Study Abroad: Arts2U France Tour

For my STEP Signature Project, I traveled to Paris, France with the OSU Department of Dance Company to perform two notable dance works, take classes at prestigious dance institutions, and visit numerous museums and tourist sights of the city. To connect with different dance institutions in Paris, we shared our dance reconstruction and dance notation research projects through numerous lecture demonstrations and performances of Martha Graham’s Steps in the Street and Anna Sokolow’s Rooms. In addition to these collaborations, we spent whatever free time we had exploring the city and immersing ourselves in the culture through art museums, a show at the Paris Opera Ballet, and trying new food.

This experience was extremely eye-opening and transforming, especially as I navigate career options after graduation. When we were in Paris, we visited the Centre National de la Danse, which is one of the top collaborative dance centers in France. CND hosts different dance projects for the community, guest artist classes, and is home of a large collection of dance archives. Visiting CND was very inspiring because the center is unlike any art and dance center I have seen in the United States. I was most inspired by the community and education outreach and research opportunities offered at CND. Since I have completed a couple large research projects pertaining to dance reconstruction and archives, I loved to learn about different career opportunities that work with dance archives and research. It was inspiring to see how much the center values the archiving of dance notation and other materials. I was able to connect with different professionals, researchers and notators to discuss their role within CND and it was eye-opening to learn about all the opportunities that exist within the professional dance world.

Another place we visited while in Paris was the Conservatoire National Supérieur de Musique et de Danse de Paris. The conservatoire offers some of the top dance training in France and almost all of the students hope to dance and choreograph professionally as a career. The environment of the conservatoire is very professional, but also prioritizes the artistic community of the school. During the trip, we were able to visit the conservatoire numerous times to take various classes with the students. The class that inspired me the most was a Martha Graham modern dance technique class with Iris Florentiny. Iris grew up in France and was drawn to the passion and rigor of the Martha Graham technique, so she auditioned for the Martha Graham Dance Company in New York City and performed professionally with them for years. Since the Martha Graham technique is one of my favorite techniques and repertory to perform, Iris’ story was relatable and inspiring to me. What stood out to me the most was how she taught the Martha Graham technique class. Unlike other teachers I have had, Iris prioritized the individuality and personality that comes out of authentic artistry, with technique and skill being a secondary goal. Iris was really interested in artistic exploration and teaching the students ways to explore their own artistry and passion within the technique. The class with Iris was really fun and inspiring, but also challenging in all the good ways. In class, I was able to work on the physical embodiment of the movement while also exploring my personal artistry within the choreography. The class also taught me a lot about what teaching principles I value and would apply to my own teaching agenda. I felt that Iris’ class was the perfect balance between professionally rigorous and artistically constructive. I hope to create a similar class environment when I teach dance in the future.

Visiting both the Centre National de la Danse and Conservatoire National Supérieur de Musique et de Danse de Paris helped me to realize what role I would like to fill within the dance world. Both centers inspired me to work in dance education community outreach, especially in the ways CND offers. I think it is important for dance companies and centers to be involved in the community and local schools. Since dance training and performance can be an opportunity that is hard to come by in some communities, I hope to work in expanding dance community outreach wherever I work. Something I thought would be beneficial to be offered at more dance centers in the United States is a space for artists of the community to collaborate and create together. The Centre National de la Danse offers studios and creative spaces for artists of the community to come together and create. Not only does this space encourage people of the community to create art, but centers like this also prove the continued importance and value of supporting the arts.

Taking class at the Conservatoire National Supérieur de Musique et de Danse de Paris inspired me to challenge myself as a dancer and artist but also to teach dance in ways that prioritize and encourage artistic exploration. Whether the student is training in dance recreationally or to be a professional, a learning environment that promotes creative engagement and artistic growth is one I hope to create. The classes I took at the conservatoire reached both ends spectrum between professionally rigorous and artistically constructive, so I hope to apply a balance to my teaching agenda. Overall, visiting a foreign country and experiencing the dance community in different ways inspired me significantly and transformed the way I considered dance education and community outreach. I plan to carry this experience with me forever and especially as I navigate a career in the dance world.

Abroad in Italy

  1. Please provide a brief description of your STEP Signature Project. Write two or three sentences describing the main activities your STEP Signature Project entailed.

My Step Signature Project was a study abroad experience through the Office of International Affairs to different cities in Italy. In addition to the study abroad trip, I also had to take a semester-long class with the rest of the students who also attended the trip. The class focused on leadership and the history of Italy.

  1. What about your understanding of yourself, your assumptions, or your view of the world changed/transformed while completing your STEP Signature Project? Write one or two paragraphs to describe the change or transformation that took place.

One of the biggest things we talked about during the classroom aspect of this trip was the concept of privilege. While abroad the language barrier was one of the issues, we were most nervous about. I constantly thought about how I could navigate through the Italian names streets or how I would order my pasta at the Italian restaurants I was so excited to go to. When we arrived though, we found that this issue was a lot easier to handle than we thought. Most of the signs whether at the airports or the famous Italian landmarks like the Pantheon and Colosseum had English writing on them so we could use them to guide ourselves. Also, most of the Italians knew enough English to understand us and hold a decent conversation. We started asking ourselves though, “What about everyone else?” What about the people who only speak Mandarin, Japanese, Russian, or Germain? It would be so hard for them to navigate and enjoy the information at the different historical sites because they have a complete language barrier. Although we as Americans normally only speak one language rather than other countries, we are very privileged to English is spoken everywhere.

Another change was my new interest in continuing with my traveling journey. Going abroad for the first time can be scary but this trip has made me realize how exciting and fulfilling it is to see experience another culture and engage with the people who are so proud of their culture.

  1. What events, interactions, relationships, or activities during your STEP Signature Project led to the change/transformation that you discussed in #2, and how did those affect you? Write three or four paragraphs describing the key aspects of your experiences completing your STEP Signature Project that led to this change/transformation.

The biggest relationship that made this realization was with my tour guide Elizabetta. Throughout her entire time guiding us through the different parts of Italy, I continually heard her pride in the place she was from. She had a deep love of Italy and its history and culture, and it made me realize that I don’t have that same appreciation or love for my own country. It made me feel in awe of her and makes me what to travel and engage people from different nationalities who show such great pride in their nations.

An event that showed the Italians pride in their history and nationality was the soccer game we attended. Never have I been to such an engaging and energetic game! The Italian chants the crowd sang together filled the air with an ambiance of pride and definitely helped lead the Roma soccer team to victory.

Another interaction that showed our privilege was the amounts of times our tour guides talked about pay. Apparently in Rome, pay is not great for any specialization. No matter if you’re a lawyer or doctor or teacher, the pay in Rome is very below what is needed. It is very common for transportation guides and drivers to go on daily strikes in the hope they will soon get better wages. Unfortunately, these rarely end with their goals being achieved. We also saw some places filled with poverty in Florence which sort of brings you back to reality. Even though we had the privilege to travel across the seas, go abroad, and see the amazing parts of Rome there are people there who couldn’t do the same who are actually very close if you just open your eyes and become aware.

  1. Why is this change/transformation significant or valuable for your life? Write one or two paragraphs discussing why this change or development matters and/or relates to your academic, personal, and/or professional goals and future plans.

If I hadn’t gone on this trip, I don’t know if I would have ever gone abroad by myself. Going with a group has given me confidence in exploring new places and has given me a new dream of traveling often in the future. It has given me a new sense of getting out of my comfort zone and going after things even if I think they will be scary or difficult to do. My professor told me “After you go abroad, you are never the same person.” I think this is definitely true and I think I will be more aware of my surrounding privilege in my daily life and also try to explore as much as I can in the future!

 

STEP Project Reflection: ArTs2U France Tour- Rosely Polanco

ArTs2U was a trip organized by Valarie Williams in 2019 that was brought to France in the Spring of 2022. This trip was a way for dancers to use Labanotation, a form used by dancers to write dance and to revisit work done by well-renowned choreographers of the 20th Century. We brought with us a piece called “Rooms” by Anna Sokolow and “Steps in the Street” by Martha Graham.

I would personally say some things that I would say changed about me would be my way of living. Taking classes in the National Conservatory of Paris, which was one of the best places to get dance training in France, was phenomenal. The dedication that their students hold, inspired me to stay motivated in my classes because I want to pursue a professional dance career and that means that I need to give it my all 100% of the time. I have had the best dance class experiences back at OSU since returning from the trip because I saw how another school uses their time training their students. I look forward to seeing what the future holds because I have grown to feel more comfortable with my movement.

Experiences that contributed to this change would have to be taking classes in the National Conservatory, conversations with other dancers, and the Lecture demonstrations that we lead. When we took the class the entire week there, we had the opportunity to meet a teacher that one of my teachers back at OSU danced with. Seeing her teaching compared to his and seeing that they each did what I want to do gives me hope. I do not want to end up teaching but, having these inner connections from across the world with other amazing dancers that were part of similar programs is amazing.

After, taking these classes I would have deep conversations with the other dancers that were also on the trip. We spoke about our own futures and how we felt connected and strong as dancers because we got to see other dancers our age doing these amazing projects in another country. I spoke about wanting to come back at some point in time and doing things with my passion for fashion and not only dance because Paris is the home to the fashion industry.

Lastly, the lecture-demonstration was led by us the students/dancers. We shared our experiences for some it has been 3 years in the making and having this time to showcase what we have learned and grown to understand over time was eye-opening. To see everything, we had learned about in a PowerPoint presentation and is shown in front of people who appreciate the arts was a fulfilling experience because it made me feel accomplished as a dancer. I did not think that these lectures would influence me in any way but, having people who asked deeper questions and cared about what we spoke about was astonishing and wholesome.

This change is valuable in my life because I need to get ready for the real world outside of the school system. My entire life has been organized for me and this is the one time that I get to fully decide which path I want to take out of the millions of options I have with my future. I was always so scared to audition for things I want because I get scared of rejections. Yes, there will be some downfalls but that will not affect me because that is just want happens with the career I choose. I will find a place that I want to be in, and they will also want me in their company or organization.

STEP Project Reflection

My STEP signature project, Ohio State ArTs 2U: Look, Move, Stand Still: Major Arts Centers in France Education Abroad 2021 was a fourteen week experience that began with eight weeks of preparation for the performance tour of two works Anna Sokolow’s Rooms and Martha Graham’s Steps in the Street. I spent eight weeks learning and exploring the legacies of master artists, understanding how the social and political climates of the nations influenced musical developments in both countries, and rehearsing for the multiple concert performances and exhibitions on campus and abroad. I spent one week in Paris, France, taking dance classes, exchanging knowledge about the importance of historical dance works, and immersing myself in the French culture. Finally, I returned back to US and reflected upon and shared my discoveries and knowledge that I gained from the experience with my peers in the department of dance.

This fully immersive experience provided me with a new outlook on the world and the arts. It was truly incredible to see how valued the field of dance and other art forms are in France. Often times in America the arts are neglected and artists are looked down upon for their craft. Music, theatre, and dance programs are the first to be taken away when a schools budget gets cut. When individuals ask me what I am studying while at college it is almost always followed with the phrase “well what are you going to do with that” or “how are you gonna make money dancing?” However, in France we were praised for being artists and learned that the government funds multiple projects and sets aside numerous grants to train artists to be professionals in the field. It was eye opening and rewarding to see the many possibilities that my art form has when it is appreciated.

The first experience of my STEP Signature Project that led to the change that I discussed in the previous paragraph was being able to take class at the Conservatoire National Supérieur de Musique et de Danse. I was able to take a Graham style class, a Cunningham class, and a ballet class with the french students that attend the school on a regular basis. Although they are techniques I have deep experience in, I still gained more knowledge that will help me in my future training. By throwing myself into a new environment with peers my age that don’t speak my language I was able to witness the powerful unspoken communication that dance allows between bodies and uncover a deeper understanding and passion for my art form.

Another pivotal activity that I completed during STEP Signature Project that led to my transformation was the lecture demonstration at the Institut National d’Historie de l’art that I personally led. Three of my fellow company members created a two hour powerpoint slide show and organized an open presentation and conversation about the importance of the embodied archiving of dance. We discussed the history of the two pieces we performed on the tour and explained how this experience affected our lives for the better. The most incredible part of the experience was the fact that the audience was made up entirely of art history students and educators who did not have any dance experience. The exchange I was able to have with the group provided me with a new prospective on the arts and showed me the beautiful intersection that different art forms can have and the value they can add to one another.

One of the most significant experiences of my STEP Signature Project that led to the transformation I found was my sold out performance at the Conservatoire du 13e Maurice Ravel. The historical works I had been rehearsing for months were able to be shown in costume without a mask, something I have not done since before the COVID-19 pandemic. The sad reality is my company members and I were joking about how we did not think anyone would show up to watch a bunch of Americans do dance pieces from the 1950s. However, after reflecting back I realized this joke is sad reality of the  lack of appreciation for the arts in dance. As one of the top dance programs in America we don’t expect to have sold out shows which is a harsh element of our current world to face. However, in France individuals who do not know our school and do not speak our language filled the entire theatre to watch out show. It was an incredibly rewarding experience and allowed me to see how the arts can be valued in other parts of the world, which validated my passion for my art.

This experience pushed me to think about my career in an entirely different manner. Before starting this project I only thought that my future as a dancer would be as a performer in America. However, after studying two historical works from notation, taking class at the national dance conservatorie of France, and watching different European companies perform,I have found that there are a multitude of different paths in the field that I could take. I have discovered a passion for re-staging works, a job that would allow me to travel all over the world and understand the history, importance, and role that dance has around the globe. This trip has helped me to re-focus and make new choices concerning my post graduation plans by unleashing my desire to dance abroad. I have found several different companies in Europe that I plan to audition for, a new plan that would not be possible without my STEP experience in France.

ArTs2U France: Study Abroad – Sydney Lettau

For my STEP project, I traveled to Paris, France with a group from the Department of Dance. While abroad we performed two major dance works, one was entitled Rooms by Anna Sokolow and the other was Steps In The Street by Martha Graham. Along with performance opportunities, we took classes at the Conservatoire National Supérieur de Musique et de Danse, went to famous art museums and landmarks, and watched a dance performance at the Opera national de Paris.

While in Paris, I realized just how much other countries value the arts. Going to a university like Ohio State, I have always felt supported in my dance studies and have felt as though Ohio State values what we do in the Department, but I see now what is possible. After experiencing Paris and learning about all the resources they have for dance artists in their country, I am aware of the potential the U.S. has in valuing the arts the same way. As I continue in my last year as an Ohio State dance student, I will not be taking any opportunity for granted because I know it is a special thing when the arts are taken seriously, especially at such a big university.

I came to this realization after we visited The Centre national de la danse. I was amazed at all the resources they have to offer dancers and choreographers who live in France. In the United States, we have dance studios and the opportunity to go to college for dance, but we do not have a building that operates with the goal of supporting all dance artists in the area. They offer free studio space, preserve and provide access to thousands of dance archival materials, as well as open the building up to the community to take class and learn more about dance. I hope that one day, the United States can make a commitment to funding arts in a similar way. I think more aspiring artists would feel more comfortable pursuing their craft professionally if they knew they were supported and encouraged.

I was also surprised when I heard that our first performance at the Conservatoire du 13e Maurice Ravel was completely sold out. While we knew a few dancers from class were coming, and had been working closely with a couple educators at the Centre national de la danse, these people alone would not have filled the entire house. There were old people, young people and children in the audience. All coming to see a group of American college students perform. In the United States, When we put on a show for the university or for our home dance studios, the people in the audience are friends and family of the dancers. It is very rare to get people in the audience who have no tie to the performers or the institution. While it definitely made me nervous knowing there would be such a big audience, I was grateful that so many people were interested in what we were presenting.

While in France, we also learned that the dancers at the Conservatoire National Supérieur de Musique et de Danse can start training there as young as 15 years old. They find ways to make sure dedicated dancers can get through school while also receiving the best dance training. Then, once you become a Bachelor’s student, like what we are at Ohio State, you are training with professionals from the Graham and Cunningham company and dance is what you focus on. There are no other requirements like we have at Ohio State. I am definitely grateful for the other academic courses I have taken in the past four years and how it has allowed me to explore other passions I have besides dance. But, I also think this just shows how serious France is about creating professional dancers. When the students leave that school they can be confident they will get a job and will not feel as though dance is not enough. There is a lot of talk in the United States that being in the arts is not a real profession and that you will never be able to support yourself, but I think that is because our country does not do enough to encourage and fund artists.

My new understanding of our world and how we view the arts has been a good realization. I think moving forward as I navigate the dance industry and travel the world, I will not be oblivious to how different countries discuss and value the arts. I will continue to be grateful for all the opportunities that arise for me, but I also hope to create opportunities for others. Since high school, I have always encouraged my peers to go for what they are passionate about. I took a leap getting my degree and dance and I will be taking an even bigger leap moving to New York City in the Fall, but I strongly believe that if you are passionate about something and you work really hard for it, you will be successful. I think France understands that, and I hope that more people in the United States start to realize that too!

ArTs2U France: Study Abroad

ArTs2U France was a study abroad within the dance department at Ohio State. During this trip we performed two historical dance works for different conservatories and art organizations around Paris. We were also able to immerse ourselves within the culture of France by site seeing all the major landmarks and museums.

This was the first time I have ever been outside of the United States. I believe my view on the world and my own understanding did alter during the span of the trip. I have never had so many different interactions in which I was the odd person out. Especially not knowing the language or the city I felt very small and hyperaware of what was happening around me. It made me realize that the world is such a big place. Even though we are on opposite sides of the world, I also was able to see similarities in every day life and actions of the people around me.

One of my favorite experiences was being able to meet other dancers. I have never connected with dancers from other parts of world before. It was interesting to see the training that they go through and what they want to do in the professional dance world. Ohio State gives a variety of training when it comes to the dance field. At the conservatory in Paris, the training is more performance and technical based. They all want to dance and perform rather than teach and do research. I could see the difference in their curriculum compared to ours and it really made me think about the differences of our training from different parts of the world.

France also has more appreciation for the arts than the United States. We learned that France’s government has a lot more funding and support for the arts. While the United States does not have any. We were really surprised when a lot of people showed up to our first performance. We did not expect many to come because it is unlikely to see that support in the United States. However, we were told that the French love to go out and see new performances of art. It does not matter what it is they just like going out and seeing new things. I thought was very interesting. It made me want to go out more and see new performances that I would not consider to go to before. Even be able to go to the Louvre, I was in awe with the art. I have never had such an emotional experience than that one.

Probably the most rememberable experience in France was my phone getting stolen straight out of my hand on the metro. We were told about pick pockets leading up to France. We even saw it happening around us when we were on top of the Eiffel Tower. However, you never expect it to actually happen to you. Even though this was not a pick pocket, the man fully grabbed it out of my hand in front of people, it was a transformational experience. I was very shocked and scared however, it really proved my resilience to myself and that it is a just an item. I was able to file a claim and now have a new phone, this experience was truly unforgettable.

These experiences was one to remember. I am very grateful that I had the opportunity to travel to a foreign country. These experiences made me realize I do want to travel the world and see all these wonderful wonders of the world and experience a variety of cultures. However, the trip also made me realize I do not want to work or live in a different country. I would like to visit and travel but not live there. I also strive to make better art because I see such an appreciation for it in France. I want to continue training hard and trying my best to promote dance and myself to the world. Overall I am very fortunate to go on this study abroad and to have STEP support me through out the pandemic.

Human-Animal Interactions in Hawaii

I’m Xamarie Ruiz, a 4th-year Animal Sciences major, and my STEP Project was participating in the Human-Animal Interactions study away course in Oahu, Hawaii, during the Winter Break of the 2021-2022 academic year. This study away course allowed me to extensively learn the ways animals impact Hawaiian society and experience first-hand these interactions that happen in day-to-day Oahu.

Before going on this trip, I had the assumption that a lot of human-animal pathways would happen in their own category of sorts: conservation and wildlife interactions would be one path, domestic animal interactions another. However, several activities as part of this project proved that that is completely not the case not only in Hawaii, but throughout the world, and transformed how I consider human-animal interactions to exist in our world as all of these interactions are so interconnected. Many of the various human-animal interactions I mentioned can have large impacts on the other interactions, whether it be native wildlife impacting how livestock producers operate their farms, or how diseases pets can be can devastate local animal species.

One of our events that aided in this transformation was spending some time at the Hawaiian Department of Agriculture Quarantine center early on in our trip. Here we learned about various protocols for bringing in animals onto the islands, with an in-depth look into the quarantine process of these animals and of the housing facilities. We were guided by Dr. Wong, a veterinarian with the Department of Agriculture, who answered all our questions so well, and with her insight, I had a greater understanding of how crucial biosecurity, animal health, and disease control are to the safety and well-being of Hawaiians and native Hawaiian wildlife. Particularly with the disease of rabies, this activity on the trip highlighted how interconnected day-to-day human and pet interactions can impact the public health of humans and the health of wildlife.

Another large part of this project that led to this transformation was the interactions we had with a variety of producers and animal facilities on the island, ranging from cocoa and coffee producers to a therapeutic horse facility. However, one of my favorite interactions with a producer that demonstrated this view of human-animal interactions was with one of the owners and producers at Kualoa Ranch. Kualoa Ranch is home to a variety of productions including aquaculture and beef cattle raising and is more famous for being the filming location for many movies and shows. What I enjoyed about getting to hear from the producer and from having a tour of the property was seeing how human-animal interactions can overlap, like seeing how native flora restoration can happen while a beef cattle operation can occur on the same property.

This transformational outlook about these aspects of human-animal interactions I have through this STEP project in Hawaii not only affects me right now as an animal sciences student but also in my professional goals. As I will attend vet school in the fall, human-animal interactions are a core part of my future. Understanding how interconnected different human-animal interactions can be and the impact attitudes towards animals have on these interactions will allow me to be a more professional and compassionate veterinarian. This, in turn, will allow me to better serve my future animal patient, their owners, and their caretakers.

Beef Cattle at Kualoa Ranch

Beef Cattle at Kualoa Ranch

A Nene at the Honolulu Zoo

A Nene at the Honolulu Zoo

Studying Abroad in London: STEP Reflection

  1. Please provide a brief description of your STEP Signature Project. Write two or three sentences describing the main activities your STEP Signature Project entailed.

My STEP project was a semester-long study abroad program in London, England through the American Institute for Foreign Study (AIFS). During this program, I took 12 credit hours of courses and participated in multiple cultural activities and travel experiences.

  1. What about your understanding of yourself, your assumptions, or your view of the world changed/transformed while completing your STEP Signature Project? Write one or two paragraphs to describe the change or transformation that took place.

I experienced significant personal growth while on my three-month-long study abroad program. Prior to the program, I had never traveled out of the country or by myself, nor been so far away from my family for such a long time, and I was very anxious about doing so. Living across an ocean from everything I was familiar with, I had to learn to rely on myself in a way I never had before—to push myself well out of my comfort zone and navigate a new situation. Throughout my time in London, I learned how to navigate the public transportation system, interacted with people from across the globe, and even planned trips to Paris and Dublin—one with a friend, one completely on my own. I gained confidence in myself and my ability to navigate life, wherever I may be.

  1. What events, interactions, relationships, or activities during your STEP Signature Project led to the change/transformation that you discussed in #2, and how did those affect you? Write three or four paragraphs describing the key aspects of your experiences completing your STEP Signature Project that led to this change/transformation.

I took four courses while in London, all focused on particular aspects of London and Britain. These four courses were all based largely on experiential learning—most days, we were outside the classroom, visiting sites in London and learning about them hands-on. These visits—including a tour of Parliament, walks through various London neighborhoods, and several trips to museums—allowed me to learn about a culture different than my own, which widened my perspective. Now that I am back in the States, I feel much more confident knowing that I had such a significant cultural experience outside of my own country. My London courses also required me to travel around the city—our professor usually gave us a location and told us to meet them there—which helped me to gain confidence in my ability to do something on my own.

I also was able to interact with several people from around the world. On a daily basis, I interacted with the nine other people on my program, who were all from different parts of the US, as well as my British professors. I attended a church as well, where I met people from France, Columbia, and Sweden, as well as the UK, just to name a few. Again, these interactions broadened my perspective. I have always been someone who gets quite nervous in social situations, but I was still able to have so many memorable interactions with people throughout my time in London.

My travels outside of London also contributed to my growth and transformation. In particular, I traveled to Paris for a week on my own. During this time, I really had to rely on myself. I booked my trains, I planned my activities, I found my hostel. This experience really helped me gain confidence in myself.

  1. Why is this change/transformation significant or valuable for your life? Write one or two paragraphs discussing why this change or development matters and/or relates to your academic, personal, and/or professional goals and future plans.

Throughout most of 2021, I struggled with my mental health. I experienced a lot of self-doubt and general anxieties that made it difficult to feel consistent joy or peace with myself. During my study abroad program, I spent a lot of time by myself—thinking, reflecting, and journaling—and these times of reflection have had such a positive impact on my mental health. The things I was able to do by myself and the challenges I overcame also increased my self-confidence and self-esteem, and I can always carry those experiences with me.

Additionally, I have always wanted to become a writer, and I believe that my experiences abroad have given me inspiration and further confidence to write the novels I have always wanted to write. The places I went to, the people I met, and the emotions I experienced will always inspire me to write and to live with a sense of wonder, curiosity, and gratitude.

Buckingham Palace–Sept 2021

Sky Garden–Dec 2021

Media Law Certificate Course – STEP Reflection

My STEP Signature Project was a Media Law Certificate Course from New York University’s Tandon School of Engineering. The course consisted of lessons on the following topics: copyrights, DMCA, First Amendment law, patents, privacy law, trademarks, and contracts. The certificate course involved weekly learning modules, accompanied by quizzes and “grey work” projects. 

There were two main revelations that I encountered through my media law certificate course. The first, a personal transformation, is that I can successfully interpret complex legal cases with patience and diligence. In the first few weeks of the certificate course, I genuinely struggled to balance Ohio State courses with the media law certificate course, as deciphering legal jargon presented a time-consuming task. Nonetheless, I persevered throughout the semester and achieved an A in the course. The second revelation involved the course content. Prior to the course, I thought media law was a fairly straightforward area of law that only encompassed intellectual property. I overlooked the complexity and creative aspects of media law, especially those found in copyrights, privacy law and trademarks. For these reasons, this course allowed me to better understand the true aspects of media law and develop a better appreciation for this area of law. 

As already mentioned, I felt some whiplash from the difficulty of the first few weeks of the media law course. At Ohio State University, I was already taking 16 credit hours and working about 20 hours per week. Thus, the added 10+ hours of work required for the course was challenging. Further, the course content was new and unlike many other classes that I’ve taken at Ohio State. The course necessitated strong research skills, concise writing and creativity. As a social science major, I am accustomed to reading a lot, however, legal readings are much different. The reading of case law is a time-consuming process that involves re-reading text 3, 4, sometimes even 5 times to grasp the meaning. Case law often references other cases and uses Latin words that are unknown to the general public. Throughout the course, I read, summarized and wrote an analysis for six different legal cases. These assignments forced me to learn how to interpret cases and synthesize complex information. 

One of the primary components of the course involved three “grey work” projects. A legal grey area is one where a court could likely rule on either side and support that reasoning with legal justification. In other words, there is a legal discrepancy between two court rulings or there is no precedent for a certain phenomenon. In the course, students were asked to exploit a legal grey area by developing their own product or digital media piece. In doing so, the new work should test the limits of legality based on previous case law. Each of the three projects involved a 500 word written portion, a prototype of the product/media, and a presentation of the project. My appreciation for media law started with these grey work projects, as it encouraged me to explore legal areas of my own interest and creatively design a project that would exploit those legal protections. 

To illustrate the complexity of media law, I will discuss one of my grey work projects. There currently exists a legal grey area surrounding the topic of extraterritoriality of patented inventions. My research found contradictory legal rulings for patent infringements with U.S. products that are negotiated domestically, but then sold abroad. My project used an existing patent, US10375306B2, which is a patent granted to Zillow Inc. that protects the capturing and analyzing of information from the interior of a house or building. My project incorporated an additional factor of patented products, sold abroad, and returned to the United States’ markets. Overall, projects such as this one, developed my appreciation for media law and its applicability to several fields and its overlap with other areas of law, such as international law.  

The revelations I encountered from the media law course are vital to my professional goal of pursuing law school and becoming an attorney. Media law is among the several legal concentrations that I am interested in, and this course gave me a preview at what media law entails. Further, the course taught me vital skills that I will use in law school such as the ability to read case law and conduct legal research. Because of this course, I do not feel like I am walking into law school empty handed. I have demonstrated that I have a passion for law and the ability to interpret it, thereby, making me a strong JD candidate.

image 1: Rendering of copyrighted software for my first legal grey area project

image 2: Rendering of trademark for my third legal grey area project

Links to Youtube videos explaining my three grey work projects:

https://youtu.be/HYBc__0yjW0 (Copyrights)

https://youtu.be/v1Vdj3PsO3w  (Patents)

https://youtu.be/KltIptD8Q2U (Trademarks)

Summer In Seoul: Resetting Perspectives (Reflection)

Hello everyone! My name is Sam Giusto and my STEP Signature Project, taking place over the summer of 2021, was participating in an education abroad program in Seoul, South Korea. I took two classes at Korea University during that time, focusing on Korean language and how media shapes our perception of society, with a specific focus on AAPI representation and issues. In addition to taking classes, I also explored Seoul, and South Korea as a whole, and got to immerse myself not only in a new language, but a new culture; something I have previously never done. Participating in this program gave me a lot of new insight into how to be a more globally-oriented citizen and how to view people and their cultures through lenses other than the ones I grew up with.

I have never traveled outside of the “West” before my participation in this program. I suppose it was daunting at first, to face how different this summer would be from any other I’ve experienced, but at the same time, once I was there, I grew a lot. It’s really enriching to learn about cultural differences, and to realize that despite them, we do have a lot in common. COVID-19 did unfortunately hinder my ability to fully immerse myself in Korean culture and society, as many social distancing regulations were still implemented in Seoul, but I still learned a great deal. In addition to getting to experience the differences in day-to-day culture, like shopping, speaking with deference to other people, and navigating the country, I also got to learn about how Korea’s attitude on public health differs to the US, which is something I don’t think I would have been able to do without COVID-19’s presence. I think it was important to be able to set aside my own perspective, as I was an outsider away from home, and to learn to roll with the punches and take away as much as possible from any given situation.

 

In addition to the everyday interactions I had that broadened my view of culture, my time in class also greatly aided in this transformation. The course I took entitled Media, Art, Culture, and Society went into great depth of theory as to why discrimination, othering, and cultural disconnects take place. So, as I learned in the classroom, I also got to apply that knowledge and effectively “check myself” so that I wasn’t participating in the harmful actions that pull people further apart, instead of bringing them together. Also, through a series of activities put together by the staff at ISA, I also got to learn a lot of historical context for the differences between the United States and Korea, which also put into perspective our cultural differences and allowed me to appreciate them as opposed to being alienated by them.

I do absolutely feel as though the changes that I experienced during my summer in Seoul were extremely valuable, and that I will carry what I learned with me throughout the rest of my life. Our world, with each passing day, becomes increasingly global; we interact with so many different people from so many different walks of life every day, be it online, in person, or through representation in media. Being able to set aside your own perspective, and to truly be in someone else’s shoes, is of paramount importance to becoming a kinder, more inclusive, and more worldly individual. I learned a great deal, not only about language, but about life while I was in Seoul, and I intend to carry with me the knowledge that the world doesn’t revolve around me and my perspective, but revolves because everyone’s perspective is different.