External News

The Long Road to Trump

August 4, 2016 by Thomas M Devlin

Donald Trump’s rise is, to almost every political commentator, pretty flummoxing. One of the most popular questions this year seems to be “How did we get to here?” Some people may say this entire election is a fluke, but unfortunately Trump’s campaign does not exist in a vacuum. To explore the phenomenon, two groups have made an attempt at explaining exactly how we got to here.

The first is the Chronicle of Higher Education’s Trump 101, a syllabus designed to teach people about the historical shifts in politics, both liberal and conservative, that made his candidacy possible. It may also be the only syllabus in existence that starts with The Federalist Papers and ends with Sarah Palin’s Going Rogue.

A few people, however, noted that Trump 101 ignores the racist and sexist overtone’s in the Republican candidate’s campaign. Considering certain statements Trump has made, these are pretty blaring omissions. Luckily, N.B.D. Connolly and Keisha N. Blain, an NYU professor and a Princeton professor respectively, have posted their own reading list on Public Books: Trump Syllabus 2.0. With readings suggested by dozens of scholars, it takes a far more critical view of Trump and the attitudes of the United States that have led to his success.

With Trump 101 lasting 12 weeks, Trump Syllabus 2.0 lasting 15 weeks, and the election only 14 weeks away, it looks like it’s time to start reading.

Prefer a real classroom to a virtual one? Look at the Center for Applied Liberal Arts’ “Gain A Political Perspective this Fall”

During this heated elected season, it may seem nearly impossible to have a nuanced conversation about politics and political issues. These courses at CALA offer a respite from never-ending talking heads and political spin. Examine important issues from historical and global perspectives and gain insight into the topics you care about.

Recommended Courses:

Analyze This! Hillary Clinton’s Emails

August 4, 2016 by Anne Maguire

With all the hoopla surrounding the general election, with insults and hair flying, liars calling liars liars, and Vice-President Joe Biden’s proclamation that, “… that’s a bunch of malarkey!”, here is a very interesting and level-headed perspective on one big election topic; Hillary Clinton’s emails. The authors Helen Cunningham and Brenda Greene move from the controversial private server issues at the beginning of their article, What No One Has Said about Hillary’s Emails, to the guts of the piece – what Clinton’s emails reveal about her writing and communication skills, her manners, and her grasp of English grammar. With subtopics including Language, Tone, Proofreading, and Dashes there are examples of best practices, clear language, and perfect punctuation. Then there’s Cherie Blair’s poor spelling and syntax: “Hilary can you give me a telephone number for the Qatar Crown Prince can ring you on and he will get in touch.” I beg your pardon! Almost worse is her misspelling of Hillary by forgetting one “l.” Beyond rude.

On Language the authors write, “Hillary is a master of plain English and clarity in email. Her readers will never need a dictionary, nor will they need to re-read a message. She writes tightly, avoiding extra words and using simple, direct sentences. To Jacob Lew, then-budget director: “Let’s talk tomorrow. I’ll call you in the morning about two subjects: Haiti and Af-Pak. Is there anything else you want to raise?” To aide Robert Russo: “Pls make 4 copies of the Sept. 21 revised summary document you prepared for me for tomorrow. Thx.”

As the authors note, “You’d be lucky to have a boss like Hillary.” Here they address Etiquette: “Hillary’s emails are noteworthy for the generally polite and respectful manner towards staff. The abbreviations “Pls” and “Thx” (“please” and “thanks”) are ubiquitous. “Pls come see me tomorrow about redesigning and updating the format. Thx.” “Thanks for all your hard work on this difficult speech to get it as right as possible.”

Finally, down to brass tacks – “Proofreading: Hillary leads by example with exacting standards for writing and a sharp eye. She often reminds staff to give documents a rigorous review before releasing them to the public, and does so with a surprisingly gentle tone. “Ok but be sure it’s proofread. ” “Also, pls be sure the text is carefully proofread since there are a number of typos and missing words.” “I think it is ready to go w one question: when you say in the 4th para, “last July”, do you mean 09 or 10? I thought we started in 09.”

So, email servers and elections aside – if you get hacked, don’t be a Cherie Blair, be a Hillary Clinton! Here are some Fall 2016 courses that will help:

Fall Courses at CALA:

Professional Writing with Power

Writing on the Job

Grammar Review Crash Course

Improving Writing Skills

Writing and Grammar: The Basics

High Impact Communication

Grammar Intensive for Publishing Professionals

From ALI (American Language Institute)

Effective Emailing

Helen Cunningham will teach:

Effective Business Writing

Workplace Oral Communications

Before Marvel and DC: Superheroes of the Ancient World (BBC Article)

July 27, 2016 by Cayla Delardi

What do Odysseus and Green Arrow have in common? A lot more than you think, according to writer Natalie Haynes. In a feature for the BBC, she explores the relationship between today’s comic book superheroes and the mythological heroes of old–and our cultural fascination with both.

“Superheroes have existed for as long as stories, before writing and across every culture from which we can find evidence. Fionn mac Cumhaill built the Giant’s Causeway in Northern Ireland, and Gilgamesh defeated Humbaba in Mesopotamia. Rama was exiled from Ayodhya in India, while Beowulf slew Grendel and Grendel’s mother in Scandinavia. And that’s before you think about the ancient Greeks, who boasted a plethora of heroes to match any collection from Marvel or DC.”

Check out the full article here: http://www.bbc.com/culture/story/20150819-before-marvel-and-dc-superheroes-of-the-ancient-world

This fall, CALA will be offering Superheroes: A Mythic Battle of History, Media, and Culture, where students can watch and discuss some of Hollywood’s best superhero films from Tim Burton’s Batman (1989) to The Avengers (2012). Superhero fans, unite and sign up today!

Summer Reading

July 26, 2016 by Anne Maguire

McKinsey & Company recently published an article: What CEOs are Reading (McKinsey). It could have been more appropriately titled – What Willy Nilly Male CEOs are Reading – the only common denominator was that every CEO interviewed about their reading tastes was male. My knee-jerk response was to suggest the author needed to take Feminism 101, or Get with the Program – it’s 2016! Instead I asked McKinsey & Company for an explanation and also, inquired about what percentage of their upper management is female. Days later (and probably lots of complaints later) two women miraculously appeared in the article.

It’s always fascinating to know what other people are reading and that was the appeal of the McKinsey post. At NYU SPS we also have a summer reading list. Thanks to Cheryl Feliciano, Director of Public Relations and Social Media, here are some recommendations from NYU faculty, staff, and students, in fiction, non-fiction, poetry, and even picture books to read with kids. For Full List click Summer Reading.

Keep on Reading this Fall at CALA

Laurie Anderson reading Moby-Dick, Photo: Clifford Ross

The Novel Today

Moby-Dick: An Appreciation

Plays with a Social Conscience

Global Crime: Novels, Documentaries & True Stories

Images of Women

Anthony Trollope: Exploring the Palliser Novels

Go to Literature Courses for the full list of Fall 2016 Courses

Entrepreneur Article: How Humanities Degrees Cultivate Marketable Skills

July 22, 2016 by Cayla Delardi

In a recent article on Entrepreneur.com, writer Bennant Berger sets out to dispel the myth that a liberal arts degree is detrimental to a graduate’s job prospects. He demonstrates in just a few paragraphs how valuable the core skills of humanities—including writing, critical thinking, and creativity—are when applied in the business world.

Here are a few of our favorite quotes from the article:

“English majors and others in the liberal arts arena read, write, communicate, and critique — and then read and write some more. Their relationship with the written and spoken language is nuanced and informed. […] Whether writing decks, copy, white papers, business proposals or simple emails, professionals with the skills to communicate their ideas effectively go a long way in any workplace.”

“Humanity degrees, also called social sciences, are called that for a reason — they are the studies of human nature, thought, and creation. Knowing how people think, what the smartest minds have written and how groups behave provides valuable insight into teamwork and client interactions. What some call soft skills are actually key to professional success.”

Read the full article here: https://www.entrepreneur.com/article/277828

We offer a variety of humanities courses to help you improve your professional skills. Registration for the fall semester is open, so don’t delay!

A College Refresher: A Sampling of the Humanities at CALA
Communicating Leadership and Power in Public Speaking
Improving Writing Skills
Extreme Professional Makeover: Communications Bootcamp
Writing on the Job
Feature Writing for Print and Digital Media
Brilliant Minds
Sharpening your Presentation and Speech Skills
Interviews and Profiles

Contest for Radio Plays in Translation- deadline July 31st

June 10, 2016 by dak7

From Words Without Borders:

“Calling all literary translators, radio dramatists, and international radio drama enthusiasts! Play for Voices seeks radio play scripts in English translation. Play for Voices is a new podcast of international radio drama slated to launch in the early fall of 2016. Our monthly hour-long show will present new productions of contemporary and classic radio plays from around the world, exploring their aesthetic, social, and political contexts through inventive, multilingual sound design and interviews with authors, translators, and other interesting people. We’ll feature English-language plays and plays in English translation.”

Submission deadline is July 31, 2016

Full post and contest guidelines available here

Summer registration is still open for the following Writing , Humanities, and Translation courses at CALA:

Advanced Screenwriting

Writing a Musical: The Basics and Beyond

Writing the One Person Show

Summer Intensive in Television and Comedy Writing

Acting Techniques: Finding the One That’s Best For You

Translation:

A “Languages for Jobs” Initiative

June 7, 2016 by dak7

Teacher Kennis Wong (L) points to Chinese characters on the board at Broadway Elementary School in Venice, Los Angeles, California, April 11, 2011. The school launched one of only two English-Mandarin Chinese dual-language immersion programs in the Los Angeles Unified School District in September 2010. REUTERS/Lucy Nicholson (UNITED STATES - Tags: EDUCATION SOCIETY) — Teacher Kennis Wong (L) points to Chinese characters on the board at Broadway Elementary School in Venice, Los Angeles, California, REUTERS/Lucy Nicholson

Foreign language skills are a vital part of today’s globalized market. This article on the Council of Foreign Relations’ website provides an insightful look into the status of foreign language instruction and its impact on both domestic and international professions.

“In a competitive global export market, there will be a premium on foreign language skills and international competency… Business services such as banking, insurance, and architecture are the fastest-growing U.S. export sectors, and selling these services requires employees able to work effectively in non-English-speaking countries. ” Read the full article here.

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There is still time to expand your language skills by enrolling in one of CALA’s numerous Foreign Language courses this summer!

Culture and Language Bootcamp for Work and Study Abroad: French

Call for Papers: Symposium on Professionalization in Translation and Interpreting

May 5, 2016 by dak7

News from the New York Circle of Translators:

June 6, 2016: PROFESSIONALIZATION IN TRANSLATION AND INTERPRETING

A symposium on raising the bar in professionalization, quality of service, remuneration, and working conditions

Offered by the New York Circle of Translators, the International Medical Interpreters Association, the Association of Language Interpreters of Greater New York, and the John Jay College of Criminal Justice of the City University of New York.

The Symposium Committee is still accepting papers, specifically on the topics of working conditions, remuneration, training, and certification for the purpose of raising professional standards and demanding recognition of our current professionalism. This call is extended to all language professionals, researchers, agency staff, policymakers, and administrators in the translation and interpreting industry.

Deadline to apply: Monday May 9, 2016, 11:59 EDT. More information about the symposium here

Details about the Symposium:

Wednesday, June 8, 2016
John Jay College of Criminal Justice | City University of New York
524 West 59th Street (between Tenth and Eleventh Avenues)
New York, NY 10019
9:00 AM – 4:00 PM

The event is free, but you MUST RSVP to: nycirclemanager14@gmail.com

Why Are You Doing This To Me? Philip Monaghan’s and David Trinidad’s Diva Drama at Fales Library

April 29, 2016 by Anne Maguire

A poet, a painter, and Hollywood at NYU’s Fales Library until May 8

From Filthy Dreams review by Osman Yerebakan

“Spanning the walls of the Tracey/Barry Gallery at NYU’s Fales Library & Special Collections in the exhibition Why Are You Doing This To Me?, such heroic intensity of feelings–from the most buoyant to the darkest–are rekindled in seventy-four ravishing oil on linen paintings created by Philip Monaghan. Each refers to a different line from David Trinidad’s seminal poem The Late Show. The paintings, which focus on close-ups of various iconic Hollywood actresses in their most fragile and emotionally exposed states, pay an irresistible homage to Trinidad’s poem that has been heavily influential and poignant for the queer culture.”

Location: The Tracey-Barry Gallery is located at 70 Washington Square South, Third Floor, and is open to the public from 10:00 to 4:30, Monday to Friday.
Show runs from February 9 to May 8, 2016

INSPIRED CALA SUMMER COURSES YOU CAN SIGN UP FOR:
Start/Restart Writing Poetry
Sleep and Poetry: A Writing Workshop
Painting
Landscape Painting in Central Park
Introduction to Drawing
Let’s Go To The Movies
The Modern Horror Film
Martin Scorsese’s New York

Asymptote: Interview with Translator Ann Goldstein

April 28, 2016 by dak7

Henry Ace Knight interviews Anne Goldstein for Asymptote, an international journal dedicated to literary translation and contemporary literature:

“Head of The New Yorker’s copy department by day, translator from the Italian by night, Ann Goldstein considers herself, on both counts, an “enabler” of words. Her work is a dual enabling, of the author to articulate their meaning with a clarity or scope that would otherwise elude them, and of the reader, in turn, to receive it in more accessible form”

Read the full interview here

The Center for Applied Liberal Arts is offering a number of translation classes (see Summer 2016 course listings here)

As well as the MS in Translation and several Diploma programs

External News

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This fall, CALA will be offering Superheroes: A Mythic Battle of History, Media, and Culture, where students can watch and discuss some of Hollywood’s best superhero films from Tim Burton’s Batman (1989) to The Avengers (2012). Superhero fans, unite and sign up today!

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Read the full article here: https://www.entrepreneur.com/article/277828

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