How do you feel about cold weather? I hate the cold. In fact, in the short film I’m currently working on, the interrogator asks the captive what he thinks the worst form of torture would be. The captive (who is, shockingly, the autobiographical me) answers, “Well, I hate cold….” One of my favorite memories ofContinue reading “Cold? No.”
Tag Archives: teaching
Hamster Sacrifice
What sacrifices have you made in life? One of my Intro to Theatre exam questions, concerning the creation of sound effects for films, referenced the Mystery Science Theatre 3000 version of The Cave Dwellers, and the possible choices for the sources of those effects were: The Foley process (the correct answer), Snakes growling, Human sacrifice,Continue reading “Hamster Sacrifice”
Pirate or Ninja?
Are you a leader or a follower? My title is not an equivalent question to today’s prompt (“Are you a leader or a follower?”) but it’s the first thing I thought of when I saw the question. I would always ask students to introduce themselves on the first day of classes, and I wanted themContinue reading “Pirate or Ninja?”
“Do You Play Pool?”
Share a story about someone who had a positive impact on your life. In the past I’ve told the story about the high school nun who set me on a path into the arts, and also my college theatre professor who served as my gateway into my academic career. So let me tell you nowContinue reading ““Do You Play Pool?””
Career Plans?
What is your career plan? This is an amusing little prompt for a retired person. But judging from how people reacted when I attended commencement, they must equate retired with dead. In fact, when people asked me what I was doing there, I would say, “I’m retired, not dead!” (And then I’d say I wasContinue reading “Career Plans?”
ChatGPT Writes Like My Playwrighting Students Did
I decided to try using ChatGPT to write a short script to see how it might do. I began with the idea of the Old King/Young King ritual that Sir James Fraser wrote about in The Golden Bough (1890), an examination of comparative religion that pre-dates Joseph Campbell. Frazer writes that the new king killsContinue reading “ChatGPT Writes Like My Playwrighting Students Did”
The Shape of It
Describe something you learned in high school. In past blog posts, and in my memoir, Immaculate Misconceptions: Tales of Catholic School, I’ve talked about how freshmen Biology ruined science for me, and then I had an inspiring teacher who turned me on to literature and art. So I don’t need to repeat myself. Again. SoContinue reading “The Shape of It”
Covid Changes Everything!
How have you adapted to the changes brought on by the Covid-19 pandemic? My post title is taken from the Cindi Lauper song, “Money Changes Everything.” Although, as we noted during the pandemic, some people refused to change, or even acknowledge there was such a thing. I’m amazed that such ignorance did not lead toContinue reading “Covid Changes Everything!”
Critical Thinking: Now More Than Ever!
As various political movers and shakers at various levels in government work to dismantle both public and higher education, it is clear to me that the skill of critical thinking has never been more important. And the topic for this blog post came to mind when I was reading about the use of ChatGPT, theContinue reading “Critical Thinking: Now More Than Ever!”
You Name It!
If you could have something named after you, what would it be? Sometimes I think naming things after people is a little strange. I get that it’s a way of remembering people, usually donors, but sometimes it seems to get out of hand. For example, sitting in the front pew of the Immaculate Misconception ofContinue reading “You Name It!”
MUSOFYR 