Blog Post 7

So my winter break is going to be a bit busy, have some family things to attend to (as I mentioned in class), but I will do my best and accomplish some things. The most obvious one being to implement the critique provided on the 14th, of course, but I also plan on seeing what sort of things can be done with makeshift QR codes. I'm not too sure on how a QR code is created, but given how I intend to do a project based thesis, I consider it of high importance, as that's one avenue of AR that exists, even if it is relatively minor. I won't be busy with my family until the 26th, though, which gives me several days before then to get some things going, even if they are minor in scale.

The Game Plan for Winter Break

My goals for my thesis project over break are numerous but are achievable. First, I plan to make adjustments to make my literature review. I received feedback from my professor and both advisors. Secondly, I want to start writing my actual thesis paper. Since I no longer have classes and work until January, I have plenty of free time to write. I hope to finish the 20-page paper by the end of the break. I know I will have to make several corrections to my paper over the spring semester, so ahead starts on writing will benefit me. I need to find a few more sources, especially Buffalo’s newspapers articles. Also, I plan to meet with both my advisors to look over my revised literature review and look over my first draft of my thesis. Lastly, I want to conduct three surveys at three different Buffalo sports game (preferably Bills, Sabres, and Bandits). If I have extra time, I will start on my building a diorama of my desired museum along with a creation of a ten-year plan.  

So here is the game plan, three days a week will be spent on writing my thesis, correcting my literature review, and doing some more research. I want to find a comfortable coffee shop where I can work for three hours. I want to meet with advisors once a week depending on their availability during the holiday season. More towards the end of my break, I plan to start constructing my diorama. Lots to do but I'm excited to dedicate a good chunk of time to my thesis finally.

Happy Holidays,

Alexandra M. Dwyer

Plans for Winter Break

After submitting my thesis proposal Monday, I started thinking about where my research should be leading me over the winter break. Since changing my focus, I've been delving further into my case studies and trying to figure out where there are gaps in the sources I already had. I know I need to do further research on the Wojnarowicz retrospective held at the Whitney, and develop an argument for or against their methods of representation. I also have to see if I can reach out to the museum and get further information about their programming for the exhibition and the museums reaction to the ACT UP protests.

While I'm home I would like to see if there are any records on the Hide/Seek controversy at the Smithsonian archives to fill in some gaps in the information I've found about the museums response to the controversy and any programming for the exhibition. I also need to determine the scope of the controversy for sh[OUT] and how I want to talk about their failures and successes when designing and implementing their exhibition.

I'm hopeful for a productive winter break and am excited to see where my research takes me! I also can't wait to get back to Maryland to spend sometime with my family and in DC wandering the museums and doing research.

[image of the DC skyline from the third floor of the Hirshhorn Museum on the National Mall]

Winter Plans

I  have a great base for my thesis and have done a lot of the research necessary to actually begin working on my project, which is what my plan is for winter break. Throughout break I will be focusing on trying to actually find sources and do more digging on the Erie Canal so as to begin the creation of the exhibit. I will be taking meticulous notes along the way so that when it comes time to translate my experiences into a thesis paper, I will be able to retrace my steps throughout the process. I hope to have a list of sources for the project done and ready by the end of break so the process of creating the exhibit itself can begin by the time spring semester starts.

I will be able to put most of my focus on working on the actual thesis as I will have no work to do for other classes. While I will be working my normal job still I will have plenty of free time and I should be able to focus the majority of my attention on work for the thesis.

Winter writing plans

Winter seems like a more fitting time than ever to write a Thesis on Heavy Metal!
Over the break I am going to do my best to get my hands on all the books I was unable to find during the semester. I'm going to write out some questions and interview a few friends in Buffalo and in Chicago that I need to get a hold of.
I will be keeping in touch with my secondary adviser to help fix up my literary review and start to form a more well functioning and cohesive outline to get everything up and running. I still have some momentum in me after moving to keep working on my thesis! After about a weeks worth of comatose sleep I'm excited to get back to working on my thesis. Thank you everyone who has helped me and given me great feedback on this all semester. <3

The Black Satans, a parody Black Metal band from Finland

Getting ready for winter break

Instead of wasting my days with Netflix, I hope to be very productive over this winter break!

I have several goals that I hope to accomplish before the end of the break. First, I want to polish off my literature review. I want to add a few more sources that I couldn’t include because I ran out of time, and I’m sure that I will have a lot of feedback to work with after the museum studies faculty review my thesis proposal (yikes!!). Secondly, I would like to schedule a meeting with my thesis advisers so I can make sure I have a good plan of action to complete my thesis and begin a more in-depth outline for the rest of my paper. Hopefully, I can bribe them with coffee so they will meet with me before the semester starts! 

The largest goal I hope to accomplish over break is completing all of the elements of my app. My partner Peter and I already have a timeline in place, and thus far we’ve been meeting all of our goals, so I don’t see this being an issue.

Thankfully, I will be working on campus over the break, so I plan to spend at least an hour on campus doing work after I finish my shift. Once I’m in work-mode it’s easier to keep the ball rolling, so I think that this will end up working really well for me. I get out of work in the early afternoon and could easily be home before 5pm every day even after staying to work on my thesis. I also set personal deadlines for myself and use a daily planner, so that organization should help me keep on track and put me in a good place to start the spring semester. 

It’s hard to believe I’m essentially halfway finished with my thesis. It’s exciting and nerve-wracking at the same time!

Winter Writing

During winter break I am going to dedicate a lot of time to do a deep-dive on research about the history of the Erie Canal and the impacts it had on the Seneca Falls region. I will specifically be researching how it impacted religion, the movement of ideas, the movement of people, economics, and the environment. During this research, I'm also going to start throwing around ideas for a tour/educational program/lecture that I have been invited to present in Spring at the park. I'm planning to spend 10-20 hours a week during the break on my thesis, but the quieter weeks may see a few more hours.

I am also planning to make a few trips to Seneca Falls Women's Rights National Historic Park to get the lay of the land and meet some of the people I could be working with. On January 5th there is an event going on at Seneca Falls called  "The Preamble and the Enlightenment" which is part 2 of a 6 part series examining the Declaration of Sentiments which I plan to attend (and may bring some family too).

Elizabeth Cady Stanton, the principal author of the Declaration of Sentiments. Photo from Wikipedia. 

Plans for Winter Break

With finals so close, it's a little hard to think beyond them to Winter Break.  Right now though, I'm planning to get two big things done over break: developing my Visitor Engagement study, and creating a complete Mesh Model of my object.
For the first of these, the study, I'm hoping over break to develop the study, determine what data I will be collecting, and how I will be collecting it.  I have some ideas right now about how I would like this survey to work, but I'm going to devote time over break to deciding what collection method I will use.  For example, will there be a written survey for visitors or just observations by me?  I also want to decide how much data I want to collect. 
For the second part, creating the Mesh Model, I am going to work with modeling software to inspect the scan of my object and fix any errors, so I can have a complete working model when I return in the spring.  I met with the Rochester Museum and Science Center earlier today and selected an object to use for my thesis project (yay!), and I hopefully will be scanning it next week.  This means I will have a month to learn the modeling software, and to work with it to complete my model.
To accomplish both of these goals, I am planning on allocating 2-3 hours every week (tentatively) to work on my thesis.  I think this is a reasonable about of time in which I can complete these tasks, and I'm looking forward to returning in the spring to continue with my project!

One of the methods I'm considering using for my Visitor Engagement study is an online form, such as a Google Form.  Image Source: University of Minnesota 

Blog Post VII: Winter Break Plans

I plan on taking full advantage of the break and first giving myself some time to rest and relax. Allowing myself some time away from my thesis will be beneficial I think because I can then return to it with fresh eyes and ideas. After the holiday, during the second half of the break, I plan on doing some more reading and seeing if I can ascertain whether I need to focus on one language for my case study (Scottish Gaelic, Irish, or Welsh) or if it’s feasible to do all three. If I can figure this out, or at least begin to, over break by looking at some initial resources then I can jump right in during spring semester. And of course I’ll be working on my literature review after receiving feedback from my advisers so that I can get in the revised version for them to sign.

Overall, I’m just really looking forward to going home and seeing my family (and my dog!). It’ll be nice to be able to just focus on thesis without the assignments/projects/tests of other classes. I will be able to allocate more time to my research in this way and also get some new perspectives from my family who will be curious about my thesis.

I can’t believe we’re halfway through our senior year!

Here's a cute picture of my dog to help ease the stress of these last few days of the semester!

Blog post 7: Break

My goals for my project over break are to have my two thesis advisors meet for the first time, to continue researching my topic to make sure that I'm providing as complete of an analysis as possible, to conduct some of the interviews with members of the dance group, and to relax for a few days so I can approach the topic with fresh eyes after the break.

I've already attended two Christmas parties for various groups within the Federation, and I will be attending at least one more in the upcoming weeks. While not during break, I will also be attending the Federation's Gala Ball in late January which will give me the opportunity to possibly interview a few more members of the dance group as well as members of the federation.

In the meantime, my thoughts are turning to going on our New Year's Eve cruise! Have a wonderful break everyone!!

Pulling in to Nassau, Bahamas aboard the Anthem of the Seas 1/2/18

Photo courtesy of Erich Roeszies