Principles for Class

Class is a pool

In this class, we’re in a pool together. The things we do influence each other; the waves of our actions, words, work and the subsequent residue and consequences of all those things resonant against all of us. If you do something, the waves ripple out to me and I notice; hopefully the things I do ripple out to y’all and you notice them. We are cultivating a group dynamic; a vibe so to speak.

Although as your instructor, there’s a certain level of authority vested in me, we are all responsible for maintaining and cultivating said vibe. If something’s going on, let’s talk about it. If the class isn’t working, let’s figure out a way to make it work.

The class is by nature fluid and you have the ability to influence this fluidity, take advantage of this. Similarly, realize that you may be influencing the class without trying and that your inaction also has an effect on the class.

Do not pee pee in the pool. We all can see.

Failure is a resource

No matter how much I love or care about you as a student and/or human being, excuses can be frustrating. Mainly I want to experience your work, the class needs to see your work and what you’re about and comment on it, and I want to see how you and the class as a whole grow and progress. Additionally, your work and how you approach it, help me gauge how I am doing.

The point here, is that while there are legitimate reasons you would not have work ready for class, or be able to be in class, I cannot grade an excuse. Rather than spiral into a zone of shame, or beating yourself up about the quality of your work, or whatever you may have going on, make sure that you are taking screenshots of interesting moments in your work, that you’re scanning your sketches, that you save versions of directions that you totally scrap.

Treat failure as an opportunity to grow and not as your enemy. Use it as an opportunity to ask your peers or me how they can help, for feedback (I’m ready to give you feedback whenever). Read The Queer Art of Failure, if you want a more eloquent re-examination of failure.

Also Yoda in The Last Jedi