The Saxophone and ‘The Odyssey’

February 5, 2013 at 3:32 pm

Relating to the study of The Odyssey by CC101 every fall, here is an interesting fact: great saxophonist Chris Potter draws inspiration from the Greek epic for his music. In the article discussing the matter, Potter is quoted as saying:

I read it [the Odyssey] in high school and thought it was cool but didn’t go much further than that. When I reread it, I was really taken with the beauty of it and how many of the themes in the book resonate. It’s good and evil, these big decisions — and a lot of stuff about interpersonal relationships, which is rare for an ancient text, I think. It’s very psychological, in a way.

From left, Pat Metheny, Antonio Sanchez, Chris Potter and Ben Williams at Town Hall in New York.

For the full article, visit http://nyti.ms/WMLRoL

By mdimov | Posted in Art, Community, Curriculum, Great Ideas | Tagged , , , , , , , , | Comments (0)

CC106: The Sound of Music

February 5, 2013 at 3:22 pm

Today, February 5th, Biology Professor Jelle Atema (Doctorandus, University of Utrecht (Netherlands); PhD, University of Michigan), held a lecture titled "The sound of music: frog calls and the design of music halls", for the Core class CC106.

Professor Atema preparing for his CC106 lecture "The sound of music: frog calls and the design of music halls".

CC106 is designed to round out students' exploration of the natural sciences by focusing on the science of life. The professors of CC106 write:

Life is remarkable in its improbability, diversity, and uniqueness (as far as we know, life is limited to this planet, though this may change shortly). Importantly, life counteracts the tendency toward disorder that characterizes physical and chemical systems and the evolution of living systems gives rise to organisms both beautiful and sublime. In this course we aim to instill in students an appreciation for the diversity and remarkable complexity of life, and also an understanding of the elegant mechanisms that govern the evolution of life.

CC106 students piling in for Prof. Atema's lecture.

By mdimov | Posted in Academics, Community, Core Lecturers, Curriculum | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | Comments (0)

Walt Whitman: Leaves of Grass

February 5, 2013 at 12:53 pm

Relating to CC202's study of Walt Whitman's work, here is an extract of the article by Claire Kelley on the poet's whereabouts while he was writing in 1855:

“Whitman-iacs” like NYU Professor Karen Karbiener have paid their respects to the ghost of Walt Whitman by visiting the unassuming white house that stands one story taller than the others next to it... As Berman says, "Anybody who has spent a little time over “Leaves of Grass” ought to be able to understand why one or another long-lost building associated with Whitman might incite a bit of feeling."

For the full article, visit http://bit.ly/WMrlVr

Here is a sample from the poem Song of Myself, from Walt Whitman's Leaves of Grass:

I celebrate myself, and sing myself,
And what I assume you shall assume,
For every atom belonging to me as good belongs to you.

I loafe and invite my soul,
I lean and loafe at my ease observing a spear of summer grass.

My tongue, every atom of my blood, form'd from this soil, this air,
Born here of parents born here from parents the same, and their
parents the same,I, now thirty-seven years old in perfect health begin,
Hoping to cease not till death.

Creeds and schools in abeyance,
Retiring back a while sufficed at what they are, but never forgotten,
I harbor for good or bad, I permit to speak at every hazard,
Nature without check with original energy.

By mdimov | Posted in Academics, Community, Curriculum | Tagged , , , , , , , , | Comments (0)

Piano Concert at TSAI

February 4, 2013 at 3:36 pm

Tomorrow, February 5th at 8 pm, in the TSAI Performance Center, there will be a Piano Department Concert, featuring works by Claude Debussy. The event is free and open to the public.

The Core encourages students to drop by and dip their toes in the music.

By mdimov | Posted in Activities, Announcements, Art, Community, Events | Tagged , , , , , , | Comments (0)

National Poetry Month & Free Issues of ‘Poetry’

February 4, 2013 at 3:00 pm

The Poetry Foundation, publisher of Poetry magazine, is starting a giveaway of Poetry in celebration of National Poetry Month. A limited number of free copies of the April 2013 issue of Poetry magazine will be available to individuals, book clubs, and reading groups that request them by March 24.

The April 2013 issue of Poetry includes new poems by Adam Kirsch, Jane Hirshfield, Eavan Boland, Michael Robbins, Randall Mann, Dean Young, Lucie Brock-Broido, and many more.

The Core encourages everyone interested to visit http://bit.ly/TAuvve and request this issue of wonderful poetry.

 

By mdimov | Posted in Announcements, Art, Community, General Announcements | Tagged , , , , , , | Comments (0)

André Alexis: Why Read?

February 4, 2013 at 2:41 pm

The essay discusses David Shields' novel How Literature Saved My Life, and how its ideas truly relate to many aspects of existence. Here is an extract:

One of the other things literature does is that it keeps the plates in the air, so to speak. Much thinking, in the humanities, has shifted from the answer-oriented to the question-centred. It’s a commonplace, these days, that what makes any idea vital is its capacity to keep the mind engaged. Shields seems to accepts this. About halfway through How Literature Saved My Life, he describes Annie Dillard’s essay This is the Life: “[Anne Dillard] establishes the problem, deepens the problem, suggests ‘solutions,’ explores the permutations of these solutions, argues against and finally undermines these solutions, returning us to the problem …” Shields adds that, as far as he’s concerned, this is his process as well: to see the problem (of the self, of literature, of loneliness, of meaning …) in its many permutations before, finally, seeing it anew.

For the full essay, visit http://bit.ly/12nzCCM

By mdimov | Posted in Art, Community, Great Ideas | Tagged , , , , , , , | Comments (0)

John Keats: “This Living Hand”

January 31, 2013 at 2:16 pm

Some spring semesters, CC202 studies the works of John Keats. Here is an interesting untitled fragment the Romantic poet scribbled in a margin:

This living hand, now warm and capable
Of earnest grasping, would, if it were cold
And in the icy silence of the tomb,
So haunt thy days and chill thy dreaming nights
That thou would wish thine own heart dry of blood
So in my veins red life might stream again,
And thou be conscience-calmed—see here it is—
I hold it towards you.

A thought-provoking discussion about it: http://bit.ly/14tGbSY

By mdimov | Posted in Academics, Art, Curriculum, Quotes | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | Comments (0)

At the MFA: The Films of Stanley Kubrick

January 31, 2013 at 1:54 pm

Students are encouraged to explore the arts, and such an opportunity is offered at the MFA from February 1st - February 24th, with the chronological showing of Stanley Kubrick Films. While not directly related to works studied in the Core, it is worth a visit, as the selection will include Lolita, Dr. Strangelove, 2001: A Space Odyssey, A Clockwork Orange, The Shining and many more such landmark films.

For more information, visit http://bit.ly/UGwBck

 

By mdimov | Posted in Activities, Announcements, Art, Community | Tagged , , , , , , , | Comments (0)

Spring 2013 Core Mentoring for First-Year Students

January 29, 2013 at 1:12 pm

What will Nate and Gayle, the Core Mentors, be doing this semester?

  • For students in CC102, they will be holding periodic reviews on books that have proven to be particularly challenging for students in the past. These reviews are entirely optional but highly encouraged. They will provide students with another chance to review the material and ask any questions students might have. They can also help with papers and other assignments. Although they are not a substitute for tutors in the Core Writing Center- a great resource all students should utilize!- they can provide another set of eyes to read over a paper and provide some feedback. They will each hold office hours weekly so students should stop by if they can. Also, both Nate and Gayle are readily available via email.
  • For students in CC106, their role will be similar to what they did in CC105. They will attend lectures and send out "Important Topics" emails each week. These emails will include the key points covered in lecture and also links to various articles that pertain to the class and that they found interesting and useful. They can also help guide students' thinking during preparation for the final paper in the class. Along with their regular office hours, they will be hosting review sessions before each of the exams.
  • They are also available for any kind of general conversation about students' classes, Core overall, or how things are going at Boston University. They are both sophomores, now finishing up in Core, and would be glad to describe what second year Core is like, or talk about other classes. Gayle is a Psychology major who is doing a BUCOP with SED, and Nate is a double major in Philosophy & Political Science and Music, so feel free to ask them about those classes as well.

 

Gayle's email is gminer@bu.edu; she will hold office hours on Mondays 3-4pm, and Tuesdays 4-5pm, in the Core Office.

Nate's email is ndf93@bu.edu; he will hold office hours on Mondays 2-3pm, in the Core Office.

Both Gayle and Nate will hold office hours on Wednesdays 2-3pm, in Warren Towers, 12B!

Please email them any time with your questions!

By mdimov | Posted in Academics, Announcements, Community, Curriculum, General Announcements | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | Comments (0)

Tonight: Open House at the Core House!

January 29, 2013 at 12:51 pm

On Tuesday January 29th- today!- the doors of the Core House will be open to any student interested in learning mroe about life in this specialty housing area. The Core House RA, Caitlin Outterson, invites Core students to drop in between 5-7pm to explore the common areas, peek into rooms, chat with residents, and ask questions about the specialty housing application process.

  • Decorate cupcakes!
  • Make custom-made Core Apples to Apples cards!
  • Learn about life in the Core House!

The Core House is at 141 Carlton Street in South Campus, and can be accessed most easily crossing the St. Mary's St. bridge and turning right to walk west on Park Drive.

The ORL Specialty House Application Deadline is approaching! Download the Specialty Housing Application from http://www.bu.edu/specialty/apply. Important! Applying to live in a specialty housing area does not commit you to that residence, but it is mandatory if you want the option of living in specialty housing.

If you have any questions about the application process, you can speak with your own RA; email Prof. Nelson at nelson@bu.edu; or email the Core House RA Caitlin at coutterson@gmail.com

By mdimov | Posted in Activities, Announcements, Community, Events, General Announcements | Tagged , , , , , , , | Comments (0)