My first blog of 2013. It is, I’m afraid, lacking a theme but instead promises to be a rather random muse on a few experiences and thoughts I’ve had over the last few weeks.
I want to first rid myself of unfortunate grumbles about the Spanish University system. I’m sure many of you who have experienced a ‘Year Abroad’ understand what I am about to report- I fear that it is a common experience particularly among Spanish and Italian Universities at the very least. Exams here have been a far cry from the severity of examinations at home whereby the mere thought of cheating, or failing for that matter, sends me into a cold sweat. Here, however, exams are laughable. Beginning with the late sauntering in of students and lecturers alike, seating is then a free-for-all and notes are not confiscated. The obvious need not be stated. Cheating seems to be the norm. The questions are mostly dictated aloud-- where is my question paper?-- and few students stay till the end. Indeed, many I have spoken to aren’t even worried about failure; they can attend the ‘revision’ sessions which are a platform to argue your grade with the lecturer. Failing that, there is always a chance to ‘subir la nota’ (better your grade) in September. I may sound like some sort of uppity, goody-goody student, but it is merely my surprise at the level and regulations of Spanish University (in one lecture I was taught how to mind-map). Who would have thought that another encounter with the severe and formidable invigilators of home exams would be appealing?
So it hasn’t been the most exciting month due to an unforgiving torrent of exams that have just finished today but I have still had time to enjoy Madrid. Last Friday I returned to my favourite, and charming, jazz bar (mentioned in my last post). On this occasion I saw Susan Santos, a funk/ rock/ blues guitarist who exuded energy and passion alongside her equally gung-ho drummer and basest. It was at ‘el junco’ which I would highly recommend should you ever fancy a jazzy jaunt in Madrid http://www.eljunco.com/.
Today I visited the Caixa Forum for the first time. It was recommended to me by one of my Art History lecturers and it did not disappoint! There are two exhibitions currently running; the first on contemporary cartography and the second on chaos. They are worth a visit (particularly the first) http://obrasocial.lacaixa.es/nuestroscentros/caixaforummadrid/cartografiascontemporaneas_es.html.
Having been lectured by the contemporary Spanish artist ‘Cristina Lucas’ in my post-1945 art history module, it was great to see her work included in this exhibition. Lucas works principally with maps, charting global boundaries defined by different causes. She explores those frontiers created by social, political, sexual and linguistic differences to challenge visual languages, codes and thought systems cemented in western society, particularly patriarchy. Lucas is just one of many contemporary cartographers that has appropriated the map in the 20th and 21st century, others including Grayson Perry (a personal favourite) and Ana Mendieta. In a broader sense, the exhibition serves as a reminder of the impact of gloablisation and the Internet on traditional forms of representation. It attempts, along with the artists represented, to create a new ‘map’ of reality.
The exhibition has got me thinking about images and traditional forms of representation. There is often an image, used as a symbol, that we associate with different countries which consequently dictates our perceptions of their culture. Many a countries’ global identity finds considerable provenance in traditional representation and imagery, for example the elephant in Laos, and the Bull in Spain. However, this symbol may not in fact be pertinent today or will not remain so within a few decades.
For those of you that aren’t aware, my brother has been working for the NGO Elephant Asia in Laos, standing as the principal elephant Vet in the whole of Laos. This is where he has been working for the past year: http://www.elephantconservationcenter.com/ it is one of the most beautiful places you will ever go to! Anyway, there are currently estimated to be around 600 wild elephants left in Laos and they are estimated to die out within only 50 years. Laos is still known as ‘the land of a million elephants’ and their emblem is of course an elephant. The government holds on to this maxim and yet does little to conserve them. When they’re gone, will Laos still clutch at their fading heritage and promote themselves using the elephant?
Similarly in Spain, the bull remains one of the principal trademarks of Spanish culture. It is always identifiable and exports an idiosyncratic image of Spain across the globe. Yet a large part of Spain, Catalonia, has banned bullfighting since 2012. It is therefore strange to think how bullfighting is synonymous with Spain and get on closer inspection, not quite so. I wonder if this recent rejection of the bull in Catalonia will gradually change the contemporary representation of Spain or if, like Laos, they will resist adapting to newfound representations in contemporary society.
Musing aside, I have begun training for the Madrid half-marathon which I am running on the 7th April. Watch this space. But also, eeek. I also have my DSLR camera with me now, so expect to see some photos (edgy?) with my next post.
Hasta la proxima,
Emma
