Friday, February 08, 2008

From Richard Flint #1


JHU course catalog description, originally uploaded by bucklesw1.

Buckles,
Some weeks ago on your blog, mention was made of reaching out through
various educational outlets to better inform the public about the
circus, both its long and remarkable history as well as the
difficulties it faces today. As one example, for anyone living in the
greater Baltimore, MD, area, I'll be offering a course here at Johns
Hopkins University as described in the catalog shown. It will consist
of four evening sessions: 1) the origins and history of the circus in
Europe, 2) the history of the American 3-ring extravaganza, 3)
elements of the performance (ground, aerial, and animal) and the
traditions of performers and famous families, and 4) a class on images
(cinematic and literary), issues (animal welfare), and modern elements
(cirque shows) of today's circus. Finally, we will conclude with a
day at the circus visiting the Ringling show while it is in Baltimore
and inter-acting during a Sunday brunch with several performers and
staff prior to a matinee performance. And I hope one result is that
some of my prospective students become addicts of your blog, a good
way to appreciate its history and to understand contemporary issues
facing the circus!
Dick Flint
Baltimore

Posted by Buckles at 2/08/2008 01:00:00 PM

4 comments:

Bob Cline said...

Congratulations Mr. Flint. As a Circus Historian, I would like to take your course. I sincerely hope your visualization of getting others involved and interested becomes a terrific reality. Way to Go!

I tried to offer Ohio State University a similiar program in my "Earlier" days but there was no interest there. I was able to start a free interest course in Clowning at OSU which took off well. I turned it over to some of the Shrine Clowns after leaving Ohio State and saw years later that it was still doing well.
Bob

08 February, 2008 13:26
Anonymous said...

Any chance the clas will be video taped and could go up online?

08 February, 2008 14:19
Anonymous said...

Dick, if you're doing it I know it will be excellent I second Ben Trumbles comment and would ask to be advised if your course will be available for purchase on either video or, better yet, DVD.

Paul G.

08 February, 2008 14:53
Monty said...

Mr. Flint,
I'm sitting here trying to figure out how to commute to Baltimore for 4-Wednesday evenings, but it seems almost an impossibility. I've read with great interest the comments that ask for a DVD. This would be great, and I would certainly purchase one if it becomes available. But let's go one better. I completed an online speech class through N. C. State University in the fall of 2004. In this class we met every Monday night online for an entire semester. The professor lectured with PowerPoint, we could interact with on screen software that allowed us to applaud, raise our hand and ask questions, and even show emotion about course content. I'm sure that John Hopkins must have similar and quiet possibly better software. Alter all, technology has certainly advanced in the past four years. In conclusion, I will be the first to sign-up if this can be offered. Moreover, I will be there for the hands-on seminar with RB&BB on Sunday, March 16th.

08 February, 2008 19:04

Post a Comment

Subscribe to: Post Comments (Atom)