The excitement of being Dublin is slowing fading to the back as I realize that there is important higher learning that is at hand, but I think it's going to work out ok, because so far every class has been INSANELY INTERESTING. Well I won't get to every detail, I'll hit the highlights for the viewers back home.
Yesterday, I went to my first Drama class here: Staging Performance. Basically, it was a small studio in the Newman Center on the third floor (where I'm told all the drama classes take place) with a padded ground and windows. As it was one of my backup choices for class selection, I didn't know how to feel about it initially, but basically the class will consist of working with the space around you in order to work on performance. We started off with some basic image theater work, but it looks like later in the class we get to progress to Viewpoints and Stanislavski methods of delivery. The teacher is great, and this was really the first time I got to actually interact with the Irish students. (it's small, only about 10-12 people).
After getting back from class, I finally had a chance to sit down with one of my roommates from Kildaire county and talk about the cultural differences. We discussed how Irish students all go home on the weekend, effectively making this a commuter school. His parents are both auctioneers, so I'm hoping to get a chance to meet them and see what that's all about. He asked if I lived on a farm, being in the south, and I explain that yes, but not everyone in the south lives on a farm. I also explained the concept of "fraternities" to him. He had mixed reactions to the whole bit. I'll probably his brain more in the future.
-quick side note, there are quite a lot of older people here in the classes. And they're the ones who are predominantly answering questions. Also, that stereotype that European people are shorter. Totally not true, At ~5'11", I'm constantly looking up to the other men walking around campus.
Today I had my Popular Music and Culture class, which spent the day comparing the differences between Jeff Buckley's Hallelujah and a gospel version from the English version of X-factor (which is a much bigger thing here, think American Idol (Simon Cowell included)). I made a comment about how it was supposed to be a lot less uplifting and a lot more depressing, but again, the predominant contributing force was the older gentleman in our class. It looks super interesting, as any college course that starts off with a power-point that has the Jay-Z/Beatles Grey Album front center can be. It looks to explore what makes music "popular" and what trends in music develop from the 50's on. It'll be interesting to get a Irish perspective (even though the teacher is Canadian, I believe)..So, I mean, I guess that's a Canadian's understanding of an Irish Class's cultural reflection of American and English music as relayed back to you by an American...Wooooooffff. That's a mouthful.
I also signed up for two more classes today to fill the requirements by UNC- An introductory Irish Folklore class and a Contemporary Irish Theatre class (field trip!!! omgz). Tomorrow night we're going to a traditional Irish Dancing show with the International Student Society. Friday I'm getting to attend a student production of Hamlet. So, look out for those! I got the hang of the James Joyce Library, which is kinda the title of this post, but is also just a side-note. More on that later.
And in honor of my music class, I'm gonna let you watch this video. No photos to update you with! But enjoy this all the same.
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