Freshman Arts Seminar Advising Program 2008-2009
The Freshman Arts Seminar Advising Program (FASAP) introduces MIT freshmen who are committed to participation in the arts at MIT to the rich arts resources at MIT and in the Boston/Cambridge area.
21M.A12 Student Artists: Explore the Arts at MIT and Beyond (stellar site)
Kate Delaney (Literature), David Small (Media Lab), Dimitri Bertsekas (EECS)
Mon, 3:00 - 5:00 PM
Would you like to be active in the arts and explore new art forms while at MIT? Are you a poet, singer, instrumentalist, composer, actor, director, scenic designer, costume designer, muralist, origami artist, lighting designer, techie, playwright, screenwriter, textile designer, performance artist, jewelry maker, weaver, cartoonist, dancer, writer, photographer, sculptor, ceramicist, potter, choreographer, flower arranger, knitter, calligrapher, architect, painter, glass blower, fashion designer, printmaker, digital artist, graphic designer, industrial designer? Artist, but not included above? Events from all genres of art will introduce students to the arts opportunities available at MIT. Past on-campus events have included a private tour of the latest exhibit at MIT's List Visual Arts Center, a hands-on Gamelan workshop with an artist-in-residence, a silk screening workshop, Dramashop's One Acts production, and an open forum at which FASAP students shared their artwork. Off-campus events have included "Next Generation" at the Boston Ballet, a Blue Man Group performance, a Boston Symphony Orchestra concert, a trip to the Peabody Essex Museum, and a Paul Taylor Dance Company performance.
In order to receive a passing grade in the seminar, students must regularly attend events and participate in seminar discussions. To sign up for this seminar, students must list 21M.A12 as one of their seminar choices on the online Advising Choice form.
SEMINAR
During the Fall term, students meet once every week from 3-5pm. The first half of this two hour block is devoted to guest speakers. Recent speakers have included science fiction author and MIT professor Joe Haldeman, Comparative Media Studies department head Henry Jenkins, and puppeteer and visiting artist John Bell. The thee FASAP advisors also take one class day each to share their own art. During the second half of class, students meet in groups of eight to discuss art and the freshman experience. These smaller breakout groups are led by MIT faculty and staff advisors who either work in the arts or work in other fields but have outside arts interests.
EVENTS
Participants attend frequent excursions to arts events on campus and outside
MIT. Recent excursions have included a performance of the Martha Graham
Dance Co. and a tour of the Institute for Contemporary Art. Optional excursions
are planned during IAP and the Spring term.
WORKSHOPS AND DEMONSTRATIONS
Hands-on workshops and demonstrations with Artists-in-Residence , recent alumni, faculty, and local artists provide students with exposure to new art forms. Recent workshop topics were Filipino tinkling dancing, glassblowing, origami, a parading workshop, and a breakdancing class with MIT Immobilare Affiliates.
ARTS SHARE
Freshmen share and present their original artwork in October during the Arts
Share. In the past, students have sung, danced, played musical instruments,
recited original poetry, shown slides of artwork or videos of past theater
performances, etc.
