[SML] Theatrical educations questions, was: Subject: advice on some old pigment

[Richard Niederberg]

Dear Chad,
To paraphrase: 'Those who don't know history are CONDEMNED to repeat
it' [Santayana]. There is some applicability here for those who
attempt to advance the State of the Art. Do not underestimate the
value of Institutional Memory. If you don't know where you've been, it
is hard to ascertain the path in which you should be going. Are
Universities to be relegated to the status of Trade Schools? Don't
just teach the latest solution; teach also why there was a change.
/s/ Richard
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On Mon, Oct 13, 2014 at 8:03 AM, Chad Croteau via Stagecraft
<stagecraft at theatrical.net> wrote:
>
> Hi Brent,
>
> I don't think it's a question of losing knowledge out of fear, per se.  I
> know that for the program in which I teach, vocational learning outcomes are
> dictated by the government, and the College also caps the number of hours
> per week per course.  So, I have to cover x, y and z, and only have x number
> of hours in which to do it.  Since the mandate of the College is to give
> students employable skill sets, it's quite clear:  I don't have time to
> teach the old ways for the sake of preserving the knowledge.  While I often
> do include some historical perspective on where we came from and why, I
> certainly can't devote even a whole class to it, let alone a whole course.
>
> The other half of the argument is that in some cases, the old ways SHOULD be
> left to history.  While I agree that there is an academic value to
> remembering how we used asbestos fibres to add texture to scenery, I'm ok
> with never doing that again.  I'd also refuse to teach that on the grounds
> that there's a big health risk involved, regardless of the PPE available to
> me.  As for things like aniline dyes, loose pigments, etc. while they gave
> great results, we now have alternate, less dangerous methods of achieving
> basically the same outcomes.  Something else worth considering... While I
> can't speak for any country other than Canada, if I wanted to teach
> mixing/painting with loose pigment, the H&S requirements would be so
> stringent it would make the process almost impossible to complete a whole
> set, let alone impractical.
>
> No one would consider making a felt hat using mercury, but we all know it
> used to be done.  It's not fear, it's a better understanding of why it's not
> the best way anymore.
>
> Just my thoughts...
>
> Chad
>
>
> ________________________________
> Brent Logsdon wrote:
>
> Should knowledge be allowed to die?  I understand the argument that there is
> little need for a top-notch buggy whip maker.  I understand there need be
> very few courses nationally in the making of buggy whips. I also wonder how
> many things we lose out of fear.
>
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-- 
/s/ Richard
_________