Blog 2: Topic Choice

I began to consider what my senior topic should be during my sophomore year when I realized that time was running out. I struggled to find something I was passionate about since I juggled with numerous of ideas that were not at all in the same spectrum. All I knew was I wanted my senior project to be career orientated and something I would not get bored of. Before I knew it, Junior year was over and I was still unsure what I should dedicate myself to.

Then, it hit me like one of those sparks of inspiration during a writer's block: what about parades? I have no clue where this idea came from, yet it was one of the most brilliant sudden lightbulbs I ever had. It was almost summer, so without wasting time I researched about the parade industry and discovered a whole new world of possibilities. I wanted to combine the two passions of mine together: politics and art.

My topic: 

• With this in mind, I decided my topic will be Parades. Parades offer basically a huge hover over the little aspects I wanted to include: public demonstrations, marches, and floats. After I researched a little bit, I found out the term 'parades' is a word open for discussion because there are different uses of these public events. This enables me with tools to execute my topic without being constrained.  

Why? 

• I'd like to believe I am artistically creative. In my groups, I was always the one making up the physical product of our project because I always have innovative ideas. However... I also wanted to stand up for something, because I want to actually give back to the world and stand up against issues that matter to me. Parades is a happy medium between these two things, art and politics, because with parades you can connect to the public politically in ways that work. Believe it or not, people would pay more attention to a crowd of people marching in protest than politicians on television. 

And how would all this help me accomplish connecting this topic with the ESLRs? 

• As an iPoly citizen I plan to use this project to showcase the valuable lesson I gained from iPoly which is to think. I learned to think at iPoly and my topic will connect this because not the average worker can produce a float or organize a parade. It takes a thinker and believer as my father said.
• As an effective communicator I plan to use my topic to communicate my art and values together. Communication goes further than words, I believe that through art and community, change could be brought about to issues in the future. Parades require their volunteers and workers to communicate effectively because it is a team effort that creates the product of an event.
• As an effective learner I plan to learn from my weaknesses as an artist and sketch everyday. I also want to learn about the history of parades and its impact on society from entertainment to politics. 
• As an effective user of technology I plan to impress my advisers and create a physical product of a float. Parades will give me experience in media mixed arts.