internet invention: umpteen pages also known as chapters 1 & 2

Oh Ulmer, how I've missed thee.

Chapters one and two are the first stepping stones to establishing a Mystory. I think the best way for me to approach this weeks reading is to go through some of Ulmer's assignments and show where my images are taking me. (or really where my images lie, because I'm not really sure where they are currently taking me except into a land of further confusion....but alas I am keeping an open mind because I know this will all make sense eventually)

My journey through Imageland begins on page 19. Ulmer is discussing the life and inpiration of Einstein, and as Ulmer begins to spin the tale of Einstein's fascination with the compass, I began to think of what images/things came to mind as something that fascinated me as a child.

Image 1: House
I was an only child growing up (don't judge me, please), and I had many toys to keep my attention so my parents could have sanity. But of all the toys I owned, there is only one that vividly stands out in my mind, and that is the Barbie doll house I received from Santa when I was five. Like Einstein, I was captivated by it. I cannot remember what I had for breakfast yesterday or the name of my first grade teacher (or many of my undergraduate professors for that matter) but I remember that morning like it was yesterday. My parents (aka Santa) stayed up the entire night before putting together this house (if you notice in the top right hand of the box it states 'some assembly required') completely furnished. Now in those days all the Barbie paraphernalia was covered in stickers, and my Mom painstakingly applied all the stickers to their appropriate places. The refrigerator was stocked and the closet was filled of new clothes and shoes. You can see that even now I can fill pages with discriptions of how amazing this house was to me.

The house represents imagination. I spent years of my life crawling around that pink wonder, rearranging the furniture, making up glamorous lives for the people that lived inside. My spark of imagination and creativity started there, and that provided the foundation for my career choice/wide site.

Image 2: Jane Quickly growing up, I move on to Career Discourse (21). The first point Ulmer states under the assignment is:

"The goal is inventio-the stage of gathering the materials with which to work. Think of this site as a documentation, a curated display of details related to a discovery, invention, and a figure responsible for it. There is no need to interpret or explain, but just to assemble a collection of details of whatever catches your attention. The figure or invention may be major or minor, so long as it is part of the career field that interests you." (22)

Jane was one of my undergraduate professors (one of the few that I will never be able to forget her name) and someone I would consider a mentor. She taught me design and a new way to see life in general. I owe most of my creative thought solely to her.

I know Ulmer states I don't have to give an explanation, but she is so important to me, I feel she at least needs an introduction. As far as other images that come to mind, they all trace their roots back to her, so to simplify matters (and bandwidth) I'll keep is sweet and simple.

Image 3: press
My last image seems to be an outlier on the bell-shaped curve that is Mystory. Ulmer restates the assignment and made me really think in a slightly new direction. He discusses that he is evaluating an important invention in his field, specifically writing. In my industry that invention is the printing press and Gutenberg's movable type. Without it, my industry would not exist.

It looks as though my images are leading to a creative end, all except that blasted press. Figures...the one thing that makes it all possible is the least creative. But it is the boat that carries the other Mystory stepping stones, and me trying not to judge too soon, I'm sure this will end up being a major player in the end.

On an end note, this semester is starting up to be a very personal one. It's as though my personal blog and professional education blog are melding into one. I'm excited, but on the other hand I feel that you're peeking into my soul and it's just a little uncomfortable. I know it's worth it, because with the pain comes amazing self discovery, right?