‘Cavemen in an era of speed-of-light technology’ : historical and contemporary perspectives on communication within prisons

Many prisoners believe that the restricted access they have to computer-mediated communcation (CMC) technologies and, in particular, the almost total absence of computers and Internet access in prisons is a form of censure that renders them second-class citizens in the Information Age. This article examines contemporary rationales and historial precedents for denying prisoners the means to communicate (both with each other and with those outside the prison) and argues that the prevention of communication, a pivotal feature of the Victorian and Edwardian prison regime, represents a significant continuity in the experience of prison life in the 21st Century

Orality and literacy: epic heroes of human destiny?

Human Speech has often been presented as the crucial line dividing humanity from animals, with Literacy then entering in as the fulfiller of human destiny, the redeemer from primitive orality, and, in alphabetic apotheosis, the all-conquering hero of the west's civilising mission. This epic tale, pervasive as it still remains, is now under attack from many directions, not least in the expanding work on multiple literacy practices. This paper takes the complementary line of starting from the 'oral' end of the apparent equation. Building on anthropological fieldwork, experience of teaching at the UK's Open University, and the gathering comparative literature, it questions the limiting linguistic bias of this tale – itself a kind of myth explaining and justifying the social order. Verbal language is just one of many modes and media of human communication and can only be fully understood in conjunction with them. The traditional myth also underplays the multiplex nature of language itself: researchers across several disciplines are now increasingly revealing the multimodal nature of human speech and writing. To focus on narrower definitions of language and, as in the heroic elevation of 'orality' and 'literacy', to propose the treatment of language as the crucial factor in human culture is to proffer a thin and single-line tale of human history and, with it, a misleading and ethnocentric account not only of humanity more generally but also of many of our actual educational practices. It needs to be replaced by a broader, more cross-cultural and more generous model of both learning and communication

Straddling the intersection

Music technology straddles the intersection between art and science and presents those who choose to work within its sphere with many practical challenges as well as creative possibilities. The paper focuses on four main areas: secondary education, higher education, practice and research and finally collaboration. The paper emphasises the importance of collaboration in tackling the challenges of interdisciplinarity and in influencing future technological developments

October 26, 2000

The Breeze is the student newspaper of James Madison University in Harrisonburg, Virginia

February 28, 2005

The Breeze is the student newspaper of James Madison University in Harrisonburg, Virginia

3D biomechanical quantification of piano motor skills

To date, systematic biomechanical explorations of music performance have been scarce. In many human activities, movement science methodologies have helped accelerate the learning process, prevent injuries, improve teaching practices, and optimize performance outcomes. The current thesis postulates that a consideration of individualization with respect to biomechanics, anthropometry, and musical strategization can provide musicians with an approach to motor learning where outcomes may be optimized while simultaneously reducing risk of playing-related injury. The thesis is comprised of three case comparison studies using 3D motion capture, biomechanical modeling, and force plate measurements to quantify pianists’ motor behaviours in a variety of performance contexts. The framework established in the thesis is interdisciplinary and provides a model that aims to be “artful” in its efforts to ensure that its analyses of motor behaviours are sensitive to musical intentionality and, thus, can be relevant to musicians

An internship with Arthur Roger Gallery, LLC

The following report is the analysis of a three-month internship within this organization, and will discuss topics as they relate to the cuniculum of the Arts Administration degree. The for-profit nature of this internship and its completion within a small-scale structure presented me with several not-so-clearly delineated tasks. In order to properly introduce the topics associated with the responsibilities of the assignment at Arthur Roger Gallery, the reader must first become familiar with the nature of the business, and its management structure. Chapter II is exclusively devoted to the purpose of the internship. By considering the role of the intern, who acted in the role of an assistant to the staff, this section will outline the importance of compiling an inventory, and the necessity of maintaining the gallery\u27s website in the most accurate manner. The third chapter of the present report is an attempt to identify the reasons that separate the Arthur Roger Gallery from its competitors. This section will address several elements discussed through our cuniculum, particularly during the Visual Art and Marketing classes. Broadly speaking, it will show that Arthur Roger has fully understood the who, what, where, why, when and how of selling fine art in his market area. The final section of the discussion will involve several points dealing principally with management and technical concerns, for the most part related to the growing activity of the business and its recent evolutions

An internship with Arthur Roger Gallery, LLC

The following report is the analysis of a three-month internship within this organization, and will discuss topics as they relate to the cuniculum of the Arts Administration degree. The for-profit nature of this internship and its completion within a small-scale structure presented me with several not-so-clearly delineated tasks. In order to properly introduce the topics associated with the responsibilities of the assignment at Arthur Roger Gallery, the reader must first become familiar with the nature of the business, and its management structure. Chapter II is exclusively devoted to the purpose of the internship. By considering the role of the intern, who acted in the role of an assistant to the staff, this section will outline the importance of compiling an inventory, and the necessity of maintaining the gallery\u27s website in the most accurate manner. The third chapter of the present report is an attempt to identify the reasons that separate the Arthur Roger Gallery from its competitors. This section will address several elements discussed through our cuniculum, particularly during the Visual Art and Marketing classes. Broadly speaking, it will show that Arthur Roger has fully understood the who, what, where, why, when and how of selling fine art in his market area. The final section of the discussion will involve several points dealing principally with management and technical concerns, for the most part related to the growing activity of the business and its recent evolutions