street artists put into their craft.
Yes there is a bit of a distinction between appreciating and studying graffiti and street art. You can be amazed at the skill it takes to do a piece, how it is actualized, and presented, knowing full well that this is vandalism, pure and simple.
photo Parque Balmadeda, Providencia
photo credit: Jeffrey Ian Ross
Have a good time but remember…Some friendly advice for university students who are about to take a break from their studies this summer
/by Jeffrey Ian RossIf you are a university student, and want to have a more enjoyable and productive experience when you return to classes this fall, I have some friendly advice.
In roughly three months classes resume. Regardless if they will be in person, hybrid, or on-line, during the summer you will have numerous distractions, but you will also have some down time. Although you can spend your free time away from your studies, catching up on your sleep, doubling down on social media, or watching more Netflix or Hulu, but you might also use this time to better prepare yourself for the fall semester.
How should you go about doing this? First, don’t be so quick to get rid of the textbooks that you were assigned for your class.
Second, go to the books that you did not finish, or read in their entirety, read the chapters that were not assigned, or that you skipped (like the foreword or preface), and if you have time, read the complete text from the beginning to the end.
Take notes like you are supposed to, and ask yourself some basic questions like the who, what, where, how, and why of the content. Keep these notes in a handy location, not the scraps of paper that you probably threw out.
Third, once you have completed this task, turn to the remaining books that were assigned, but you didn’t use. Similar to the ones that you partially read, start reading the ones you never touched. Again, ask yourself questions like why did the author/s write the book, what was their main intent and message?
Fourth, use your free time to consider subjects that you think might interest you, but have never had time to explore in the form of elective university courses you might take in the fall.
One way to approach this task is find out which instructors will be teaching classes on subjects that might interest you this fall, and to ask them for a copy of the syllabus. They may not have the final version, but should be happy to send you an old version. This request will accomplish a number of goals including demonstrating to your potential instructor that you are interested in the subject matter, allow you to get a head start on purchasing the required books, or lending them from a library and once secured, start reading them.
As a result of this process, you may discover that the subject does not interest you. If this is a required class then at least you know what you are getting into. But if it is an elective, then you have some time to switch out of the class and into one that might interest you.
Finally, if your instructor told you that you should improve your writing, then it might make sense to make some in roads in this direction. There are numerous websites where you can access free content and lessons that will help you step up your game.
All in all these suggestions should enable you to better succeed in the fall with your classes and studies, and hopefully assist you in enjoying your time in those courses.
Missouri State University
Students sell back textbooks
(Photo by Kevin White)
If almost all you do is criticize the opposition, then it doesn’t make you a good leader
/by Jeffrey Ian RossThose who are still inclined to reflect upon the Trump administration, including the damage that it left in its wake, may also want to consider the criteria that makes a good leader. In order to understand this important role it’s important to distinguish leaders from managers.
Each have distinct roles and responsibilities. In short, the leader develops a unique and realistic strategy for the organization, and the managers implement it. This presupposes that the leader (or the team that assists him or her) selects appropriate managers. And when things fail the leader cannot simply ignore the criticism, blame the manager or fire them, but takes responsibility. Sure we can excuse a handful of the leader’s picks for managers, but if the leader is continuously hiring and firing managers, one has to look much deeper including the ability and skills of the leader (and their subordinates) to make appropriate decisions that will affect the health of the organization.
I don’t have to tell you that Trump’s modus operandi both before the presidency and during it was to take pot shots at people whom he perceived to be his enemies, blame others for his setbacks. But this either seemed to go unnoticed or minimized by his followers and sycophants. Both saw Trump as someone imbued with superhuman powers.
Although there are lots of reasons why Trump came to power, but two of the most important included his ability to spin a believable bubbameister as a self-made billionaire, that many of his supporters lapped up, and his persistent criticism of Obama and his administration which resonated with many Americans.
Trump is not alone in this respect. Many leaders of organizations, and of political units no matter how small, whether we’re talking about the United States or elsewhere are neither good leaders nor managers. They often occupy these positions by default. And for good reason. Few of the competent people want the position. But it’s clear that Trump was a poor leader. A leader cannot base his or her agenda on principally tearing down the competition. He had no vision of a better future and no strategy. And when it came time to deal with one of the major crises of this century, (the ultimate test of a leader) (COVID-19), Trump stumbled and fell.
This brings us to month number four of the Biden administration. With 37 percent of the American population having been fully vaccinated against COVID-19, and mask mandates fading away (we’ll see how this works out), an infrastructure bill that in the waiting, we can probably say that both Biden and his administration demonstrated thoughtful and competent leadership and management.
But if we look across the aisle to the current Republican leadership we see Mitch McConnell and Kevin McCarthy floundering.
And no amount of rhetoric coming from either of them is righting a sinking ship. Neither McConnell nor McCarthy have a clear vision of where they want to take the Republican Party, and this country. Their only mission appears to be criticizing Biden, his administration and the Democratic Party, and putting legislative roadblocks in front of Democrats. McConnell did that for the eight years that Obama was in power. And as the Republican party slips into the ideological wasteland, for the time being at least, it appears that it is up to Biden and the Democrats to chart the future for this country.
Photo Credit: Gage Skidmore
“Kevin McCarthy” and “Mitch McConnell”