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MasterNYS 65M
1927 posts
7/23/2014 7:41 pm
Attention Parents! Your College Money is Being Well-Spent!

So I was bouncing around, reading the odd news sites, and lo and behold, the words "college" and "unique course" caught My attention

(courtesy, Washington Post)


If “The Simpsons” can be the subject of a college course (“Simpsons and Philosophy” at the University of California Berkeley), as well as “Buffy the Vampire Slayer” (at Portland State University), it was only a matter of time before “Game of Thrones” would make it onto some course catalog. And now it has.

The University of Virginia is offering a summer English course called, not surprisingly, “Game of Thrones.” Enrolled U-Va. students got first dibs on seats but visiting students were accepted too in the course being taught by associate professor Lisa Woolfork, according to this story in U-Va.,’s online news publication that has the provocative headline: “Winter is Coming: Students Talk Murder, Mayhem, Magic in ‘Game of Thrones’ Course.” The story says in part:

“Game of Thrones” is as current as you get, a unique breath to an academic discipline that’s more often concerned with what critics and academics have already dubbed to be “classics.” But then again, not much is conventional about Woolfork’s course, a four week, discussion-based seminar that divides its focus between the first “Game of Thrones” novels and watching the first three seasons of the show.

“One of the goals behind this class was to teach students how the skills that we use to study literature are very useful skills for reading literature and TV in conjunction,” Woolfork, an associate professor of English, said. “‘Game of Thrones’ is popular, it’s interesting, but it’s also very serious. There are a lot of things in the series that are very weighty, and very meaningful, and can be illuminated through the skills of literary analysis.
"


Now I have to be fair: I LOVE GOT and I would be the first one to sign up for the course. But.....really???

In the words of Cersei Lannister, "When you play the game of Thrones,you win...or you die."




sophis_id 60F
16373 posts
7/23/2014 11:50 pm

Sighs...i feel the sucking sensation in my bank account and school hasn't even started yet.....how about...Music Today???? FFS! I employ people. I interview and source professionals....you know what's lacking besides a sense of any humbleness and accountability? Critical thinking. How do you solve a problem that's not in a book....that's what I need when I place people at a firm....someone that can look at something...and think...ohhh I can make that better just by ..... and not being afraid of failure.

I was talking to a gentleman here in OZ today about people being afraid of failure...and he said, that's why successful people succeed. Not because they've 'succeeded'only, but because of spectacular failures. Cracks up, I think he wants to hire me....sheesh...Three jobs...(but I am self employed...chuckles)..I need a break!!!



Inner Fucking Peace: watch?v=92i5m3tV5XY


MasterNYS 65M
1536 posts
7/24/2014 7:33 am

    Quoting sophis_id:
    Sighs...i feel the sucking sensation in my bank account and school hasn't even started yet.....how about...Music Today???? FFS! I employ people. I interview and source professionals....you know what's lacking besides a sense of any humbleness and accountability? Critical thinking. How do you solve a problem that's not in a book....that's what I need when I place people at a firm....someone that can look at something...and think...ohhh I can make that better just by ..... and not being afraid of failure.

    I was talking to a gentleman here in OZ today about people being afraid of failure...and he said, that's why successful people succeed. Not because they've 'succeeded'only, but because of spectacular failures. Cracks up, I think he wants to hire me....sheesh...Three jobs...(but I am self employed...chuckles)..I need a break!!!

I can't comment on the education system in OZ but I CAN tell you that the debates here in the States rage on from quality to cost to opportunity to even the right to an education. At the core of many of these debates is the cost involved. But rarely, IMO, is there a discussion on the methodology.

I understand the argument many employ which is to offer course such as Thrones so that students are excited to attend college. But that triggers a rather controversial attitude from Me: if you need courses like these to motivate them, then either they don't belong in college (and am sorry but not all are entitled nor capable of such an education) or the "groundwork" that brought these students to this level is flawed and in need of a HUGE adjustment.

Now, sophis, aren't ya glad you read My blog? LOL. I would hire ya immediately


softrayne 56F
3088 posts
7/24/2014 7:59 am

I saw interesting meme on the book of faces the other day that said:

A (some number-cant remember-50?100 maybe?) years ago they taught Latin in high school. Now they teach remedial English in college.

Makes you go....hmmmm.


MasterNYS 65M
1536 posts
7/24/2014 8:38 am

    Quoting softrayne:
    I saw interesting meme on the book of faces the other day that said:

    A (some number-cant remember-50?100 maybe?) years ago they taught Latin in high school. Now they teach remedial English in college.

    Makes you go....hmmmm.

Hmm OMG I recall a friend in NYC having to do that. I found it amazing even back then that someone who hadn't mastered (no pun intended) English would have to take Latin.

Then again, from what I have read, cities like NYC are giving municipal ID cards to illegal aliens so they can cash checks, get drivers licenses, and have some form of identification.

What??? LOL. And yet...nah never mind Another topic for another day



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