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My gif of my puppy simba from baby days to full grown! -MS

Final Reflection

This class exceeded my expectations in that it was completely different from what I expected it to be. This class changed the way I see books and define what truly is a book. After taking this class I will never look at a book the same way again. I now understand how diverse and vast the codex truly is. This class was very special because of the unique and original ideas and content of the classroom. This was one class where I can honestly say I learned from my peers and took their advice and opinion seriously. This class taught me things that I am proud to show off to my friends and family. I know the things I learned are actually useful lessons that will be applicable post-graduation. I looked forward to every project and enjoyed the out of class trips to the lab, library, and downtown media center. The knowledge I gained from these lessons are now a tool I can use for future projects, assignments, and personal enjoyment. I originally took this class to get back into the habit of reading more and work on my writing. I feel more confident in my creativity and ability to produce work that is unique and professional. Not only have I started reading more during my free time but I have gotten more into poetry and twine style ( choose your own adventure) material. My friends always asked me what I was working on this week and became very interested in taking the course themselves. As the only English major in my immediate group of friends, this class gave me an example of why I love being an English major and why I think this material is so important. I have created things in this class that I was excited and proud to show off. Instead of telling my friends and family about books I was reading or papers I wrote I was able to provide them with something way more interesting and intriguing. Not only did this class allow me to step out of my comfort zone but it allowed me to tap into talents I never thought I had before. The diverse content we covered was nothing I expected it to be. Looking beyond the surface level of what I thought was simple has opened my eyes to new possibilities and deeper understanding. From the graduation cap to our final book I remember how every assignment challenged and educated me. I am sad this semester is over because I always looked forward to this class and will always remember it as one of the best English courses I have taken at UF.

-MS

Audrino workshop - ms

Little golden book

Traditionally children's books have been tailored to influence boys and girls to adhere to societal norms. For example, fairy tales depict woman as damsels in distress who wait on a man to save her and make her life complete. The male character is typically a masculine and powerful protagonist who saves the day and is praised for his success and bravery. I grew up reading books where the girls wore dresses and told stories of princesses and fairy’s while the boys played sports and fought monsters. I believe that this stereotypes should not be taught to children because it only leads to discrimination and contributes to the issues of gender and identity. I wrote I Am Me to provide an example of what a more modern children’s book should look like. My book provides examples and rhymes on why it’s ok to be into whatever you want regardless of your biological sex. It is so important to teach our future generations to be comfortable in their own skin and not to discriminate against people who are different from our societal norms. I really enjoyed making this book because I felt that a book like this must make a difference in someone’s life. Whether it be a parent trying to support their child or a child trying to learn about themselves, a book like this is a refreshing new idea to educate people of all ages about their identity. There is a growing demand for more progressive books like this one because we are trying to change the way our future generations understand gender. It is the monumental change in our world to start making changes to this movement and I believe that the stereotypical norms of tomorrow can be changed today by educating children to see the world in a new a light. Although my book is more a drafted example of what a more professional version would look like it is clear to see how simple it is to start incorporating rhymes and child-friendly examples to depict serious issues. For example, It is only as you get older that you start to notice to underlying themes and morals in our favorite fairytales. Personally, I reflect on some of my favorite stories I read as a kid and now realize how corrupt up the content was. Today I notice in the new movies tailored towards children that more of these topics are starting to be featured. A great example would be the pixar movie "Inside out'', this movie depicts a young girl going through tough changes. All of her emotions are put on the spotlight while she faces moving to a new city, making new friends, and adjusting to her family's new life. Rather than the movie ending with her being saved by a boy or special prize, the main character saves herself by maturing and solving her own problems. Another good example of this phenomenon would be the pixar movie "UP" which features an old depressed man's journey grieving over the loss of his wife. Instead of a magic turn of events where we see the wife come back to life, the story ends happily just by showing everyone you don't need someone else to be happy you just need people who care about you to make life worth living. These new movies are so much more progressive than any of the fairytales I grew up on and I am curious to see the impact they will have on our future generations as they grow up. I only hope that new media continues to be this progressive and start to include more LGBQT friendly material and modern themes.

my robot from class

-ms

hexaflexagon made in class -MS

lib east visit

Instructable

https://www.instructables.com/id/3D-Printed-Goldilocks-and-the-Three-Bears

Zines then and now

My visit to the civic media center was very educational and moving. I had never heard of it until this class and was pleasantly surprised during my time there. I had also never read a zine before so I didn’t realize how important and special they are. My favorite part about zines are how personal they are. Although they can range from comical to political, you can tell how they fit into our community and neighborhood. The featured zines about prison strikes and political unjust were not only educational but also moving. I found the personal touches and handmade details to be the most influential thing about them. Zines are personable and unique in every way which makes their stories and images even more captivating. The purpose of a zine to can be to send a message, tell a story, give a laugh, or anything you want it to be. There are no flashy advertisements and price tags that make you wonder if the information you are reading is true. A zine can also be textless images that you leave to the reader to interpret. Zines have become so popular that you can now find them online. I am hesitant about online zines because I worry that the digital aspect will lose the original appeal but I will definitely be visiting the civic media center with a friend soon to check out another selection of zines.

Dialogic Objects in the Age of 3D Printing: The Case of the Lincoln Life Mask

Although the idea of recreating artifacts is enticing, copies will never provide the same authenticity and meaning that an original has. By enabling 3D printing of artwork and objects we would be able to further our education and understanding of an artifact but the piece itself would be far less meaningful. There is something special about visiting a museum or monument in person that allows us to understand something on a deeper level. Artifacts would lose value or appeal if we were to recreate digital copies and people would be less motivated to visit exhibitions in person. The objects are special for a reason and by allowing the world to download them would be revolutionary but ultimately a mistake. The appreciation of the arts would eventually decline and we would lose the inspiration and creativity that these pieces provided in the first place.

Here is my draft of goldilocks for my book. I need to work on the sizing and thickness before I do my final prints of her and the 3 bears

Critical Making

After reading Thinking as Handwork: Critical Making with Humanistic Concerns I reflected on how museums have changed over the years and how they continue to evolve with us. Museums used to attract an audience by simply having an artifact or rare exhibit in their possession. Today we tend to visit museums based on how interactive they are and how impressive their “attractions” are. Most people are able to participate but it can be difficult for people with disabilities to engage in them because they are not able to enjoy all the new technology that has been integrated into exhibits. One way technology has helped is by offering audio tours/tools and braille text on descriptions. It is not the same when you can’t physically experience the piece and therefore 3D printing should be utilized to make models of these works to accommodate disabled visitors. I am surprised that museums such as the museum of ice cream or museum of sex have been more relevant than upgrading current and established museums so all can enjoy. Museums have turned into a place to take a photo for social media and focus on pop culture and fads rather than real art and education. Although these museums are interactive they do not offer exhibits that everyone can enjoy.

How to make cat-dog out of playdoh

Step 1:

Roll out playdoh into a long cylinder shape using about 75% of the doh available

Step 2:

Leave enough doh leftover for the head, feet, and ears

Step 3 (optional):

Use a pipe cleaner to wrap the body of cat-dog for added detail

Step 4: Roll a dime size of dough into a sphere in order to make the heads

Step 5: Stick the spheres onto the ends of the cylinder and shape accordingly

Step 6: Use leftover doh to make small triangles and semicircles for their ears

Step 7: Roll remaining doh into small balls for the feet

Step 8: Enjoy your new cat-dog figure

I have always been intrigued by Tactile books even from a young age. I remember first learning about braille and how it was something I never noticed until someone pointed it out to me. I started to see braille text on all the signs at school and even at restaurants on their menus. I would also glide my finger over the dots and be fascinated that people were able to understand the meaning from this type of text. This kind of sensory engagement is something that is often overlooked in reading. We tend to assume that the fewer words a book contains the less meaningful it is. Tactile books challenge that idea by encouraging other forms of communication to tell a story or express feeling. Tactile Books also have the reputation of being just for children but I hope to see that evolve into all ages because people with disabilities can rely on these books to give them to the same satisfaction that reading a good book can give anyone else. Tactile books can also break down language barriers between people by communicating through touch and feel language rather than plain old text. Tactile books prove that sometimes the best way to express our thoughts isn't through speech but through other sensory receptors such as touch and feel.

http://plaza.ufl.edu/mspeizman/ALIEN%20ABDUCTION.htm

Thinking into the box

I wasn’t surprised by reading Ingold's chapter because I realize how much effort does go into creating reading games and puzzles. It is impressive how one can create multiple stories and experiences in a singular piece. I love this concept because there are so many books from my childhood that I would be sad to finish because I would never read it with the same mindset again. I never looked into the research and work that goes into creating these gamebooks and am intrigued to learn how to create one myself. I agree with Ingold’s point on how we share something about ourselves when we select characters and pick our strengths because it allows the reader to identify with the piece on a personal level. When we are required to make moral decisions and solve problems in our own way it allows the story to tell something about us on a psychological level. I find this concept really interesting because it means that gamebooks can provide us with information and insight as well as entertainment.

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