Sproj Brainstorm 3: Environmentalist Alphabet

Freewrite:
I really enjoyed making poems and short pieces that were illustrated in my art in society class in high school. We wrote the poet's alphabet and for each letter wrote and illustrated a creative conceptual piece that related to the letter, For my senior project it would be really cool to do something like this. Yes, research and literacy on subject is important - that cultivates knowledge and awareness, but we're not all academics and I don't want to end up writing an academic piece of work - unless it makes sense for me to do that. I would do that if there was a real need to write academic work, but to me I think the need is to synthesize and cultivate an awareness of academic work that already exists and bring it to the public, use it in art, and let it ignite new thought and new creative expression. Being at Bard has given me an awareness and appreciation for academic work, and I got a little bit caught up in trying to professionalize myself, but I want to express myself in an authentic and fun way now. Looking back to what I had the most fun doing, and what cultivated the best result, I think back to the poet's alphabet and think that that format is ideal for my self expression. It allows me to cultivate my creative poetic side, while cultivating the philosophical questions I enjoy asking, while also using my creative drawing and illustrating abilities, to improve and expand upon my ideas.

Of course I don't want my work to be superficial. And I want to dig deep into some important questions. How can I do that? Is the poet's alphabet simply a beginning? Is this the jumping of point for a new format? I also really enjoyed making a stop motion animation piece for my french class? Is this also going to come into play? What about my interest in languages? My russian and french? Is that going to be a part of this? What about my physics side? How can environmental science come into play in this? Is there an overarching idea for the poet's alphabet? Is there an overarching question? Such as what would the world look like if we implemented all the technology we have now to address environmental questions? Or... what does utopia look like and feel like? What about my social justice questions? What about my interest in education? What about my relationship to Los Angeles, to architecture and urban planning? How does all of this come into play?

Sproj Brainstorm 2

Sproj Brainstorm 2

Freewrite:

I am inspired by Rumi, by philosphy, by human potential. What is important to focus on, understand and transform? Can a senior project be a space for this transformation to occur? What environmental philosphies talk about human potential? Yes there is a large populaton - how can we fully harness this energy? Will our population continue to expand? How can we love this? How can we heal the planet? Do we heal ourselves to heal the planet? How can we let go and become inspired? Where is the place within ourselves where the knowledge, courage and inspiration exists that will illuminate not just the environmental solutions but the social justice solutions? Is it a place of energy that we need to reach to be in flow with the cutting edge of the questions that will bring answers? How do we connect with that cutting edge? Do writers and thinkers of the past have a role to play in this thinking? What kind of a "subject" would cover these questions? What advisors would encourage and inspire a student to tap into this cutting edge? What does the student need to cultivate to tap into this cutting edge? How much power can be harnesed by a place like Bard? What needs to shift for this to happen? How can a senior project work incorporate these questions? What does free education in New York State mean for Bard College? What does it mean for the common core of college curriculums? What does it mean for tapping into human potential? Will what students study and how they study shift as a result of this?

Sproj Brainstorm 1: Slide + Freewrite

In an attempt to answer the first question, we build it working together with other countries. All things are interconnected, and this is especially evident with the energy and environmental concerns of our time. Coalitions of countries, of leaders of entrepreneurs are going to be built. Solar City is a great example of such a coalition, though it is operating outside of government or policy control. Perhaps this is the natural way. My goal partly is to bring hope to the eyes of those who have environmental doubt, or fear.
When it comes to population, and looking at innovation versus population growth in the past it is possible to see that the two are in concert with one another. Yet, I don't believe we need to feel restricted or stifled by the energy transition. To illustrate my point, China is transitioning itself right now while maintaining one of the world's largest populations.
This leads me to my next point of interest: What is China doing right? Yes, there are problems, but they are also on the forefront of innovation. What can the world learn from China. How can American policy makers, thinkers and entrepreneurs learn from China?
America is not yet transitioning to a clean energy economy. Buckminster Fuller said that we simply need to use our fossil fuels more effectively. Can America do this and take a different approach to energy while still addressing contemporary environmental concerns? Why is it not an issue for America to transition to clean energy, while for China it is? What is America doing right when it comes to energy? What will energy in America look like in the future? How can we love America's energy future? What is there to love about American innovation in the feild of environmentalism?

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Towards Fulfilling My Passions at Bard

I want to bring forward a fulfilling vision of my Bard senior project. I want it to encapsulate who and what I am. How do I create a senior project in my major that suits my interests and where I want to go? Where do I want to go, and how do I allow my project to propell me forward? How can I allow my project to encapsulate all that I love? How can it still be focused and inspired? How can it fulfill the greatness of Bard's vision while synergizing with and energizing my vision for what I am and where I'm going? Additional Q's: What would be the best course schedule for me if I were to go back to Bard? What is the thread of my interest? Who would my adviser be? I hope Katy Perry's passion and great qualities infuse everything I am and do!!