Europe: Deeper Thinking

Throughout the duration of the program, we will have different ideas to discuss and ponder. This is where they will all be shared

July 10, 2023

Soon you will depart for one of the most beautiful cities in the world. It’s referred to as The City of Light…what are some things you anticipate most? Name a few things you want to do when you are here or that you absolutely cannot miss while in Paris. Tell me any apprehensions, concerns, worries, or anything else regarding your upcoming adventure

After nearly 15 hours of travel with my family, I landed in Paris! Although we have already had one day of exploring, there is still so much I cannot wait to do. I am anxious to meet my peers and travel around the city. Seeing the sights, meeting the people, and eating lots of food are only some of the exciting things yet to come. Some classmates and I booked tickets for extra excursions at places such as the Moulin Rouge and Disneyland Paris. All of this excitement will surely help ease any fears. Despite a language barrier and the definite culture shock I am experiencing, I know that this adventure will be a great learning experience.

July 13, 2023

This Point to Ponder comes in two parts.

What aspects of Black culture were not taught in the classroom. Why do you think certain cultural icons such as Josephine Baker and Langston Hughes have been eliminated from school curricula? Discuss certain concepts learned on the walking tours with Kevi.

What are the most memorable activities done these first few days? What makes these experiences unique?

July 24
How has your time been here as a whole? What have you learned that you never imagined? How does this compare with your initial expectations of the City of Lights?

As a whole, everything has been wonderful. I did not eat a single meal that I would not eat again. I wish that I could sit in each cafe for hours and hours on end and watch the people passing by as they go on with their day-to-day activities. The song "Our Last Summer" by Abba talks about their time in Paris and I truly felt all of those experiences. Paris restaurants, morning croissants, walks along the Seine, and laughing in the rain were some of the best things I have ever experienced. If I am ever presented with the opportunity to come to France again, I will take it in a heartbeat. This city has shown me a new side of the world full of history older than my country and cuisine unlike what I can get in the United States

I experienced quite a lot during my time and learned so much about myself, the culture, the city, and humanity as a whole.

Always go out with friends. It keeps everyone safe and you have a much better time
You will walk so much in the city. Wear the comfy shoes even if they are not cute
If you want to try new food, share it with others
Many people here know English but make an effort and learn a little bit of French. It shows that you are trying
Be kind to everyone and always say hello. People appreciate it
Soak it all in. It's tempting to take a picture of everything you see but save some of those things for just you
Ask locals for recommendations. They will always have a fun place to try
Try different modes of transportation. It's fun to walk, take the metro, or even scooter around the city
Everything is a bit overwhelming. It is okay to not see absolutely everything
Take some time to rest. You might want to keep going but your body will thank you
Google Maps is a great tool. Use it and you can get almost anywhere
Don't overpack. You will inevitably buy things here so leave extra room in your suitcase
Call your family. Even if you're not homesick they will all miss you and be excited for you
Have fun. There are so many incredible things around every corner so seize the opportunity to explore it all

I am incredibly grateful for my time here and the incredible things I have learned. I cannot wait to see what Barcelona has in store for us as a class.

I have truly fallen in love with the City of Love. Before arriving, I feared that Paris would be dangerous, people would be rude, and the city would be covered with litter and rodents. These stereotypes about the city just perpetuate the hatred for such a unique place. The city has been incredibly gorgeous and I have not felt unsafe once. Everyone I have interacted with has been so helpful and many of them are kind to you even when you butcher your French pronunciations. The entire time I have been here, I have seen maybe 5 rats scampering around at night. From what I have seen in my two weeks here, the stereotypes about Paris and the Parisian culture have not been true. This is a gorgeous city with so many fun things to do and see.

July 26 - Engaging in the Senses

Take some time to explore the city using the five senses. What do you notice?

Mercat St. Josep La Boqueria

Walking through the Gothic Quarter, you will find stalls and stalls of food, fresh flowers, and kitschy souvenir shops. If you keep walking down the Rambla de Sant Josep, you will come across a bustling area filled with people exploring the shops. The big market is vibrant and clustered with stalls containing different types of food.

Once you enter the lively area, you will encounter colorful shops containing a multitude of different foods. The first place I stopped was a charcuterie shop containing different meats and cheeses. I grabbed a cone filled with Spanish ham, salty cheese, brined olives, and small breadsticks. The meat was salty with hints of pepper embedded into its fat. The cheese was slightly nutty and paired well with the delicate crunch of the breadstick. The olives were incredibly oily and salty and provided the perfect fatty snack before eating more.

After the quick snack from the meat stand, I turned the corner to continue looking around and was greeted by a wide array of scents. Fish stands with shrimps and clams, nougat stands with sweet marbled bars, and fruit stands lined with fresh produce and fresh juices. I grabbed a juice and a cup of fresh fruit. The juice was refreshing and not overly sweet since it was just coconut and pineapple blended together. The fruit was lightly sweet and juicy with a colorful slurry at the bottom. I savored the sweetly refreshing snacks before continuing on to the other stalls.

The busy market was filled with people all grabbing a variety of exciting foods, beverages, and produce. I walked through each and every stall until I landed at a Catalonian nougat stand. I bought a variety pack of the nutty and chewy delights to take home and enjoy later on. The exciting scents and flavors of the market truly called to me and it will be a place I visit many times during my stay here.

July 27
--------
Salvador Dali Museum

Salvador Dalí was a fascinating artist that is extremely popular to this day. His paintings are unique, and his Surrealist style evokes the imagination as he envisions fantastical experiences.

Yet despite his talent and oversize addition to the field of art, there is also much controversy surrounding his actions, philosophies, and beliefs; so much so that he was eventually kicked out of the Surrealist movement.

Create your own Surrealist piece. What does surrealism mean to you? How do you view Dalí from both a negative and positive perspective?

Surrealism is an artistic movement that focuses on freeing the mind and unlocking the powers of the subconscious. Dalí worked with many different mediums such as paintings, sculptures, and even films. For my piece, I chose to create a digital collage to showcase the raw and almost erotic nature of Dalí's work which featured many aspects of the female form. Dalí had an affinity for psychologist Sigmund Freud, especially on the erotic imagery of the subconscious. He also based much of his interest off of his own muse, his wife Gala. I chose to focus my piece on the female form through different mediums -- paintings, sculptures, and installations. The surrealist ideals focusing on obscure and deep thoughts created some jarring and rather peculiar works. Dalí was truly a revolutionary in his field.

Although Dalí was and is still a renowned artist, he has not been free from backlash. Many artists in the surrealism movement identified with Marxist beliefs but Dalí sympathized with fascist leaders such as Francisco Franco. He was also allegedly a supporter of Hitler and was even kicked out of a group of surrealist painters because of these views. In my opinion, I believe that it is hard to separate the art from the artists. You can appreciate the art for what it is but you have to understand its source and the artist behind it. I know I am not perfect and still support some problematic artists but I still understand their beliefs. Salvador Dalí is an incredible artist with incredibly unique pieces but his beliefs cannot be overlooked.

July 28

Imagine yourself as an inhabitant of Barcelona. What is your day-to-day experience like? In addition, create a 3D scan of an object that is unique to Barcelona.

My ideal Barcelona day would begin bright and early to join the locals for some morning coffee and a little "panecito". From there, I would go for a stroll to a nearby market before all the tourists can get there to pick up fresh fruits and flowers from a local stall (such as the ones seen in my 3D scan). I would take my items in my little tote bag back to my small apartment and set them to rest. My Barcelona apartment would be quaint with a nice view of the city and a patio for my dog. I would probably stay in my apartment, doing whatever work I had for the day on my laptop while eating pan con tomate. After my work, I would take myself to a local restaurant for a light lunch before going out for a time at the beach. From there, I would spend time in the water, soaking in the sunlight. On my way home, I would meet some friends for tapas and drinks before refreshing from the day and maybe going out to a fun dance club.

In this ideal scenario, I would have moved to Barcelona after the life I have now, taking my life experience and allowing it to culminate into something greater. I would spend my time working as a travel guide (keeping this blog alive) and maybe have a successful social media platform. I would befriend the locals and know the merchants around me by name. I would find my own home here and let the city into my heart. I am sure I would get homesick but my small apartment overlooking the city would be spacious enough to invite over guests. I know that in this ideal life, I would be active in the space and truly try to acclimate to the culture around me. Maybe someday this dream will become a reality. For now, it will give me something to strive for and keep in my daydreams.

July 31

Most people go to museums, cathedrals, monuments, etc. in order to see things. When tourists plan trips, they usually use language such as “I want to see this. I want to see that”. Some people even make the argument that travel is unnecessary as one can just search for images and videos on the internet of any place they are interested in, so why go there? But of course there is more to an experience than just sight.

What do you notice when engaging the other senses?

Antoni Gaudi's architecture and vision for La Sagrada Familia provide some of the most incredible features of Barcelona. People wait outside the grand tours to see the stunning view of its interior and gawk at its design. What people don't get from the pictures is the incredible array of noises constantly going around.

From the moment you step onto the property, there is a wide array of activities going on. You can hear the chatter of tour groups as they listen to their guides. You can hear the oohs and ahhs of people as they see the gleam from the stained glass windows. If you're lucky enough, you can even hear the melodic chime of the church bells as they indicate the change in the hour. Although I could not capture the audio off of my phone, I was able to find a recording of it.

The first time I heard the chime of the bells, I was taken back to the sound of the bells on the University of Arizona campus. The church bells had a similar rhythm to the ones from the administration building that chime every fifteen minutes to alert the students of the time. Many people never even consider the unique sounds in such a beautiful place but they truly add to the atmosphere.

August 1

Flamenco is a genre of both music and dance that has a long and somewhat mysterious history.

The music incorporates rhythmic finger tapping on the body of the guitar integrated with the melodies of the guitar strings. The dancing appears very practiced and technically concise, the costumes flowing and colorful, all tightly integrated with the music.

Dancing and music today seems to change rapidly, freely moving from one style to the next. Yet it is hard to identify a style or genre until many years after it becomes popular. A lasting style must pass the test of time.

What modern styles of music and dance might still be popularly practiced 100 years from now?

I am a person with very eclectic music tastes and interests. My Spotify playlist ranges from pop to hip-hop to rap to everything else in between. I can listen to a song by Ice Spice and then the next song up will be Frank Sinatra. These tastes and interests show that humans as a whole enjoy variety and enjoy having a multitude of things to enjoy.

The other playlist on my Spotify consists of musical theatre songs. I am a theatre kid and love singing and dancing from something classic like Oklahoma! or something modern like Mean Girls. Although the world of musical theatre as we know it has only been around for less than a hundred years, the Golden Age musicals have already become classics that will outlive their creators and be remembered in one hundred years.

I believe that what makes musicals special is the way they bring people together into a physical space through a unique medium. Sure, some of these musicals are a bit problematic but the song and dance of something like The Sound of Music has an influence on the modern score of a show like Hamilton.

The song and dance from premier musicals have completely changed the world of performing as a whole. Something classic such as My Fair Lady can play at the same time as Wicked and both will be popular shows 100 years from now.

August 2

Most modern buildings today are large utility boxes; rectangular structures of metal and glass. Everything from apartment buildings, office buildings, residential houses, to places of worship lack any ornamentation or flourishes. It is as if humanity is just trying for maximum efficient occupancy. As you look at the buildings in Barcelona, you will see that lack of beauty is a very new phenomena, as nearly all of the buildings here over 50 years old have amazing examples of beauty and style.

How important is beauty and style to life as a human? Can we be happy with only utility and function? Are the creative arts necessary in our lives, or just something extra?

Beauty and style are in everything. People live for the aesthetic and glory of the simple pleasures in life. We combine fashion with function and strive to live in a world with various eye-catching features. We strive to create things and show our creative side in our day-to-day lives. So why do we as a species strive to live a creative life?

I believe that creativity and expression are a necessary part of life. Having spaces that combine both functionality and aesthetics allow for individual expression. I love being able to look at something and appreciate it for its beauty more than just its usefulness. Plants provide oxygen but they also enhance our surroundings and provide a unique beauty to the surrounding area. A purse allows people to hold their miscellaneous items but it also creates a statement piece to tie an outfit together. People wear clothes out of necessity but they pick the ones that express their style and make them feel like the best versions of themselves. Functionality is important but being able to combine beauty and design makes these necessary items more enjoyable.

Being able to see the Gaudi designs and the houses around the Block of Discord opened my eyes to a new point of view. These architects were able to make houses with incredible functionality while also making them gorgeous. In the houses, we were able to see some fantastic design elements such as original ventilation designs and unique lighting systems. The houses also have gorgeous detailing such as stained glass and wavy walls and feature atypical in modern designs. Sure, these were intended for the wealthy aristocrats which is why they are so ornate but they are incredible feats that should inspire others in architecture.

I believe that we need to redesign our current architectural structure and create beautiful homes for all. I am tired of cookie-cutter houses that all look the same with a minimalist design. We need to revamp our designs and create spaces for the sake of beauty rather than mass-produced spaces. A home should be a place of expression so we can express ourselves even in the structure and design of each space.

August 3

IDEAL’s website states:

“IDEAL is a center of digital culture with a unique technological team in Europe, which experiences immersion from audiovisual projections, augmented reality, virtual reality and holography to create a new relationship between art and society.”

Does IDEAL accomplish what it states or is it something else? Is it art, entertainment documentation, educational, augmentation, a kind of sequel? How would you describe what it accomplishes? What are the strengths and weaknesses, pros and cons?

Back in September of 2022, my mom and I went to a Frida Kahlo exhibit in Phoenix. It was advertised as an immersive art exhibit that would transport us into her life and her artwork. It was only after we left the giftshop with kitschy souvenirs that we realized that the overpriced tickets we bought to sit in an abandoned warehouse were probably not worth it. That being said, I believe it was a much better experience that the IDEAL Center. The Frida Kahlo experience at least had a wide array of exhibits and told about the life of the artist as well as her problems and legacy. The IDEAL center had five rooms about Dali that were lackluster in my view. We were able to see a bizarre projection show of his works and then create a Dali-esque animated drawing. That was pretty much the bulk of the exhibit.

The best part of the whole experience was a virtual reality exhibit that the whole class was able to partake in. The whole point of it was to view Dali's work from a different perspective but we all used it as a time to chase each other around and have fun. I don't remember the Dali parts of it but I do remember dancing around and running into walls. I feel like IDEAL does not meet its goals from the mission statement. It was an interesting experience but I feel like it needed more to it to describe the life of the artist and maybe add in more exhibits. It was fun for what it was but I just wish there was more of an experience rather than rooms with little context surrounding them.

Here is a 3D scan that I created in the span of 10 minutes. My classmates and I had more fun messing around with this poorly rendered sandwich I created than with some of the things we saw at the IDEAL Center

August 4

Much of what you see in the Picasso Museum is examples of Pablo Picasso’s early works. He was an extremely talented and prolific realist painter, yet most people that are familiar with Picasso only know about his abstract work and are often surprised that he ever made realistic paintings at all.

What was Picasso doing with his abstractions? Why is he known almost exclusively for his abstract work when his realistic work was so strong? What do you personally think abstraction is and why is it important?

While at the Picasso Museum, I was really drawn to an illustration created by the artist sometime between 1899 and 1900. This piece titled Study for an Illustration for the Magazine ART is not a typical art piece. It was created while the artist was between eras and is simply a sketch created using a crayon on paper. I really enjoyed this piece since it was not a traditional work that one would typically think of when envisioning the artist. It was merely used as a practice but it evokes a sense of realism through the normal human-like features while also leaving out the detail one would expect in a realist painting. You can truly see this visual shift that Picasso is going through as he transitions from realism to the other extreme with abstract paintings.

As an artist, Pablo Picasso truly tried it all. He started off working with realism and slowly transitioned to other styles of art and he even experimented with other mediums. People do not seem to realize this though. He is best known for his abstraction since it is a bit jarring and does not follow the "normal" styles of art for its time. He did something different and stood out from other artists which is why I believe that he is best known for his abstract works. Yes, his abstract art is incredible since it represents things but not in an accurate depiction of what would be considered true to real life. He was an expert at this craft but he has so much more to him that should be seen. His artistic abilities can be seen even in quick sketches like the one I chose above. He was an incredible artists with many styles that often get overshadowed by his work with abstract art.