I’m finally taking THTR 204 – Playwriting and wow has it been a treat! I have always been a writer at heart and though theatre is my minor and I’ve written a whole musical before, playwriting is still relatively new to me.
We have two workshops throughout this semester and the first of those was on Friday. Each playwright would submit their 5-7 page scene a week prior and then have them casted and read out in class during the workshop. And then, discussion would begin.
Each discussion is led by a student (who is not the playwright in presentation) who will ask the audience a short series of questions such as “what stood out about the scene/what was crucial to the scene?” and “what would you like to see more of?” After the group has exhausted the exploration, the spotlight would be turned over to the playwright who will ask and/or clarify anything they felt wasn’t cover or were still curious about.
It was nice to hear everyone’s voice, both through written words and through the readings. It occurred to me just how much a person’s voice can be found in the theatre/art they make, even if it’s just a short scene and even when they are not presenting it. The difference between each piece were so distinct and brought a refreshing start to the class each time we began a new read.
Our professor, Devon De Mayo stressed the importance of creating a safe space for our fellow writers. We even ran over ways to rephrase comments and suggestions such as saying “I crave…” instead of “I think you didn’t put enough emphasis on…” and I really appreciated that.
My turn is next Friday, and well I’m anxious and excited and everything all at once. But I know I’m in good hands.
Like what you see? (I do hope so, I’m being graded on this haha) Well let me introduce you to Fine Arts Annex. It looks a little different right now because it’s set up for our Lighting section of THTR 352 – Design II.
For this portion’s final, we had to create lighting designs for 7 scenes of ‘Aglaonike’s Tiger’ and capture them to discuss with our prior researched and created lighting storyboard of the play. Our instructor, Lee, brought the lightboard from Loyola’s underground theatre to the annex and we got a chance to play around with it before diving into the project, and let me tell you miniature lighting design isn’t as easy as you think.
We got 5 hours of lab time each and I used every minute of it. Lee taught us the important to modeling – using light to highlight the important parts of the cast and props so they don’t blend into the background or are not seen correctly. So I made sure to adjust each light for that main purpose. And well I also played around with colours to change up the mood.
My favourite part was using gobos – patterned pieces of circular metal that create different shadows when having light casted through the patterns. These are placed into the source of light. I manipulated a few to represent the presence of water and leaves on the stage floor and backdrop. The plot was a mixture between the themes Ancient Greek Traditions and Postmodern. I wanted to move away from realism with this plot and thought it was a good alternative for props and made the scenes more unique.
I’m very new to lighting design and well electrics in general, being mainly a playwright and dramaturg when it comes to theatre. I even had to call Lee in the middle of my session to ask for assistance…We were also required to provide two lighting sketches, which the techniques for were taught in Design I. I had to do some digging through my notes for a refresher but I’m glad they were good notes haha.
The project and section have been quite challenging, yet I feel so alive! It’s always good to step out of your comfort zone and see what your skills how do and how grow. Sound design is up next, stay tuned!
HEY, I ALSO MAKE VIDEOS!
HERE’S THE SUCH A ‘BLER PLAYLIST:
Loyola opens ‘Flex Lab’ to Accommodate for More Lab Space
GREAT NEWS for all of us science students… Loyola is planning to create new labs to be utilized by students from various science majors on North Broadway Street, between Bar 63 and the Life Storage building.
Turns out, Loyola had bought this building in 2011, but it was just used as a storage area until it was torn down this summer. Now, plans are undergoing to construct additional lab space to house students from different science departments. The construction has begun the last week, and the final building is expected to be finished by this July according to Peter Schlecht, the Assistant VP for campus planning.
This has been such an important construction plan, as there has been increasing need for more lab space over the past few years. The estimated cost of the lab is about $4.7 million and will be at 6335 N. Broadway St. Because it is a ‘flex’ lab, it won’t be restricted; thus, it won’t limit or exclude any of the sciences.
We have such a high enrollment in the science department here at Loyola, so having this flexible lab will make things at Loyola much easier and give the science department much more ease in accommodating large number of students.
Of course, this doesn’t mean that multiple departments of the sciences will inter-clash — scheduling for lab use and which courses will take over will be all planned out.
The goal is to make this easier for students and faculty members, but also encourage interdisciplinary research and learning among our science department. Hopefully, this building will allow students to work among different fields aside from their won and learn from each other with this new cooperative learning environment.
Some argue that its great that Loyola is investing a new flex lab to accommodate for these spaces, however, there are other things the money should go towards, especially if these facilities already exist.
It may be awhile before labs can actually be used, but this is a good direction the University is headed towards creating more integrated spaces for students and faculty members which will hopefully encourage learning and research opportunities.
View of the Lake & the IC. Taken by me, Dec. 10 2018.
It’s been a couple of weeks since I came back to start my second semester of Sophomore year, and before coming, I was excited about coming back. Getting to see my friends after a month, living with the best roommate I could have asked for (shoutout to Devashree for putting up with me), being in the Second City again. Yes, I had missed all of this and was excited to see my past professors and going to my new classes, learning something new every day. However, after I landed in Chicago the day before the semester started, I felt out of the loop: I didn’t know what to do next, I wasn’t able to say “Thank you, next!” In reality, I had forgotten how it takes time for me to get used to a new routine.
It was just like this a year ago, when I was still a First Year. At the end of my first semester, I had every single day planned out, and I knew what I had to do at what time of the day in order to stay on track with my To-Do List, and my back-up To-Do List as well. I had gotten used to wearing layers so that I wouldn’t be cold when I went out, but so that I wouldn’t be warm inside. I had figured out my work-out schedule, and I was making enough time for my extracurriculars and spending time with friends. And then, Finals Week hit me like a truck, and Winter Break was upon me. Right when I started feeling like I had gotten the hang of living in Chicago, I was on a plane back to my home, Guatemala. And I was so glad I was, as I got the chance to spend the Holiday Season with my loved ones, and with beautiful weather (cue “White Christmas” but change “White” to “Warm”). I was back home, up high in the mountains, and I didn’t want to come back down. But I did, and once again, as I started getting used to my old life, living with my parents and sister, walking around Antigua with nothing but a light jacket, and seeing my friends, I had to head back to Chi-Town.
Once back in Chicago, I realized how I had to adapt my routine to the New Year (you know what they say: New Year, New Me). And I took that very seriously. You see, that’s the thing I’ve learned about college: your life as you know it is temporary. However, it is the fact that things are fleeting that makes life exciting. I had no idea what that semester would bring to me: I attended my first Women’s March the weekend; I celebrated Chinese New Year in China Town; I went on my first ABI to East St. Louis and got to meet some of the nicest people there; I witnessed the Chicago River turn green for St. Patrick’s day; I saw Loyola’s basketball team beat the odds and get to the NCAA’s Final Four; I enjoyed the first days of Summer in Chicago; and most importantly, I made some of the closest friendships I have to this day. I had none of these things planned, and many of them definitely did not fit my detailed-to-the-hour schedule. But it was during this semester that I got to enjoy the little surprises that setbacks might bring.
Every semester is going to look very different from the rest, whether that be classes, extracurriculars, service work, or what I do in my leisure time. However, I’ve come to see the good side of this: every semester, I get the chance to start anew, to make the changes that I need to make myself feel more comfortable in Chicago and to give my time here a direction, and to enjoy the little things that come along. I’ve come to realize that it’s important that I focus on my semester only, and not compare it to anyone else’s. This experience is mine, and I have to learn to enjoy it like I want it, not like I think others want me to.
Now, with the Polar Vortex having hit Chicago, with classes being cancelled, I feel once again a little out of place, without a routine to follow. As I write this, I have set myself the goal to take these couple of days to reflect on what I want for this semester: what I want to learn, the people I want to spend time with, the places I want to visit, and the goals I want to accomplish. Every break we get as college students, whether that be due to holiday or to inclement weather, is a chance to look back at what you’ve achieved so far, and what you’re looking to do once the storm passes.
As many of you may know, Loyola never cancels classes. At least for the 4 years I have been here, not once did any amount of snow or low temperature stop Loyola from holding classes. However, one of the coldest air masses will hit the Midwest this week. The temperature in Chicago is predicted to fall to record and dangerous lows on Wednesday. After seeing a high of about 34 degrees today (Monday), it will shortly drop to zero and Wednesday is expected to drop to -23 degrees, this is a record compared to the year 1985, dropping to a low of -27.
The lows Tuesday and Wednesday could break records set in 1966. They’ll also feel much worse with wind gusts up to 30 mph, which will make it feel as low as negative 50 degrees, according to the weather service. But there could be as much as a 30-degree disparity from the north to the south end of the state, while lakefront communities could get a small reprieve, but that largely depends on how much ice cover there is on Lake Michigan.
Loyola faculty is monitoring the forecast over the next 24 hours, and they plan to notify the campus community of any potential class schedule changes or cancellations by 2 p.m. on Tuesday. This is a big deal for Loyola students, as this never really happens.
The weather on Wednesday will be very dangerous, and it is important that all individuals take caution. Be sure to wear layers of clothes, cover exposed skin, be outside as less as possible, stay dry, and avoid alcohol and caffeine. These beverages interfere with the normal physiological defense against cold and can actually increase heat loss.
With a wind chill of -18°F to -35°F, frostbite can occur in 10 to 30 minutes if skin is exposed. Please be safe and stay warm!
Playwriting is perhaps the theatrical class I had been most excited to take since I declared my Theatre minor. This is however, also a course that I feel equally anxious about. This is because I am a writer at heart, I am very rusty after taking more design-based courses in my first 3 semesters here, and in general lack theatrical knowledge in comparison to my peers who have been deeply surrounded by theatre their whole lives. Nevertheless, I am passionate and pumped to grow!
Our first writing assignment made me smile – frankly because it was fun, but also because it was exactly what I needed. We were asked to record a conversation between two other people, that had to be at least five minutes – equivalent to five script pages- long, and then transcribed it precisely. This meant every pause and stutter, no matter how odd had to be recorded accordingly. Our professor stressed the importance of this, even if it meant uncomfortable punctuation and grammar because that is just how people really talk!
I appreciated this because I’ve never been too great with dialogue if I must confess. This exercise really put me into perspective with the rawness needed to write good dialogue, or at least one pertaining to the naturalistic and realistic spectrum of theatre.
You could say this is a pretty good start and that this writer is ecstatic for an adventurous semester. Wish me luck!
HEY, I ALSO MAKE VIDEOS!
HERE’S THE SUCH A ‘BLER PLAYLIST:
Such a ‘Bler: Career Week 2019! | My Summer Internship Hunt! (Part 2)
I walked in this Tuesday with my bright mustard yellow resume and interactive online portfolio. I was confident – I had been prepping for this review all Summer after learning from the previous year’s Career Week Workshops. However, I knew there was much left to learn.
The extravagance began with a panel discussion on good business writing and other crucial things to keep in mind when striving to put your best foot forward. The three guest speakers were informative, funny and inspiring. I can honestly say that I’ve even met the individual I hope I will have the honor to mentor me. But I got his card (!) and also gave out my business card for the first time – it was a very official conversation.
The next day continued with the circulation of our resumes through a group of professionals both from the more corporate and creative world. I also ran them through my website, or online portfolio and it was interesting to see the different insights. Overall, I need to be more specific with my information according to each desired internship, but my overall brand received many thumbs up!
The Career Week finishes with a a Networking Night and Job Fair but I am already learning so much and feel much more confident after 2 evenings. I can honestly not thank the School of Communications and Quinlan School of Business enough for such a helpful string of events.
Now, if you’ll excuse me, I’m going to have my complimentary headshot taken and get my Linkedin ready.
Here’s my freshman photo from last year’s Career Week:
HEY, I ALSO MAKE VIDEOS!
HERE’S THE SUCH A ‘BLER PLAYLIST:
Such a ‘Bler: Theology 107 with an Agnostic Atheist
I was born and raised in Vietnam. A large part of our country’s population is Buddhist. However, though the majority of the rest do follow the religion’s practices, they are in fact not Buddhist. This was the case for my family. Around sophomore year of high school, I deemed myself as an Agnostic Atheist. So what, you may ask, am I doing as a undergraduate sophomore in a Jesuit Institute?
This exact question revisited my mind on the first day of Theology 107 – Introduction to Religion Studies. I’ll be honest and say that my university background check was quite poor during the application process. However, I have never once regretted my decision about Loyola – and especially regarding this aspect. I have never felt cornered or discriminated for my religious affiliation or bothered by those of my peers.
Although I still look down grinning to myself half the time when I hear something my Agnostic mind can’t comprehend, I do appreciate the myriad of new perspectives. It’s comforting to know that though there are so many ways the heart has chosen to believe the universe came about, we are still able to celebrate it all together.
I’m only two weeks into the course and I still have a lot to learn but I do hope courses like these come as informative to others as it is currently coming to me. Then maybe we’ll smile at the floor less and at one another more.
Mental health refers to our cognitive, behavioral, and emotional wellbeing – it is all about how we think, feel, and behave. Mental health can affect daily life, relationships, and even physical health. Mental health also includes a person’s ability to enjoy life – to attain a balance between life activities and efforts to achieve psychological resilience.
It is not possible to reliably tell whether someone is developing a mental health problem; however, if certain signs appear in a short space of time, it may offer clues:
Withdrawing from people or activities they would normally enjoy.
Sleeping or eating too much or too little.
Feeling as if nothing matters.
Consistently low energy.
Using drugs more than normal (including alcohol and nicotine).
Displaying uncharacteristic emotions.
Confusion.
Not being able to complete standard tasks, such as getting to work or cooking a meal.
Persistent thoughts or memories that reappear regularly.
Thinking of harming one’s self or others.
Hearing voices.
Delusions.
Almost 1 in 5 Americans experiences mental health problems each year (18.5 percent). In the United States, in 2015, an estimated 9.8 million adults (over 18) had a serious mental disorder. That equates to 4.8 percent of all American adults.
A large proportion of the people who have a mental disorder have more than one.
In the U.S. and much of the developed world, mental disorders are one of the leading causes of disability.
Mental health is subject to some disorders such as anxiety, phobia, OCD, PTSD, depression, bipolar, schizophrenia, etc.
To address mental health on Campus, Loyola will be holding a circle session on campus!
3:30-5:00pm | Tuesday, January 22
Regis Hall, Multi-Purpose Room
Co-Sponsored by Student Government of Loyola Chicago, and featuring the Wellness Center
Individuals will meet and gather in a circle. Circles are a restorative justice practice that foster open dialogue, honesty, and attentive listening. Circles are a way to build and sustain communities based on authenticity, honesty, and empathy. They may also be used to provide healing and closure after a difficult group experience.
Privacy is a crucial component of the OSCCR. All information shared through mediation or other conflict resolution services will be kept private, with two exceptions: 1) If there is mention of a serious violation of the Community Standards or law, a staff member would be required to act upon this information as appropriate and to ensure the safety of the community. 2) If a staff member becomes aware that someone may be in danger of serious, imminent harm, they would be required to address the situation as appropriate to ensure the safety of the community.
Such a ‘Bler: Spring 2019 Student Organization Fair!
With a new semester comes a whole new Student Organization Fair! This is a showcase of the student organizations currently active at Loyola in hopes to spark student interests and provide mediums for exploration outside daily academics. I was back again with the e-board of Diminuendo Literary and Arts Magazine. I am currently the AD/PR Chair and am super psyched for what this semester’s got in stored!
We are Loyola University Chicago’s longest running Student Literary and Arts Magazine. We curates, edit together and then publish two issues of student literary and visual art each year! Our editorial staff includes three main committees – AD/PR, Tech and Design and Digital Media. On top of that, we have two co-presidents, a treasurer and secretary. Our most recent issue is said to be our best and most competitive one yet, so I was pumped to encourage even more submissions for the next!
In between my enthusiastic speels, I roamed Gentile Arena for any possible new adventures. I always try to do a round in case there are any new organizations or if I suddenly decide to finally pick Soccer back up. I’ve been to every one since my freshman year, and there is at least 5 new ones each time! There honestly is something for everyone. I highly recommend passing by even for a short stroll because that’s where I found Diminuendo Fall of Freshman year and I have been so grateful ever since!
This e-board is excited for a brand new explosive issue! Our Fall 2018 issue can be found at Connection’s Café in the IC and on our website: diminuendoluc.com.
Stay tuned and most importantly, try something new this semester!
