Gordon Smith, Winter Pond II (2002). Canadian painter Smith, 98 years old, was profiled by the CBC on Remembrance Day to reflect on his time serving as a WWII military officer. — Gordon Smith, *Winter Pond II* (2002). Canadian painter Smith, 98 years old, was profiled by the CBC on Remembrance Day to reflect on his time serving as a WWII military officer.

Weekly Flipboard Links and Media Round Up

November 13, 2017

The last few days we have been enjoying a mini getaway to Whistler, BC, a trip that has included much snow, fireside treats, dips in thermal spa waters, and a planned visit to the recently opened Audain Art Museum (I posted several images on my Instagram to give a sense of the space and collection). As an international travel destination, Whistler attracts tourists from around the globe, and the new art space has been created to house the private art collection of Michael Audain and his wife Yoshiko Karasawa. What struck me most as we moved through the building was careful attention to how the contemporary and very MoMA-inspired architecture interacted with the natural environment surrounding it. Considering that the collection mostly consists of modern and contemporary Canadian and First Nations art (heavy on Emily Carr and early twentieth century First Nations carvers, together with a who's who of BC art stars of the past several decades), the juxtaposition between visual art objects and the Canadian "wilderness" has to be carefully considered. I am still pondering how successfully this museum navigates the terrain (there are many problematic dimensions to any art collection) but I do think it would be great to see more art museums built and supported outside of urban centres. Enjoy the links and enjoy the remainder of the long weekend!

"Boris Groys,Towards a New Universalism"

e-flux.com

"Kazuo Ishiguro: ‘Write What You Know’ is the Stupidest Thing I’ve Ever Heard"

lithub.com

"How the Myth of the Artistic Genius Excuses the Abuse of Women"

nytimes.com

"Inside the Underground World of Legal Art Forgery"

architecturaldigest.com

"Facetime with Cindy Sherman: The Artist on Her "Selfie" Project for W"

wmagazine.com

"Everything you need to know about the MET Exhibition 2018"

en.vogue.fr

"Britney Spears, Artist, Sells Her First Painting for $10,000"

vanityfair.com

"Alias Grace Is True Crime Through the Female Gaze"

theatlantic.com

"Pipilotti Rist: Sip my Ocean / Museum of Contemporary Art Australia, Sydney (VIDEO)"

VernissageTV

"Is the Art Market Irrational? (PODCAST)"

artsy.podcast

Richard Hambleton, Stop Sign (c. 1980s). Hambleton, the subject of the recent film Shadowman (that I recommended during VIFF) sadly passed away this past week at the age of 65. Hambleton was a contemporary of 1980s street and celebrity NYC artists J… — Richard Hambleton, *Stop Sign* (c. 1980s). Hambleton, the subject of the recent film *Shadowman* (that I recommended during VIFF) sadly passed away this past week at the age of 65. Hambleton was a contemporary of 1980s street and celebrity NYC artists Jean-Michel Basquiat and Keith Haring, and was recently being rediscovered by the art world after spending decades off the radar.

Weekly Flipboard Links and Media Round Up

November 05, 2017

As the snow (yes SNOW) began to fall around the city this weekend, I spent some time catching up on the list of film and television shows that I have had on my radar or PVR. First, I have been a huge fan of HBOs drama series The Deuce telling the story of the rise of NYC's porn industry-- especially as I was sad to see the cancellation of its other 1970s-setting series Vinyl last year-- and have enjoyed watching the multiple and complex narrative unfold over its first eight episodes. I have blogged a lot (too much!) about James Franco and his art world ambitions in the past, but I must say that he does a fantastic and very convincing job playing two roles in the series (as twins Vincent and Frankie Martino), and Maggie Gyllenhaal is incredible playing street prostitute turned early pornography director/entrepreneur Candy Merrell. The finale episode just aired, and if you have not yet seen this very path-breaking series, I highly recommend binge watching immediately.

Second, I was able to catch a screening of Blade Runner 2049 in theatre, and all I can say is WOW!! I was not at all expecting to enjoy the sequel to one of my very favourite films of the futurist action genre as much as I did, but director Denis Villeneuve essentially channels the best of Ridley Scott's vision, and the pace, look, feel, and even sound design of the movie is kept true to the original. Rarely if ever do sequels measure up in this way, and so again, I highly recommend experiencing this film on the big screen. And finally, I am about halfway through Alias Grace, the CBC-Netflix adaptation of Margaret Atwood's novel by the same name. Not only am I enjoying the plot and narrative of the series in terms of how it is adapted from the novel, but it is impossible not to see the critical parallels of the series' themes concerning women's struggles and socio-economic systems that shape their lives past, present, and fututre (as with The Handmaid's Tale). I cannot wait to finish it up tonight! Enjoy the rest of your Sunday evening-- I hope you get to enjoy some of your screen favourites too-- and enjoy the links!

"Over 1,800 Artists and Art Workers Sign Letter Against Sexual Harassment"

hyperallergic.com

"We Broke Down ArtReview’s Power 100 by Race, Gender, Profession, and Place of Birth"

artsy.net

"Richard Hambleton, ‘Shadowman’ of the ’80s Art Scene, Dies at 65"

nytimes.com

"After ‘Hope,’ and Lawsuit, Shepard Fairey Tries Damage Control"

nytimes.com

"How universities can cultivate creativity in their students"

timeshighereducation.com

"The Deuce Is a Hard Show to Watch, But It’s Also Hard to Look Away"

vulture.com

"Kara Walker’s Black Lives Matter"

nybooks.com

"The Surprising Revolt at the Most Liberal College in the Country"

theatlantic.com

"Ilya and Emilia Kabakov – ‘The Viewer is the Same as the Artist’ | TateShots (VIDEO)"

tate.com

"Tala Madani: Sketchbooks | Art21 "Extended Play" (VIDEO)"

art21.com

Artist Jean Michel Basquiat was a prolific note-taker and filled composition books with both notes and drawings as part of his creative process. The Brooklyn Museum held an exhibition of his notebooks in 2015, and I was fortunate enough to view it a… — Artist Jean Michel Basquiat was a prolific note-taker and filled composition books with both notes and drawings as part of his creative process. The Brooklyn Museum held an exhibition of his notebooks in 2015, and I was fortunate enough to view it along with the New York Field School students of that year.

Focus on Research| How (And Why) To Take Excellent Lecture Notes

November 02, 2017

Once upon a time, before the Internet, the laptop computer, and digital recording devices, students’ lives depended upon their ability to take excellent handwritten class notes. Without them, there was very little chance of doing well in a course, especially as it was much more difficult to access lecture information in a much reduced information economy. I still remember the panic when I was a senior in high school and lost my history notes in the days before an important provincial exam. Trying to locate friends on short notice who could lend me their notes was quite the task, while attempting to re-learn the material from the few books to which I had access proved both stressful and laborious.

Since that time, and with the advent of new technologies, I have experimented as a student and researcher with note-taking and have also watched successive generations of students navigate the important task in my courses. Whether taking notes on a laptop, recording them on a phone, using apps and various software platforms to organize ideas and images, or even forgoing note-taking and writing the big ideas following a class, I have seen and also tried almost every method of recording and recalling class lectures and seminars. But what I have learned and observed through trial and error (and now backed up by studies—more on that later) is that the essence and methodology of traditional handwritten note-taking remains the gold standard and, more importantly, is proven to be the most successful way to record and retain information communicated in a classroom.

Taking notes by hand takes account of an entirely different set of kinetic actions than typing on a computer. Don't believe me? Try brainstorming or conceptualizing an idea using only a keyboard and see how limited your possibilities for expression … — Taking notes by hand takes account of an entirely different set of kinetic actions than typing on a computer. Don't believe me? Try brainstorming or conceptualizing an idea using only a keyboard and see how limited your possibilities for expression are.

But Why Take Notes In the First Place?

Now before I pass along some tips and methods to produce good class notes, I realize that I have to back up here and remind many students why taking notes is important in the first place. In the past several years, I have noticed fewer and fewer students actively taking the time to record anything in class. This alone is very alarming when considering that the core of exams and assignments rely upon ideas first introduced in lecture. And when I have asked students why they neglect to take notes, I often get some combination of response that suggests they could “look up the idea later on the Internet,” that they could have a friend text or email them their notes if they felt they needed them, or that the textbook/readings were enough to consider when studying.

Clearly, this is a problem, and especially so when considering why good note-taking is so vitally important. Consider these six key reasons as outlined by Stanford University’s note-taking skills workshop:

1. Notes trigger memories of lecture/reading

Taking notes and reviewing them later acts as trigger for a great deal more information, analysis, and context than is even recorded. This is also why using someone else’s notes is often useless and not as valuable as making your own associations and synthesis of ideas in the form of personalized notes.

2. Your notes are often a source of valuable clues for what information the Instructor thinks is most important (i.e., what will show up on the next test).

Remember that when your professor is formulating exams, they rely upon their own class notes and/or ideas raised in class to build questions and potential themes. In my case, I will go as far as to say “write this down” to prompt students to record ideas I already know they will likely be tested on. If you don't record these ideas, you are at a huge disadvantage when later tested.

3. Notes inscribe information kinesthetically (relating to or resulting from bodily motion)

This point should almost come first. The act of directly recording ideas from your active brain to handwritten expression is one of the most key, albeit mysterious, aspects of successful note-taking. Just think of all of the quick free association, scribbles, doodles, arrows, and other mark-making techniques you use when brainstorming or conceptualizing concepts on paper that are not at all intuitive or quickly possible via a computer. Even having experimented with note-taking on an iPad using an Apple pencil, there is still something missing from the primal act of moving your hand across a page.

4. Taking notes helps you to concentrate in class

Distraction is the disease of our times, and multi-tasking is essentially a late capitalist myth. I cannot tell you how often I have found myself unintentionally surfing or checking email when using a computer to take notes in a meeting only to realize I have no real sense of what is being discussed. Now imagine how much is potentially missed in an important classroom discussion. Simply put, active listening and comprehension requires your full attention, and taking notes centers your attention squarely on what you are hearing.

5. Notes create a resource for test preparation

This should be obvious, and even more so as you move into upper levels of academia. Yes, you can read the textbook and attempt to figure out what you will need to study using the syllabus, but if you actually calculated the time, effort, and stress needed to prepare for an exam without notes, you would soon realize that note-taking is actually the best investment in both your time and your sanity.

6. Your notes often contain information that cannot be found elsewhere (i.e., in your textbook).

This. Every professor plans the scope of a course to include information, ideas, and analysis that are either from their own original research and/or not included in the assigned textbook and readings. These are often ideas that cannot be found anywhere else, and certainly not via a simple Internet search.

Another Basquiat notebook-- he was most fond of the kinds of everyday composition notebooks used in school. This is a reminder not to overthink the note-taking process. Just start and use your handwritten expression and preferences to guide you.&nbs… — Another Basquiat notebook-- he was most fond of the kinds of everyday composition notebooks used in school. This is a reminder not to overthink the note-taking process. Just start and use your handwritten expression and preferences to guide you.

Ditch Your Computer and Stick to Handwriting For Higher Grades

So the bottom line is this: to take excellent class notes, you have to return to basics (paper and pen) and stop relying on technology. This has been a tough admission even for me to make as I count myself among the early adopters of new technologies. But if you aren’t yet convinced, consider this new study that was recently published in the Economics of Education Review this past April, 2017. The authors of the study analyzed the grades of 5600 students at an American liberal arts university and concluded that laptops appeared to harm the grades of students. As one review of the study summarized: “While the authors were unable to definitively say why laptop use caused a “significant negative effect in grades”, the authors believe that classroom “cyber-slacking” plays a major role in lower achievement, with wi-fi-enabled computers providing numerous distractions for students. “Students believe that laptops will improve their productivity but the opposite occurs,” Richard Patterson told Times Higher Education. He explained that this was “either due to the superiority of pen and paper, the unforeseen influence of distractions, or some other unseen factor.”

Create a Note-Taking Method and Stick With It

So now that we have reviewed why to take notes and why handwritten note-taking is best, we can turn to some methods. When it comes to note-taking, there are many approaches, but I believe that the one that will be most successful is the one that you will most consistently use. No need to overthink it, just work with your own instincts and preferences.

For example, in my own note-taking method, I tend to use star symbols (*) to indicate in my notes when a very important idea is being conveyed or summarized. I don’t tend to have more than a few of these is any set of notes. I indent and use numbers when creating lists of ideas or noting examples raised in discussion. I also make sure to underline all of the titles of works and add dates and a mini timeline on the left-hand side of my notes when taking notes that cover a chronology. Another thing I like to use are arrows and various shapes and scribbles to reinforce an idea in a way that makes sense to my visually driven memory. Finally, I often use a big Q symbol to record questions that arise for me when learning new material. This has also been useful when I wanted to raise an idea later in class discussion or office hours.

The Cornell Note-Taking Method is an oldie but a goodie.

The note-taking method I evolved for myself has also drawn on elements of the Cornell Note-Taking Method that was taught to me in high school. The technique of dividing lined note paper into three sections: 1) concept 2) notes 3) relationship is one that I still largely follow. The advantage of this technique is that you can leave the “relationship” part of the notes blank and then practice the habit of reviewing your notes periodically to figure out what bigger ideas you have learned in a particular lecture. I have also found that leaving this part of the note-taking method for later allows you to digest and add in ideas that may have been triggered in textbook readings that support the lecture.

If you find this note-taking method to your liking, you can even download and print a customized Cornell Note-Taking template here and have on hand for your classes.

So there we have it, something old appears to be new again in academia. Go forward and make sure to take handwritten notes!

Andy Warhol, The Witch (from the Myths Portfolio) (1981) Screenprint in colors with diamond dust on Lenox Museum Board 38 x 38 in. (96.52 x 96.52 cm.) Signed and numbered in pencil on the reverse. Edition 82/200. Current bid $25,… — Andy Warhol, *The Witch (from the Myths Portfolio)* (1981) Screenprint in colors with diamond dust on Lenox Museum Board 38 x 38 in. (96.52 x 96.52 cm.) Signed and numbered in pencil on the reverse. Edition 82/200. Current bid $25,000US on artnet.com, ending October 31.

Weekly Flipboard Links and Media Round Up

October 29, 2017

As a kid, Halloween for me equaled Christmas in terms of excitement. It wasn't just the candy (although walking up to strangers' homes and getting free stuff was pretty exhilarating), it was the act of performance and of freedom, getting to become someone or something else for an evening. Looking back now, I see how important that childhood rite of passage was, especially for those of us wanting to try on, and express, very different facets of our deepest selves. It is like a collective act of performance art one day every year. As I write this, I am also learning of the passing of one of the great icons of modern art history-- Linda Nochlin. Nochlin was one of the most influential art historians of the late twentieth century, authoring important books, articles, and courses examining and questioning the institutional and societal structures that elevate male artists above their female counterparts. She was a true rockstar to the generation of art historians I graduated with, and her pathbreaking ideas will continue to live on in the reading lists and research of practicing art historians around the world. Enjoy the links and have a safe and happy Halloween!

"The Artsy Podcast, No. 53: Is the Art Market Irrational? (PODCAST)"

artsy.net

"The Radical Paintings of Laura Owens"

newyorker.com

"Claes Oldenburg Is (Still) Changing What Art Looks Like"

nytimes.com

"Architects Are Suffering From “Originality Syndrome”"

dezeen.com

"From Liberal Arts to Making a Living"

chronicle.com

"Curator Nato Thompson on Politics and the State of Social Practice Art"

hyperallergic.com

"Women Accuse Knight Landesman, Art World Mainstay, of Sexual Harassment"

nytimes.com

"Harvey Weinstein and the Economics of Consent"

theatlantic.com

"How to Teach Your Children to Care about Art"

artsy.net

"Linda Nochlin, Trailblazing Feminist Art Historian, Dies at 86"

artnews.com

Robert Rauschenberg, Estate (1963). "Art is a means to function thoroughly and passionately in a world that has more to it than paint." Rauschenberg was born on this date in 1925. — Robert Rauschenberg, *Estate* (1963). "Art is a means to function thoroughly and passionately in a world that has more to it than paint." Rauschenberg was born on this date in 1925.

Weekly Flipboard Links and Media Round Up

October 22, 2017

After a very wet and cold week, the sun decided to come out today and reveal the beautiful fall colours that signal autumn's full arrival. I have been marveling at all of the gorgeous images and photographs circulating on my media feeds and am reminded of so many of the striking autumnal scenes that show up in my landscape lectures when teaching Canadian and American art history. I found this great Pinterest board of many modern and contemporary autumnal landscapes that sent me down a rabbit hole today, and I invite you to take a look and enjoy. Another theme I noted this week were allusions to the impact of social media and technological design on the world of art and visual culture-- you will note that I have links discussing Facebook, Instagram, Apple, and emojis this week, all of which spark compelling ideas that should be of interest to many creatives. Happy reading, and take some time to stop and enjoy the fall colours around you this week!