Reading Group – Session 2

The apartment

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Georges Perec

What assumptions is the author making?

The author is being quite sexist in the way that he designates the roles in the house. The mother cooks and cleans, the father then goes to work etc. He is also being stereotypical in the way he is writing about the behaviours each family member supposedly has.

What alternative apartment layouts does the author suggest?

By the way the author says ” feelery and smellery’, it makes you realise that there are many words that are named and spoken in a weird fashion. It makes you think into why rooms are also called their names. The way he also talks about open plan living, rather than enclosure challenges the way you’d think of modern day, enclosed living.

How does the spatial arrangement of your home shape the way you live?

It depends how you use the rooms themselves. If you simply use a bedroom, as a place to put a bed, then you would need a large sitting room, however, if you have an open plan home as described above, you can forgo the large sitting room in its place, and simply have a large bedroom where everyone in the house could co-exist.

How has the layout of our homes changed historically and what impact has this had?

As time has passed, we have got closer and closer to open plan living, as we have realised it makes the relatively small space that the majority of us occupy, slightly less claustrophobic. it makes better use of the area itself. Doorways have also decreased in size, as have chimney breasts etc.

C

Reading Groups – Session one

Teaching: introduction to teaching critical thinking.

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Bell Hooks, 2010

What is this text about?

The text is about sexual and racial discrimination, and also education.

What was the social context?

She went to university at a time where racial discrimination was still acceptable. So she was in a social minority.

What does this extract tell us about the author?

The extract describes how the teachers where both racist and sexist towards here and her peers. It also describes how struggle of joining and pursuing her interest in furthering her academic traits. She also developed a strong personality, and a strong skin, as you would have to after dealing with all the grief from lecturers and peers alike.

What is the social context in which you arrive at University?

I believe that everyone has access to higher education, they just have to pursue their interest in their chosen subject, and excel at it to an extent where they are accepted by a higher education institution. Certain Universities would rather you come from a private school, and certain will take anyone, grades dependant. I think this is wrong, as everyone should have equal chances to progress in life.

C

Journal

So, This is my first post! Guess I ought to explain my self a little!

My name is Callum Max Gillard.

I am currently studying interior design at the University of the west of England.

But i’m different to most of the class two reasons;

1. I’m Male- Out of 34 Students, there is 2 men
2. I didn’t come from college, or 6th-form. I have no levels at all!

I came from a company called Berthon, where i spent four years completing an apprenticeship as a marine engineer, specialising in boat building.

You might be wondering what a marine engineer is doing on a course like this?

Well, I want to study and design the interiors of super yachts. I think it is a good foundation to any design career, as you’re faced with the challenge of creating an ascetically pleasing interior, in a limited amount of space. Does the Quality of the interior have to suffer, or should the customer simply buy a bigger boat!

I want to be the Designer that removes the compromise.

C