Why is arts education important?

So i'm in Cape Cod for the Thanksgiving holiday, which I am so happy about. I'm so lucky to be out of the city, in a beautiful place, and especially to be with amazing people! Lots of good discussion about the mid east conflict, and I'm thinking about how we can get people to think out of the box. Seriously, where can one challenge how she/he thinks about the world in a different way? Where can we challenge our identities and forge new ones? My answer is the arts, but I'm really curious if other people have other answers.

Here's a brief article I just ran across that provides some answers to the importance of arts education in a straightforward way. I think it simplifies things a bit, but still, it makes some points!

http://voices.washingtonpost.com/answer-sheet/arts-education/willingham-six-practical-reaso.html

My favorite quote:
"children today would typically watch television or roam the internet, activities that are frequently passive and which encourage conformity. The arts, Kagan argues, offer that sense of agency, of creation."

Happy Thanksgiving!

Wondering about Walking

Walking is amazing to me. I have a more profound awareness/appreciation for it while living in NYC. It is amazing how you can leave your house, put one foot in front of the other and, with a little patience, you can be at the grocery store, at the post office, at the Brooklyn Bridge, or in a whole new neighborhood. You could go 100 blocks, to the ocean, or across the state if you really wanted. Walking is amazing! And you don't really have to do much. You, just you, can get yourself nearly *anywhere*.

Why are movie trailers so awesome?

I love watching movie trailers. I check the apple website every day like I check my emails, eagerly looking for new nuggets of pleasure. I think I like trailers better than actual movies. Less of a commitment. Plus apple often has ones up of these kind of obscure independent flicks that don't play in most movie theaters. I have absolutely no desire to see this one but the trailer's kind of fun. And sometimes they have featurettes, which are cool too. The featurette for Gentleman Broncos isn't that funny, but worth watching I suppose. I wish more thing could be made into trailers, like recipes for dinner. That would be fun.

What is wrong with American movies?

Tonight I went to see The Class and it was pretty freakin' awesome. It got me thinking though, about more than just how amazing teachers are and how hard it is to be one. There was something about this film that was just so real, so true, so natural. Where do we ever find this in American cinema? The Class felt like a documentary, yet without the staginess and narration. This could be because François Bégaudeau, the star, wrote the book the film is based on, along with the screenplay. So he's basically playing a version of himself. Yet everyone seems so natural in front of a camera. The script manages to be quite complex- the conversations that are had, the issues being dealt with, are not simplified. The movie offers no easy answers, no happy hollywood resolutions. Which I have to admit was something I caught myself hoping for at moments. I think this has to do with how trained I am by American films. Most Hollywood pictures are so big, so over-dramatized, even the ones that are supposed to be based on true stories. Even the "gritty" movies feel so put together, so polished. Conflicts are simplified, dialog is quick, going for the instant laughs. And of course everything builds to an often predictable climax, and ends in a nice little resolution. I was struck by how we've come to expect that's what a movie is. What about just telling a really compelling story that speaks for itself? This lack of traditional structure is something I've seen many times in French film. What a pleasure to watch- how satisfying and thought-provoking.

How can I live a life of service?

I always hear various panhandlers and beggars on the train. I always listen, even if I'm pretending not to. I *never* give. I'm not exactly sure why. Maybe it's because how do I choose who to give to? I don't know if I can afford to give to everyone. How do I know who's honest? Who deserves my dollar the most? Anyway, this morning on my way to work a man came on my subway car and gave his story. For some reason I could picture it perfectly. He talked about not making it to a shelter last night and spending the night on the train, his body sore today from sleeping on the hard seats. I had such a vivid image in my mind as he told his tale. He then asked quite genuinely for money, but even more so for something to eat. All I could think of was the slice of homemade bread I had in my bag. Annie baked it last night and I cut, toasted and buttered 2 pieces to eat this morning. I could only eat one however, so I wrapped the other and placed it in my bag to take with me to work. What kept me from giving it? I was afraid of being embarrassed, of the other train riders watching me, all of them looking down pretending not to hear this man. I was afraid he'd say no (I've actually had friends who've offered people food and been aggressively denied).

As he continued on his way, I was hit by a wave of guilt. Here I am going about my little life, full of so much. Despite my perhaps petty philosophical and emotional crises, I want for nothing. My basic needs are met. I suddenly felt this huge urge to give, to help those not as fortunate as myself. Is what I'm doing with my life really helping people? How can I feel the direct connection of helping others? How can I know that I'm making a difference? Just a few small thoughts for a Thursday morning in New York City...