Free pick expo

Right. Look at the 22 free pick essay questions, some of them are funny as anything. Here are some one-sentence answers to the questions. (These are just to jog my brain.)

 1) Do arguments ever settle anything? (1999)
A: No, so I shall not bother arguing.

2) Is friendly rivalry ever possible (2002)
A: If it isn’t, stop giving us holiday homework.

3) Can trade in weapons ever be justified? (2002)
A: It doesn’t matter, no one will bother.

5) Is it ever right for one country to become involved in the internal affairs of another? (1997)
A: Well, if the country is the wife, I think it’s good enough a reason to be involved in her husband’s affairs. -____-lll

6) Good government requires the courage to take unpopular decisions.
A: Well. No one would think they are good.

12) ‘Science never provides solutions - it only poses more questions.’ Is this a fair comment?
A: I think it’s time someone said that. The humanities always get blames for not providing solutions and posing more questions, so yes, I do think it’s fair. (An eye for an eye.)

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I would write more, but I’m laughing too much as my class’ hilarity is getting to me.

A discussion

This post is based on a discussion ZY and I are having on her wordpress. Feel free to join in our discussion, and since it hasn’t ended, I’ll edit this post as we continue discussing. By the way, you guys can go over to Zhengyan’s wordpress (nilyave.wordpress.com) to comment instead of mine to join in the discussion. XD It’s easier if it’s all concentrated on one.

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ZhengYan (original post):

I went to PageOne to look at art books this evening with Friend. She is an art student from another school. Every single time I go out with her, we’ll end up in a) PageOne b) Kinokuniya c) PopCentral and guess which section we went. XP

I don’t like looking through art books in the stores themselves, because I hate reading while standing up. Moreover, I hate looking at something so beautiful yet I cannot have it. In recent years I have avoided going to Kinokuniya if I can help it because I’ll just start swearing to get filthy rich and buy the whole store. Friend on the other hand is a devoted art fanatic. She spends hours standing in front of the shelves reading through almost every single book she can find.

Every time I talk to her about art, I’m always ashamed to call myself an AEPian. Technically-wise she is not the best, but the concept behind her pieces are always so original that I kept thinking “Damn, why haven’t I thought of that before?”

I had always thought she is a naturally talented/creative but after today I think I know where it all came from. As soon as we stepped into PageOne in VivoCity she led me to the right shelf and shove a book into my arms. She told me “You might like this book… that one is not bad but I still think you will like this better…”and for the next one and half hour we stood right there and read through Europe’s Best Advertising. One and half hours. A tough feat for me. But Friend didn’t seem tired at all, throughout the whole time her energy level was maintained at 100%. Every time I couldn’t get what an advertisement is about she’d have the answer [although art is subjective and we are suppose to form our own opinions about it, advertisements are either a) you get it b) you don’t get it ]. Just goes on to show how many times she must have flipped through the pages. I have the feeling she’d gladly move on to another book if I didn’t need to get home.

I was beyond ashamed this time. I was kindda mortified.

What right do I have calling myself an AEPian when I cannot conjure the same level of enthusiasm as a non-AEPian? I hate it when people say “Oh, AEP people are suppose to be good at any kind of art form, so leave all the design stuff to them.” But what makes us better that we call ourselves “AEPians” and others “non-AEPians”? If I do not love it, feel it, breathe it, I don’t think I should be in AEP.

Mr. Gan told everyone to look at art books and buck up on our coursework. I really think it’s time to get serious.

WeiNing:

Pft. As I would, and you have said, art is subjective. Otherwise, there wouldn’t be so many art movements out there, each countering the previous about what art really is.

Why must art have some great meaning behind it? For me, I think art is just art. I just crap up with oh-so-great meanings behind art, symbolism and all that crap just so that I look like an idiot-in-guise-of-a-genius. I can get some lame artwork and get some person to stand beside me and act all sagely, applying fieldsman method of art criticism, but who cares? I mean, I make an artwork, then I crap up with reasons why it has so much deep meaning. But really, I don’t give a freaking damn.

I mean, I think people who buy this fancy artwork that has some great meaning behind it for the sake of looking high-class and sophisticated when I really think they are fakes. Of course, I admit I do sometimes enjoy anti-war artworks and what-nots, but seriously, I don’t think I’d buy them and hang them up in my house or something. Why? Cause it’s depressing. I think art should be a decorative thing that you hang up in your house, and when you’re down, you look at it, and think that the world is so much more than that. That’s what I think art should be.

Honestly, let’s look around our class. AEPers. How many of them really really love art? For one, I’ll be the first to admit that I don’t. I have some sort of like-hate relationship with art. But yes, I can stand there for hours flipping through photography books if I’m alone. (When I’m with friends, I have no patience whatsoever.) What’s so great about AEP anyway? I don’t mean that in a spiteful way. I’m just saying, AEP is only offered in some schools, it is an elective program, which means we chose to take art from sec1, that’s all, it means we just want to take art on a higher level instead of going through general art and then taking art at sec3. (In fact, as I actually said before, the only difference between AEP and art is that we have to learn theory.) I do not understand why you made the statement, “If I do not love it, feel it, breathe it, I don’t think I should be in AEP”. I mean, we never said we are better just cause we are AEPians, it just makes us more adept in art theory. And well, we are supposed to be ‘better’ in art then others becuase of the whacked test and all. But honestly, look at my artworks, would you say they are better? No. Am I talented? I don’t think so. I have to go to art lessons and my works are still not that great. But so what? I’m an AEPian, I dare to say that, and I will say that.

You said, based on the fact that your friend spends hours reading art books and being able to explain some deep meaning behind the works, that you are ashamed, or rather, mortified. But I don’t think you should be. Every one has different reactions towards art. I know I’m kinda repeating, but I really really don’t think there has to be some kind of weird meaning behind the advert or anything like that. It’s appealing, therefore, it’s appealing. That’s that to me. Then there is also over-analysing. People tend to over-analyze, and that irritates some and impresses others. I admit that depending on who is doing the over-analyzing, I sometimes can be irritated and other times, impressed. There’s also the factor of how convincing/logical the person can be when analyzing the artwork for you.

But don’t get me wrong, I’m not putting down your friend or anything. What I’m saying is that every one has their own forte, and every one sees art differently. Your friend’s good in analyzing art. That’s great. But so what if you don’t or can’t see the artwork as she can and that you have to wait for her to point it out to you? So what? Does that make you less of an AEP student? I don’t think so. That’s just her way of ‘art’. Sorta. You have your own way of appreciating art. I think that’s all that matters. AEP is not some stamp that should make you some sage in art or something. You don’t have to love it that much. I see AEP as an opportunity for taking art a step further then a normal student would. That’s what it is to me.

Of course, feel free to rebutt me on any of my points. XD

ZhengYan:

Wei Ning: This might not be relevant, but I just though I’d say it here.

I roll my eyes when people say “They’re good in art because they are in AEP.” (I’m sure you do too) but that was only in the beginning. People expected 201 to win the Chinese New Year deco competitions, hamper wrapping competitions “Because they are in AEP”. I wanted to knock some sense into them that being “good in art” does not mean being “good in everything”. I think a lot of AEPians felt the same way too, just that all I did was shrug and keep quiet. And as I have said, I felt this only in the beginning. Perhaps its because of how people expect AEPians to be like, bad influence: but I wanted to be what they expected. I thought I was not really good enough for AEP.

Going out with Friend assured me that I was, somehow. There are people who want the chance to be in AEP much more that many of us do. People who really have their hearts devoted to art. Their technique is not necessarily bad not anything, if I have a chance I’ll show you some works by people from my art class. Do not care about their technique or idea, but compare us (me and Friend) as art students, who deserves this more? One who wants AEP because it interests her vaguely or one who is desperate for the chance to further herself in art? (I’m not saying my friend is like that. It’s just an example). Just like you said: “Honestly, let’s look around our class. AEPers. How many of them really really love art?” Sure, not many of us do. Me too, as I have said in my post. I like it, I don’t love it. Art is not my life. I am ashamed that I am not and I am still in AEP, but that will not change the fact that I like (not love) it. The whole point is that there are people out there who would gladly take my place in AEP because I think to some extent I care about the school fee reduction rather than engaging my interests in art.

I know what I envision is an idealistic world where all AEP students live for art and art only. Anyone may laugh at me, including myself, because what I believe does not exist because this is real world.

There’s one more thing I’d like to clarify. I raised that point about Friend explaining meanings of the adverts to me because I wanted to say that she has the patience to think through each of the 800+ adverts in the whole book and that proves at least she has more interest in art books than I do. That’s just one of many example of how she loves art more than I do. You said, “Why must art have some great meaning behind it?” about how she is able to explain the advert to me. I am in no way making a comment about art and how art should all be profound, philosophical, reflective and blah blah. If you’d look again, I wrote: advertisements are either “a) you get it b) you don’t get it”. In this case, I didn’t get it and was absolutely “ha?” at the advert. Friend got it. Friend told me what the advert is about. (Come on, there must be times when you are totally clueless when looking at a advert) I am not saying that Friend came up with a deep and insightful interpretation of the advert and therefore I look up to her .

Perhaps I did not make myself clear in my post (I’m quite sure I did not, I just went home and dumped all my thoughts into one post). Looking back at what I’ve written I think I sound a little insecure of myself.

Last of all, hon, this is the first time that I see a comment that is longer than the post. XP

Lim:

And I enter and destroy the whole intellectual atmosphere. I have a like-hate relationship with debates. Though this isn’t really a debate…an arguement? Whatever.
You know, all that throwing around of words gets kind of fun, but after that, nothing changes, nothing happens. And it feels so dumb like you’ve been gossiping with someone in the toilet.

AEP…god, I’m not serious about anything. There’s something wrong with me. I can’t do it without feeling extremely restrained. If I can’t make a statement of it, I’d belch and crawl and drag while doing the decorative thing, which is what I’m gonna do for coursework, cus we have a deadline to meet (as in, because there’s a deadline, I can’t get to doing whatever I’d really want to do because I’m slow like that). So I guess I should be feeling like I don’t deserve to be anyone at anywhere? AEP is just art class. Nanyang girl, Singaporean. Old juliana. I’ve got no sense of commitment. Maybe it’s because I don’t do music that I like it so much? ‘People always desire for what they cannot get’. Expo writing. See, I can’t get serious. But maybe it’s because I’m so serious I don’t dare to get serious -.-

Talent…heh. The old saying - do things according to your own measure. I guess people tend to hate me for that. No good for scoring well in assessments.

Happy artfarting peeps. Too many troubles shorten your lifespan. I wanna see the trends that occur half a century later. Don’t jaywalk!

ZhengYan:

Amaya: Nothing changes and nothing happens. Of course that’s the case. We spent the whole of last year doing Socratic seminars the world still goes on. We’re just kids confined to our classroom and made to believe we’re not. >__<

WeiNing:

Nilyave: Yes. I absolutely agree with you on the part about expectations. I used to be very bothered by it, but I just don’t really care right now. Well, I agree with you that there are many people who might really really want to get into AEP, and they really really love art, while we who actually are in it, just see art as a ‘like’. But what can I say? I really really love psychology, I really really want to get into Stanford. Does that mean I will get in? No. There might be some idiot in Stanford right now that might not really really want to be in there, he/she might have been some Harvard reject or something. But so what? If I don’t get in, does that mean that this person does not deserve to be in Stanford as much as I do? So just being desperate for something doesn’t neccesarily mean you deserve to have it. In fact, go look at Stanford’s admission webpage, I remember there being a point that it doesn’t matter how desperate you are to get into Stanford, if you fit all other criteria, you get in, otherwise, go sob in the bathroom.

I still think you are making a big deal out of AEP. As in, I don’t think AEP is anything. It doesn’t really help you do anything. Remember we had that AEP meeting, and we were talking about how AEP didn’t even teach us how to use mediums and so on? Honestly, what have you gained out of AEP? Do you really think it’s that great a program? All I know is that AEP has given me a lot of knowledge when it comes to art history/theory, but when it comes to practical, AEP has done me almost nothing. (Other then the point that I have to be a lot more daring) My point is, what you learn from AEP can be gathered from a good art class outside of school. When I look at my sec1 and sec2 works, there was absolutely no difference. The difference and improvement only came when I started taking art classes outside. And does AEP provide us a platform for art? Sure, we get theory knowledge. But seriously, if you really really love art, you can, like I’m sure your friend does, go out and read books. I love psych. There’s no psych lesson in school. What do I do? I read. Sure, I understand that there’s no platform for people like your friend to ask questions, learn more, do research and all that, (this platform we get from AEP), but if your friend is really that serious about art, she would take a course, or study art, and I’m sure she can ask her teacher.

What I’m trying to say is that AEP isn’t that much of a program. We get fee reduction in exchange for our time and energy. That’s all. Of course, I’m basing all of this on personal experience. It might just be cause we kept changing teachers. -________-lll

Lastly, I do agree with you about the comment. After posting the comment, I looked at it and thought: ’shit. That’s one loooong comment.’ Man, do you mind if I used this for a post? As an art writing. -____________-

Amaya: I wouldn’t call this a debate, neither would I call it an argument. I would say it’s a discussion. Nothing changes. Of course! What did you expect? To point out some degree of fault in our society and expect everyone to change just like that? No! Does that mean that talking about it is dumb? Does it mean that talking about it is pointless, useless, and that we should just stop? Of course not. If it does, we can just throw LA, Lit, AEP theory, IH and CME all away. We can just forget about all the humanities.

PS. To both of you:
I’m really sorry if I come across/sound very aggressive. I don’t mean to be. I always sound aggresive over the net. -______-lll As I would rather put it, I have a strong voice. =X

*laughs*

ZhengYan:

TO DEAREST WEINING :

OMG. I’ve never expected this post to get so long. I’m getting excited. Bwahahaha it’s been such a long time since I’ve been this wound up other than about that four letter word starting with y. Just goes on to show how deprived my life has been. Roll your eyes all you want but I like Socratic seminars (because you can argue without really taking sides and you can agree with the other party) and yay this sounds like one!

Hon, I agree with you. I am making a big deal out of AEP, because it IS a big deal to me. Call me a senseless loser who’s been brainwashed by the general public aka Nanyang population but I do believe (at this moment) that AEPians should be good in art. Not everything, of course, that’s kind of impossible. I suck at pencil. I suck at creating movement. I suck at coming up with new ideas unlike other people (eg. Sam and HQ). What I’ve written in my post and in the comments about how people who want to get into AEP but could not or did not really did make me feel ashamed because I am reminded of how many opportunities that I’ve been given but I might not have made full use of it. Wait, here’s another example: Friend wishes to learn oil painting but you know how much oil paint costs right? We’ve done oil painting before, but most of the time I was complaining about the smell of turpentine. The piece of work that I handed in was not my best. I was sick of oil paint by then so I just rushed the last part of it. I wonder how Friend would do. I’m not sure if you have noticed, but the main point of me writing that post is to express my desire to work harder in AEP (that sounds so LangArts), not to make criticism of the AEP curriculum or selection system or anything. It is because of Friend’s love for art that I feel ashamed, and because of this feeling I am motivated to work harder for AEP especially coursework. I am NOT saying I wish to quit AEP, give my place to anyone who wants it more than I do. I am saying this because of the emotion that the knowledge has brought me. I apologize for my lack of language abilities that gave you the indication that I wish to do so.

I’m sure there are people who will scoff at this “working hard” thing (WeiNing I am NOT talking about you!!!) but as I have said before, my talent in art is limited. I’m not the most creative person. Think in relation to the Input-Process-Output system: it is because I lack the “natural resources” that I have to process extra hard to get the same product. Friend definitely made my engines work harder.

Just to let you know, Friend’s scores are high enough to get through to NYGH. She just does not like an all-girls’ school. So you can say it’s her conscious decision not to join AEP, and yes, she is taking lessons at NAFA (different classes) with me. She wished to pursue a career in art, and I’m sure she can do it.

P.S. Go ahead and use it, it’s your own creative juices anyway. ^__^

P.P.S. One last question: If I ask you to choose between AEP and Humanities Program, which one will you choose?

Lim:

Uhm, well, if I actually had the brains for it, I would’ve chosen sciences. But I’m too emo and…yeah, lack the aptitude as according to a teacher. I’d do Humans not because I believe in the learning process, but because it doesn’t kill my brain. I’d leave all that stuff to the rest of the people, just like I’d like to leave all the math stuff to the more capable. I’m selfish like that. Cynical and skeptical like that. I can’t seem to gain whatever others are gaining and what all of us are supposed to gain. Stubborn like that. You know, like, I believe in eradicating poverty, but let’s do this discussion thing when I’m older and more capable. I know it means well to start young and get your kowledge and ideas revving (nonsensical word, bah), but I just don’t like it when there’s no effect. Not the abstract type, you know. And I’m not smart or ambitious enough to come up with a way to earn loads of money. Short-sighted. This is where people like law wn step in and save the world from turmoil.

Ah, yes, discussion. Sorry, I had math tuition before posting that comment. Haha, yes, straightfoward and strong. That’s the way it should go. Aggressive? We’re not made of glass

I used Old Juliana, how’d it turn into amaya? ><

So that it doesn’t look like spam, I shall say someting about AEP. I feel like I’m digging a grave.
AEP, to me, is just extra art periods and having people go ‘oh yea! you’re in aep right?blahblah’. Other than that, I really can’t be bothered. To be mean, to all those who couldn’t get my spot (yes, I want the fee reduction, thank you. though I didn’t even hope or wished to get in), I’d just have to say: too bad. Tough world, babes, find kindness somewhere else. Gotta make your own break. Haha, evil. I’m always trying to make things seem simpler and end up sounding really disgusting. If anything, I don’t think I deserve to even have a roof over my head at this rate. But I’m not righteous or anything, so I’m gonna stay here, right wih my computer. Shoot me.

WeiNing:

ZY: XD I shall be honest and tell you that when I first wrote my comment, I was hoping this was what it was going to become - a discussion of sorts. Like you, I rather enjoy discussions, but I hate debates.

Yes, like you I do think that AEPians have to be good in art too. I mean, if I didn’t, I wouldn’t have gone to take art classes. You say that AEP is a big deal to you, but maybe you would like to elaborate on that? Cause I don’t quite see the connection.

Giving that example about the oil paint, yes, I never thought of it that way. So yes, it is true that AEP does give an additional platform for experimentation, which is very important for every artist, so I guess in that way, it gives AEPers an advantage over others.

Reading your post again, yes, I realise you are trying to express a desire to work harder for AEP, but I kinda picked up on your thing about your Friend and just couldn’t let go of it, which was why it resulted in my comment. Sorry for not picking that up sooner. (Oh gosh I’m going to fail lit.)

Asking me to choose between AEP and the Humanities Program was a good question. I’m sure you understood the looks I was giving you while asking that question to the HC person the other day. Honestly, I have no idea what to choose, and I’m still having this inner struggle with myself on which I should pick.

I guess an easy thing to do would be to apply for both and see which one I can get into. Not a confidence problem thing, but I don’t think I’ll be accepted for the Humanities Program because my science and math aren’t good. And apparently they look at those as well. So. Die.

But that’s not much fun to talk about now is it? So let’s talk about it in a fabricated situation. Which will I choose if I got accepted into both (I believe this is what you’re asking anyway.)

I am entirely unsure, and whatever I discuss here is unneccesarily my final decision. AEP would be more of an interest thing, but for some strange reason, though I prefer humanities to art, I enjoy AEP lessons more than my humanities lessons. Of course, that could be because I don’t get as much freedom during humanities lessons as I do during AEP, so that shouldn’t really be considered. Based on the subject itself, I would say that I will pick the Humanities Program.

Secondly, based on how practical either programs will be for me, I should pick the Humanities Program. As you should know, I aim to become a psychologist, or rather, I aim to study psychology in university. In this light, it would be smarter to pick the Humanities Program since it would probably have more to do with psych than AEP does.

Why then, do I find it a hard choice between AEP and HP? Because I just have this strange relation with art/aep that I can’t really put into words. AEP is what gets me worked up the most, it is what gets me really competitive, it is the subject that I need to do well in, it is the subject whose marks I don’t care but rather, how my works compare to the others that I care about. I wouldn’t call it a love/hate relationship. It’s more of a… I can get really passionate about it for a minute, and the next, I’m bored. But when I’m at that high point, it’s really really high. For humanities and such, it’s a straight line. (But of course, psych only has high points.) So yes, I like AEP cause I thrive on those moments.

Though the reasons seem a little unbalanced towards the HP, I still don’t want to drop AEP. Honestly, it’s one of those things that you feel like hanging yourself for.

PS. Continue discussing about stuff. It’s kinda fun. :D

Editted: 11 March ‘08

ZhengYan:

Weining: I’m really sleepy now, but will just try and say something before I go off to dreamland. Nah. Not dreamland. I never remember my dreams anyway.

You asked me to elaborate on why AEP is a big deal to me. Okay, so here goes: AEP is the only lesson that I truly enjoy. It’s the kind of lesson that makes a day bearable. I don’t hate school, but sometimes things can get really mind-numbing, and after going through just 7 hours of lessons on Nomenclature, Nervous System, Logarithms, or even arguing about ethics and social contract you end up walking around like a zombie. AEP is different. I’m sure you’d say that too. I shall not go into details about how much I love AEP and why. You should know all that already. AEP is freer in the sense that you can work at your own pace (most of the time). AEP teachers are not slave drivers (most of the time). They make sure you do not fall behind but they do not keep pushing you to work harder and faster. I like my AEP class (I mean the people). I don’t know why, but the transition from my own class to AEP class is like undoing the ribbons of a corset. And most important of all, I like what I am doing in AEP (most of the time).

AEP is my favourite class and I spend a lot of my time doing AEP, as compared to other subjects. When you like a subject and work hard for it, of course you want to do well in it. Still, I don’t think I like it enough, because compared to Friend I score 40 while she scores 70. I still don’t LOVE AEP, art is still not my life, but compared to other subjects AEP is really the only lesson that I can take pleasure in. But that’s still not enough.

Oh wait, you said: “AEP is what gets me worked up the most, it is what gets me really competitive, it is the subject that I need to do well in, it is the subject whose marks I don’t care but rather, how my works compare to the others that I care about.” That’s what I’m talking about.

I like AEP, but it is not my best subject. My best subjects are not even Humanities. It’s Biology, then Chemistry. I like Humanities but I do better in Sciences.

Funny, I thought of joining Humanities Program is Sec. 2, but I was convinced I could never do well in Literature so I picked Geography instead. Now I can’t even think of joining it. I’m totally a Geog-nerd. Did you realize that in my last comment I made a reference to the “Input-Process-Output system”? I didn’t know until I reread it just now. So, I guess it’s too late for me to consider the Humanities Program. (Please don’t tell me it’s never too late for anything. 2 years is a LONG time).

I’m planning to take H2 Maths, Biology and Chemistry. I’m not very sure of the last H2 subject. Mom wants me to take Economics, Dad wants me to continue with AEP. I don’t know what I want (though recently I’m leaning more towards AEP). Even if I like AEP it is not enough to make me absolutely convinced I’m going to continue with it. Mom says: There’s little chance of you going further in art so why waste 2 years? Econs will benefit you for life. Dad says: Continue with AEP because after all, you have suffered 4 years for it. It’s a waste if you flush 4 years worth of blood and sweat down the toilet.

At least you have a better sense of direction than me. You already know what you want for your life but I still don’t. Mom wants me to become a doctor. A DOCTOR! Dad wants me to do… I don’t know, whatever I want. It’s so hard to choose! Is it easy to do a double degree? I really want to do something like that. Study both sciences and art. Become a “Bio-artist”. Make conceptual art using bacteria, catalysed reactions. Maybe even mutating genetic structure of microorganisms to make them coloured, glow-in-the-dark, make “bio-paint” then use these to do a Mona Lisa. Why must the society require us humans to specialize? Efficiency? How utilitarian.

Yes, I agree “whatever I discuss here is unnecessarily my final decision”. And for me, I’ve got a feeling that whatever my parents say will still not influence my final decision. Everything is still up to me.

I don’t want to make promises yet. Sometimes you swear yourself you’ll do something, yet when the time comes you don’t do it because by then you see things differently.

ZhengYan:

Amaya (will always be Amaya, not oldjuliana. Old habits die hard.^.^): Shoots you!

I did the question on eradicating poverty. And I enjoyed my seminar presentation (I did a lot of talking even with my then-hideous voice) of course nothing happens, but like the process of it. I like talking. When did I turn into such a chatterbox? I was not like that when I first stepped into NYGH. I was a “quiet, cheerful kid” quoting my primary school teacher. You’ve already started digging your grave when you chose to join AEP in P6. Our way to the bottom! Think now we’ve been in AEP for 3 years and 2 months. We’re almost all the way down the hellhole, so lets get on with it!

We’ll celebrate with Moët et Chandon when we get all the way to the bottom!

JiaYu:

I see AEP as some school thing that was set up for those interested in it. It could have come up in some PSS form. It’s like how sometimes I fantasize that CCAs were not so limited, that if you like basketball, you could be in, and it wouldn’t matter if you’re gonna be a benchwarmer or not. It’s like how I fantasize playing with my NYP team again and proving myself, not fouling up, and being a good teammate. (This is a tad idealistic, but) AEP should be a place where we come together and practice different styles, and be open to different styles. There shouldn’t be a FIXED art style that is the best, and even if it isn’t aesthetically pleasing to the eye, people should say what they think to help improve, not just go “Eeyer, so ugly” inside and chuckle a bit at on the outside.

Going along this train of thought, I do wish we weren’t bound by a grade, that we could just be people that worked on what they wanted, such as (take away this label coursework.

This freedom of expression is appealing, however, the grade, the projects, the assignments do push me further into art. I would never have known (or try to know) Impressionism, Greek Art, or Pop Art if not for the lessons. I would not have taken up the ink bottle to splatter paint like a mad witch, clay, or oilpaints. So, I find that the curriculum forces us to expand our knowledge of art.

AEP stands for Art Elective Programme, but it doesn’t tell people that we’re interested in art, it gives the image of little Van Goghs. Why should we be good in art? What’s the standard of art? If AEP was taken as a subject of interest, then just as a man passionate about basketball would go about perfecting his form, wouldn’t an art elective student similarly draw (or paint or install or whatever) as well as he can? As for art’s standard, I think it’s personal. Van Gogh thought his swirly strokes were good enough for the world. Leonardo thought the perfect human proportion was good enough for the world. They all drew to their own standard. Even if we aren’t all blessed with genius, we can set out own standards.

Yes, I’m out of point and (in fact) I have no point.

I have little intention to take up the HRP, so I’ll talk about humanties instead. Other than IH, I take advanced lit and language arts; other than IH, I automatically feel awake for those subs. I may have a face of boredom, I may not be interested in ethics, but I’m awake of my own accord. Somehow, fighting the weight of a warm humid day is easy JUST because it is language arts. Even if I have nothing to say in class, I just try to figure it out. There’s just this… passion (?). Unfortunately, I don’t really care either because of the speech involved.

AEP is another interest subject, and I enjoy it a lot. Honestly, thanks to wonderful coursework, it’s my medium to connect to the world of hip hop. Often I feel limited by my lack of ideas or lack of courage. It makes me tired of my sketchbook and coops me deeper into my doodles (which is the main source of my artsy interest).

So if I had to choose, which I most probably will have to because I want to leave a backdoor for myself by taking up physics and math in JC (Engineering!!! My dad will be elated >D), I wanna take econs cos I think that’s essential for writing journalism-stuff and lit is just about a given… so AEP? Blah… I don’t know!

On the other hand, there’s a very generous number of seats for the JC AEP class, so I won’t have to choose at all.

… I have no idea what I just rambled.

ZhengYan:

Another great soul has joined our discussion.

Jia: As I have mentioned in one of my previous comments, what I have envisioned in my post is an idealistic world where MOE says: “Let’s create a program that produces individuals favourable to the cultivation of the arts in Singapore.” Quoted from MOE website. And then we little AEPians come along and absolutely love art and will die without art.

That does not happen, of course. It’s wishful thinking. But will reality make me stop wishing for it? No.

I do agree with you on setting your own standards, but to me it does not seem really realistic too. Of course we want to set our own standards. Of course we want to be able to say: That’s the way I do art, take it or leave it. But that does not happen. Take for example, I really like Amaya’s way of pencil drawing (I don’t think I’ve ever told her that) but come on, to some people pencil drawing must still be perfectly modeled, pencil lines hidden blah blah. You know that. You can see it in their expression.

One of my friends visited Nanyang once, and told me that “Nanyang people have a very ‘unique’ way of painting.” I asked her why, and she told me that the faces lack colour (when the basic skin tone is beige, the shadows of the face will be brown+beige; when the basic skin tone is blue, the shadows will be dark blue) and everything is modeled together carefully. You just don’t see anyone painting like this person àhttp://bittennails.com/wp-content/uploads/sandbox/freud_reflection_lrg.jpg
Remember the huge canvas outside aesthetics department on second floor? The blue coloured face with arteries and veins as the background? That’s a perfect example.

Why do we have to paint this way? Why don’t we paint like the Impressionists? Picasso? Lucien Freud?

If it is possible, I really like the idea of saying: My way of painting is good enough for the world. I mean, I really do. But because I am still a kid who still lacks the basic foundation of art therefore, nobody takes me seriously.

WeiNing:

Reply to oldjuliana:

Again, it’s the choice between what you subjects you are good in and what you are interested in. Most of the time, it’s the subjects that you do good in that you have interest in (after all, praises and good grades are a damn good incentive), but there’re always exceptions.

Yeah, I know what you mean about AEP being like extra art periods. As i was saying that day, I find it very weird to be doing AEP, cause it feels as if I’m slacking. Hey, I mean, AEP isn’t a really academic subject or anything, and well, when I was in Pri school, most of my artworks were done by my mum so… (I have to say here though, I did do some of the artworks on my own, only, those were the B ones, the ones my mum did were the ones that went on display. *laughs*) So I kept getting this weird feeling that AEP was a waste of time, like, why am I spending my time doing art when I should be studying science or practicing maths? You get what I mean? But this year, it’s better. I mean, I really see AEP as a subject now.

Weining:

Reply to Nilyave:

Yes, I understand how you feel about AEP since I feel the same way. Lessons are stiffling and constipated, AEP is free-er in that sense, but I still feel.. Stiffled. But not in the sense of exploration or any stuff like that (okay, fine, there are some things I would like to do but I obviously can’t. Constraints of being a student. I understand that too.) but rather, I feel stiffled by expectations and such. I’m sure you get what I mean.

Honestly, I AM going to tell you it’s not too late. Because I think that what we are doing for alit right now, you could easily pick up a book, read and you’d be on the same footing as us already. Really, for a subject like lit, it’s different from history and geog where if you don’t take it when you’re sec3, you can 85% forget about picking up the subject in JC. Lit is a subject where as long as you read, you’ll get it. There’s nothing to it. There isn’t even some sort of way that you have to write your essay. (Or maybe there is, just beware not to do a running commentary, and that’s it.)

Yeah, well, for me, I’m going to arts stream no matter what, so it’s probably going to be H2: Lit, Art (AEP or not), History (yes, I know I’m weird.) and for contrasting subject, it’s going to be either H2 maths or KI. Okay fine, for the history thing, I’m not too sure yet, I mean, my mum rather me take econs cause she says that way, we’ll all be starting on the same foot. But econs seems so dry and boring. History seems more interesting.

Yes, we must specialise because of effeciency. But honestly, there are MANY people out there who might take one subject in university and then go into another job that seems quite ‘far’ from the subject they studied. And why is art going to be useless later? Many artists (not high art, just those that sell their art is decoration) paint part time and can still earn quite a lot.

WeiNing:

Reply to Jia:

0_o You are one easy-going person. Not that it’s a bad thing. I wished AEP was that way too, especially with the art style part. Right now it’s still very much… *cough*

Of course, if we were not bound by marks, I would be a lot more happy, but that’s really quite impossible since it’s a subject. But I’d actually rather if marks weren’t given for an individual piece of work, rather, they give marks according to a range of works. Like for a term, we work on some artworks, and the teacher ‘marks’ it by giving comments and such, and not giving a solid mark. Then, when they have to key in marks, they look at all the works and then give us a mark. (And I hope one section of the mark is given to whether you’ve improved…) But like I said earlier, the grades don’t really matter to me as much as how my art compares to the others. =X And yes, I agree with you on the exploration, though I still think there could have been a lot more explorations when it comes to medium (for example, wood. GLASS.)

Hmm. I guess you’re right in the little Van Goghs thing. Which is why we all hate it. Why should we be good in art? I really have no idea. I would say we need to be good in art because unlike the GAP people, our fees are subsidised. Standard of art? I think we all have our own standards, the problem comes when our standard does not meet other’s. I think most people find the well blended kind of art more appealing and ‘artistic’ then others.

As I said, your doodles turn out a lot better then when you are trying to draw. Your doodles are great really, I don’t understand how you can doodle so well.

0_o to your choice of subjects. Not a bad thing, it’s a look of surprise. XP

WeiNing:

Reply to ZY again:

You are very right, and so is your friend. I wondered about it as well. But unlike your friend, what I’ll say is: “why is it that NY’s paintings look like they’re mostly done by one person?”

I think it probably has to do with the fact that we’re all trying to conform to other people’s expectations. Their standard of art is always the same: sinuous lines, well modelled etc. etc. The very.. traditional(?) kind of thinking. The art that everybody loves. So I think that when it comes to people who do art like Lim does, (rough lines etc.etc.) they aren’t well recieved. Why aren’t there people who paint in an impressionist style? Because firstly, they won’t be given a good mark for it. Secondly, the people around them won’t think it’s very nice. So I think it’s kind of a given that they will conform to what others like. After all, it’s all supply and demand. Whatever you demand, we have to supply.

XinYan:

Ok I confess I didn’t really read everything you people debated, but just my two cent’s worth: I think everyone has a right to what they feel and think about artwork. Some may think it’s art, other may think it’s just a piece of junk. But what really ticks me off is when people pretentiously admire “masterpieces” just so they seem more sophisticated “able-to-appreciate”.

A story from Mrs D. Soh written by Jing Ying:
” a group of people were visiting a contemporary art gallery. the great space had nothing but 4 walls in place and a rubbish bin placed smack in the middle. these visitors started to comment on the really abstract piece of instillation in approval. just then, a man with a mop came along and promptly removed the rubbish bin, much to the surprise of the onlookers. that was then they realised that the works had not even been moved into the gallery.”

I think people should be truthful about what they feel about an artwork. If they like it, they like it. If they don’t, then don’t PRETEND to like it.

Anyway, I joined AEP because I do like art. It doesn’t mean I love all art (I don’t like neo-plasticism) and I’m sure you guys don’t LOVE every single artwork we have been introduced to. I just like drawing, crafting… my kind of art. I kinda thought I might get a “creative” job later, but that isn’t the main reason why I took the AEP test. But I’m happy to be in AEP, because it kinda “connects” me with my craft– I find that making art actually helps me destress from all that left-brained work.

I would have chosen a sophisticated and “deep-meaning” topic for my coursework, but no, I didn’t. I chose Fantasy Creatures. Because that’s what I like. I have the freedom do what I love and really, really put my effort into my craft, into my kind of art. Not any other art, even if others might find “other art” more sophisticated or whatever. And that’s what I like about AEP Coursework. (:

I want to be a sheep.

I declared, quite randomly, to Jia Yu: I want to be a sheep!

How serious was I when I declared this rather random piece of statement? Honestly, on a scale of 1 to 10, 10 being the most serious, I would say I was on a 6.5. Right, but 6.5 isn’t a lot now is it? I guess it isn’t, but considering how ridiculous the statement is, I would say that a 6.5 is rather serious.

 So, what are my sentiments towards sheep? Do I have some weird dreams of them that pushes me to want to be a sheep as dreams affect John Berryman? Honestly? No. I do not have weird dreams or nightmares concerning sheep - that said, I don’t think I’ve ever come across any sheep in my dreams. Well, in my lucid dreams anyway.

My compulsion to be a sheep probably stems from the fact that sheep are such adorable animals. I mean, they are so fluffy and black. And fluffy. And black. I think. Furthermore, sheep destry the environment! How great is that? Right, so let’s have a small summarization of why I want to be a sheep from the reason I have stated so far.

I want to be a sheep because I would be fluffy and black, and a menace to the environment. *gasps*

So right now, you’ll be having either of two reactions. I will now describe to you the two reactions and you can match your feelings towards my statement to know which reaction you belong to. So now, please take out a piece of paper and a pencil, preferable 2B, and write Reaction1, followed by 4 rows of small compressed ovals that resemble deer poo, or seeds if you have not seen deer poo before. Then, write Reaction2, and draw 4 rows of similar ovals. Now, you are ready to start my quiz. Please shade each oval for each point reaction that you have. Remember, do not shade outside the oval! Or your results will be void. I’m sure you don’t want that now do you? No one wants a zero after all. Tsk tsk.

Reaction 1:
Deadpanned
Slightly amused
Rolling eyes
Raise of eyebrows

Reaction 2:
Gasping in horrification
Clutching your heart with both hands
Gazing at me with new light/disappointment/worry
Doing this quiz

Are you done? Great! Now count the number of ovals you have shaded for each of the reactions and write the numer on the right side of the Reaction number. Done? Good boy/girl. Now, compare the two numbers, which number is higher? The reaction with a higher number of shaded ovals will be the reaction that you fall into. Now, I shall give you your  results based on your reaction.

Reaction1:

You are normal. Your IQ is probably about a hundred. Congragulations. (At least you’re not retarded.)

Reaction2:

Congragulations! You are an absolute GENIUS! People that fall into reaction 2 have on average, an IQ of about a hundred and eighty!

—

People with reaction1 can be ignored because quite honestly, they are too… ‘normal’ to understand this debate of high intellect. Therefore, people with Reaction1, you can stop reading right about now.

Stopped yet? No? Stop now. I order you to stop when I say stop. Stop.

Good, now the remainding readers must be the geniuses out there, the exact audience that I want to speak to. Well lovely people, I understand why you are so horrifed that I want to be a sheep, and I know that you are horrifed because of my comment about wanting to be a sheep because they destroy the environment. After all, the oh-so-great humans that we are love the environment! We kill every thing that threatens to harm it! Everything! We will stop at nothing to save old mother Earth! Just look at what we have already accomplished! We have killed of the animals that left their faeces on Earth, thereby harming the environment, polluting the oh-so-sweet earth! We have done a great deed. We have also managed to chop down trees! Those evil trees! Trees that suck up greedily, the water that is so important to mother Earth! DIE TREES! We have also managed to melt the ice caps! Ice caps that harm the earth by taking up so much space! We, we humans, homosapiens, have done Gaia a great favor. All hail humans!

Therefore evil WN should die for wanting to become a sheep that destroys the environment. Oh! I know! Since we’re all so great, going around advocating - I mean, educating our young to save the environment, we shall have a KILL THE SHEEP CAMPAIGN!!! How about that? Yes, I think that’s the best idea I have ever had. I am an absolute genius - of course, not as much as you readers. But yes. How about that? Let’s kill off all the evil sheep in the world! Those black, fluffy, evil abominations!

But I’m sorry. I have fallen to the sheep’s ground, and now, I will mehh with them on green grass that will soon turn into barren land. Oh great humans, I’m so sorry for my destruction of the very earth you have saved! As atonement, I shall stand quietly as you draw your pistols, or rifles, or shot guns, or knives, or parangs, or whatever-else-you-have to kill my fellow sheep-friends.

Goodbye now, beloved saviours of the earth…

AEP

This afternoon, Sam, LX, Miao, ZY and I stayed back for some AEP interview thing, which turned out to be more like a Socratic seminar than anything. So anyway, there were two people from MOE, and we were sitting in batches - kinda. And we started discussing about AEP stuff, like the curriculum and stuff like that. I enjoyed it, I think the other 4 did too. The only thing was that the sec4s were kinda hogging the discussion in a sense, cause we had a lot to say, and the other 3 levels were either overly intimidated by us or they had nothing to say. If I were to guess, I would say it was the latter.

But as I said, it was meaningful, and we were quite sad that they only held this discussion in our sec4 year. Anyway, we discussed about stuff like how when we are sec1s, we should build up on our basics. Cause the teachers seemed to take it for granted that we already knew how to draw properly and stuff like that. (Which we obviously don’t. I shall be the first to admit I was one of those that had no art lessons and because I felt… inadequate, I went for art lessons. And my art improved. A lot. I should post some of my old stuff up here.) And we also talked about giving exposure to more 3D mediums such as wood, metal etc. (One of the person from MOE also said that he noticed NYGH students produced very few 3D works. I wonder why.)

We also talked a little about art theory, but for that, we had no complaints. Cause we think it’s alright as it is. Oh, and about the AEP camps too. We thought that the camps were too short, and there was not much time to make any connections with the AEPers from other schools. So we suggested for the camp to be longer.

Most importantly, we moaned and groaned and complained about how we did not have an overseas AEP trip! It saddened us greatly, and we feel most depressed about it. Oh the pain we have gone through! They said they would reflect to the school about it, but I don’t think the teachers can do much anyway, it’s up to the principal, who doesn’t seem to be… too supportive of it. I need an AEP trip. Even if it’s informal. I want to go out with the AEPers. I mean, these are the people I’ve known for 4 years.

Oh, and at the end of the session, we were also asking about AEP in JC. Apparently, only about 20 students (including HCI, NYGH, and any other student who enters HCI) can get into AEP, and we have to take a theory paper, a drawing paper, an interview, and show our portfolio. And out of these 20 odd students, only 10 will get the scholarship. I asked why only 10 and they said it used to be 5. And I shut up. *laughs*

Yep. So that’s that. But I really enjoyed the session. ZY did too. I think the others did. Not too sure though. The 2 people from MOE were really nice and easy to talk too as well.

Basketball Photos

I took these photos during the Kungfu Dunk Converse 3on3 at Bugis Junction. But they’re probably copyrighted to Jumpshot since I was taking photos for them. These are 5 of the photos, but I think I took a hundred plus. Yep.

These are what I call FUN!

If I said I felt.

If I said I felt guilty, I would be 50% lying.

What exactly am I talking about? Well, for AV today, we had to share photos and stuff, and Mr Kuo had these two seniors come back to talk about photography club, and they sounded kinda passionate about photography and all, and their photos were quite nice (compared to mine). And later during the sharing session, I was feeling even worse cause my photos were like crap. Anyway, I was dying during my sharing, so I was kneeling on the floor, trying to make myself as insignificant as possible. Bah.

Haha, I guess it’s kinda funny. I remember saying before I liked photography, and I still do actually, but it’s just different from the passion the seniors have. Well, the passion the seniors have for photography, can be compared to the passion I have for basketball I guess, only I reckon I like basketball even more than they like photography (but I don’t actually know them so…) I mean, photography, like art, is interesting, but not exactly what I would call fun. Photography is fun for the first hour you do it, but after that it gets boring. Or maybe it’s just my concentration span. Wait. There is one type of photography that I enjoy doing though, and that’s sports photography - shooting basketball specifically. I should ask my friend if I can have the photos that I took using her camera during a basketball competition… Those were quite fun. As in, fun to take.

But well, I should be feeling very guilty and sad over it now, but I’m not. Surprisingly. Maybe it was cause I was pre-occupied with the thought of whether DSLR cameras are ruining photographers. What do I mean? Well, in the past, where photographers were using films and stuff, they couldn’t just keep taking continuous shots and stuff like that, but now, when we want to take someone running, we can just hold down the button and chances are, one of the photos come out to be good. Not only that, but because it’s digital, it’s easy for us to use photoshop to tweak it and stuff. Like, there isn’t really a point in making sure the subject fit the picture nicely, since you can just crop it. So yes, I just think it’s dumb.

Like Mr Kuo keeps repeating, now, it seems to me, more like a matter of being at the right place at the right time to take a decently good photo. Which I think, qualifies nothing. As in, it doesn’t say anything. It just sounds like dumb luck to me.

Ah well. I guess unlike the seniors, I will not be one of the types that goes out to line up and wait for 6 hours for the Chingay Parade to start (and in the first place, Chingay doesn’t even seem that interesting, hence the probable spelling error), But well, I like photography in my own way and yeah, I guess I’m admitting that photography is not my passion.

People change. Unfortunately, I change, than change back. I’m going in circles. And I can never get over what I say. Soon, I’ll just regret ever saying this.

Chinatown photos

I went with the AV club to take photos a few days before Chinese New Year. These are what I think, my best 5 photos. It was kinda dumb cause it rained! So we couldn’t really walk in the streets and stuff. And the sheltered parts were so cramped that we couldn’t really stand there for a long time to take photos.

Anyway, the first two photos are of the bang4 bang4 tang2 thing. Haha, I liked the colours and therefore took the photos. -____- Sorry, might be a lousy reason.

 I coincidentally saw this inconspicuous thing standing on top of a fridge and thought it was cute. Haha. Can you imagine? Me? Think it’s cute? Yup, and the result was the third photo. (It even has a drink!)

The fourth photo is the gold rat thing. Totally random. Why am I even explaining why I took the picture? I mean, I just took it. Okay. Nevermind. I know Mr Kuo will ask though. He asked me last year and I was stunned, so gave some weird reason. *laughs*

Personally, I like the last photo cause I think it’s kinda interesting. As in, if you look at it, it just looks like green and gold balls, but if you see the gold ball at the top right corner, you can see my reflection in it! Taking the photo! And the angle of the reflection makes it look as if I was in the photo itself, taking the photo. As in, I’m looking down at the other balls. Yea.

Pleasantville

Pleasantville. 2.30pm in the afternoon might not have been the best time to be watching such a movie - not when pent up frustration over a constipated society/education system has been built up over the last 8 hours.

Introduced to us together with Far from Heaven, Pleasantville is yet another movie that comments about the American society during the late 1950s/early 1960s. (Imagine my slight boredom in watching another such movie, considering that my term paper of a similar topic has just been finished not 2 weeks ago.) But it was better than expected. Overall, I was quite angry over how constipated the Mayor was, and judging from the laughter from my classmates, they were probably very amused at how conservative the people of Pleasantville was.

I would talk about other parts I found striking about the movie, (and I was about to, before I remembered about the questions I was supposed to answer), but since this is supposed to be an ‘assignment’ of sorts, I have to talk about some ‘artistic’ aspect of the movie - the most obvious of which would be the symbolic use of colour.

I would think the slow increase in colour in Pleasantville was rather subtle, and to notice it, you would have to be some genius of IQ180. This subtle increase of colour shows a slowly changing Plesantville, in the various aspects of ‘race’, sexuality, and personal freedom.

The explicit mention of sex right after David and Jennifer were transported into Pleasantville caught my attention, and I thought it was a rather effective way of shocking the audience, especially when juxtaposed with how conservative they were (as can be seen when the students thought holding hands was a big deal). After Jennifer and Skip had sex in a car, Skip was seen driving away from Jennifer’s home. Then, the camera focuses on a single red rose in a bush. At first, I had thought that the red colour probably symbolised love, since that was what they just did - make love. But after some thought, I think rather than love, it probably symbolises passion. For while Skip might have loved ‘Mary-sue’, Jennifer did not return his feelings. Rather, it was more of an act of lust and passion.

Another point where my classmates burst into laughter was when we found out that married couples slept on seperate beds. I guess the movie was really being very extreme with it’s portrayal of Pleasantville. Pleasantville was supposed to be this perfect place where it’s safe for every one and every one led their happy but ignorant lives. So thinking along that line, I guess I understand why the people had to be clueless about sex. Anyway, Jennifer later ‘educates’ Betty on what sex is and I guess, suggested that Betty masturbated since her husband would not have sex with her. As Betty masturbates, the tree outside their house bursts into flames. The tree on fire, was a big ‘change’ in Pleasantville, where firemen didn’t even know what fire was or how to put out the fire. I guess the phrase to use would be ‘flames of passion’. Or was that a bad pun? 

Later, as more people in Pleasantville borrow books from the library, and hence learning about things outside of Pleasantville, and as teens visited Lovers Lane, they started to gain colour. This was because of the change they have undergone, kind of like the knowledge they have gained gave them colour. Which ties in to a part where David, who was in black and white through most of the movie, was offered an apple, drawing a parallel to Adam biting into the apple, gaining knowledge and bringing sin into the world.

The use of colour to seperate people from those who have changed from those who have not, shows how these people who have changed are more interesting people. The ‘black&whites’ are monotonous in their stubbon beliefs that make Pleasantville dull and boring, while the ‘coloureds’ are instead, the ones filled with excitement from the knowledge they have gained, regardless of the fact that with such knowledge of things such as sex and an outside world, the utopia known as Pleasantville might be changed, and no longer retain its status of an utopia.

I have to say that the ‘black&whites’ reaction to the ‘coloureds’ frustrated me. I saw the ‘coloureds’ as liberation from the 2-D world Pleasantville initially was, while the ‘black&whites’ probably saw the ‘coloureds’ as sinners that were trying to turn their utopia into some sort of distopia. (But in the first place, I don’t think Pleasantville was all that pleasant.) This was when the part about race was introduced.

A set of rules were created to surpress the ‘coloureds’, as they were called, and there were signs hanging on windows that said ‘no coloureds’. When looking back at America, we can also see these ‘coloureds’ as the African Americans, whom too, were surpressed, restricted, and discriminated against.

Overall, I think the movie was quite enjoyable, especially since it wasn’t overly didactic and used humour to bring its point across as well. It’s a big breather from ‘Far from Heaven’ and ‘The Catcher in the Rye’.

Because I promised.

This has seriously nothing to do with art. In fact, I’m writing this because I want/promised to 1) Explain to the person who’s going to feature in this post, why I think she’s 2-faced, and 2) Create an awareness amongst my fellow ex201ers so that they know said person IS 2-faced.

So. Who is this person I speak of? I think it’s quite obvious actually, it’s Aw Jia Yu AKA the HAM.

AJY is 2-faced. There is no doubt about that. Okay fine, you/she might argue that she is not 2-faced but rather, shy. Yes, I do think her 2-faced-ness is attributed to her shyness, but seriously, I want you all to know she’s not as simple as she may seem.

People seem to think she’s some kind of innocent kid. But she’s not. I assure you she is not. For example, I once asked her why boobs were called boobs. Here, as evidence, I shall post her answer. (It was on MSN)

Jaye says:
why are boobs even called boob
Jaye says:
boobs
Jaye says:
no connection!
jia says:
double o
jia says:
the two bs look like nppls.
jia says:
boobs
jia says:
you can’t have only one boob
jia says:
it’s unhygienic

And another more subtle example:

jia says:
and firmer
Jaye says:
i dun like firm
jia says:
mines flimsy
Jaye says:
-___-
jia says:
i like firm….

Yes, so there, I have now shown why I think AJY is 2-faced. She’s always so sick when she’s chatting with us but she’s never like that when she chats with others. Wait. She doesn’t even chat with others. She just sits there and stones, pretending to be listening. Oh yes, that’s also why I think she’s 2-faced in a sense. (Actually, maybe 2-faced is not the word to use. I should say she’s phony.)

You know how she always looks so serious? Like Ms Yeo (our math teacher) likes her cause she thinks AJY is a good kid that is very serious but listens attentively in class. Honestly? I bet she stones 80% of the time. 

Another example. I was talking about buying stuff for Graces and AJY said she wanted to come and I said no. And this is what she said while trying to convince me.

jia says:
if u make such a big fuss, ppl will be more attracted to you on graces night

Jaye says:
nooooooo Jaye says:
kns

jia says:
so u have to dilute your appeal firstjia says:
like me

Jaye says:
like do wht? Jaye says:
let ppl come with me?

Jaye says:
-______-Jaye says:
no way

Jaye says:
tht’d be worse jia says:
i talk so much abt dresses ppl are getting less excited to see me in one

— 

See? She’s 2-faced. She does things with a motive! Mehh.Anyway. I realise it’s hard to write this post. So. AJY. Here’s your explanation, and you should know what I mean. There have been a lot of such instances. ><Edit: 21/2/08

Michelle and JiaYu told me this post did nothing to explain why I think JiaYu’s two-faced. They (or rather Michelle), said that every one behaves differently in front of different people. But how do I say this… The feeling Jiayu gives others compared to how she really is is really really different. Extremely different. It’s not just that she’s quiet in front of others. She always gives this I’m-so-innocent look and comes off as some really good kid when she’s really not.

I know she’s doing it unknowingly, but still! Fine, I don’t really know how to explain what I mean, but if you hang out with her a lot, you’ll start feeling it too. Michelle doesn’t because she thinks every one’s nice. (naive and gullible) Plus, AJY is a cynic. She’s very very cynical. Just that I think sometimes her sarcasm doesn’t really get across if you don’t talk to her a lot. But yes, she’s a cynic. Who doesn’t admit it.

4-hour drawing #13

This is the one I said I would paint seriously for. And I finished this in around 3 hours. I didn’t get bored! I really concentrated. But I really really really enjoyed painting that big brush. It was so fun! Then I didn’t really like the rest. But tried to enjoy it anyway.