Don't take too long to think about it. Name fifteen fictional characters who've influenced you and who will always stick with you. (Emphasis:influenced.) List the first fifteen you can recall in no more than fifteen minutes.
1. Big Daddy of "Cat on a Hot Tin Roof" because of his compassion and "tolerance" for his closeted gay son.
2. Maggie the Cat of the same story due to her strength and commitment.
3. Achilles of "The Iliad" because he is BAD ASS and is a prime example of how grief and homo-eroticism can be masculine.
4. Alex P. Keaton ("Family Ties") is my favorite television character of all time; his intellect and pride balances perfectly with his strong devotion to his family.
5. Darlene Conner ("Roseanne") is another great TV character; she was the epitome of teen angst and feminist ideology.
6. Hedwig of "Hedwig and the Angry Inch" because she is tormented by her "being" and struggles to find herself.
7. The Pardoner (Chaucer) because I can identify with his struggle to be "let in" and the way he turns on a society who just won't open the door for him.
8. Willy and Linda Loman of "Death of a Salesman" because they remind me so much of my parents.
9. Greg Heffley of "Diary of a Wimpy Kid" because I was like him in that he isn't the geekiest kid at school, but he isn't in the cool group either, and nothing good ever seems to happen to him!
10. Bella of "Twilight" because I know what it is like to be drawn to someone, inexplicably, the way she is to Edward.
11. The older waiter in Hemingway's "A Clean, Well-Lighted Place" because he is reflective and understands the difference between living and existing and the importance of retaining dignity when we are no longer living and merely existing.
12. Brian Kinney of "Queer as Folk" because of his unapologetic, egotistical nature... and his desire to be "forever young".
13. Smurfette because I always got along better with boys anyway.
14. Socrates (in so much as Plato "invented" his character) because he was the eternal scholar-- who knew that the real answer was in another question.
15. Rimbaud. Yes, he was "real", but his character (persona) as the youthful genius, mad scholar, rebellious free spirit, is imbedded within the core of my being.
1. Big Daddy of "Cat on a Hot Tin Roof" because of his compassion and "tolerance" for his closeted gay son.
2. Maggie the Cat of the same story due to her strength and commitment.
3. Achilles of "The Iliad" because he is BAD ASS and is a prime example of how grief and homo-eroticism can be masculine.
4. Alex P. Keaton ("Family Ties") is my favorite television character of all time; his intellect and pride balances perfectly with his strong devotion to his family.
5. Darlene Conner ("Roseanne") is another great TV character; she was the epitome of teen angst and feminist ideology.
6. Hedwig of "Hedwig and the Angry Inch" because she is tormented by her "being" and struggles to find herself.
7. The Pardoner (Chaucer) because I can identify with his struggle to be "let in" and the way he turns on a society who just won't open the door for him.
8. Willy and Linda Loman of "Death of a Salesman" because they remind me so much of my parents.
9. Greg Heffley of "Diary of a Wimpy Kid" because I was like him in that he isn't the geekiest kid at school, but he isn't in the cool group either, and nothing good ever seems to happen to him!
10. Bella of "Twilight" because I know what it is like to be drawn to someone, inexplicably, the way she is to Edward.
11. The older waiter in Hemingway's "A Clean, Well-Lighted Place" because he is reflective and understands the difference between living and existing and the importance of retaining dignity when we are no longer living and merely existing.
12. Brian Kinney of "Queer as Folk" because of his unapologetic, egotistical nature... and his desire to be "forever young".
13. Smurfette because I always got along better with boys anyway.
14. Socrates (in so much as Plato "invented" his character) because he was the eternal scholar-- who knew that the real answer was in another question.
15. Rimbaud. Yes, he was "real", but his character (persona) as the youthful genius, mad scholar, rebellious free spirit, is imbedded within the core of my being.
My Teaching Philosophy:
It is fair to say that my teaching philosophy is a compilation of what my professors instilled in me as they "wrote on my soul".
I view college as a journey, one we are priveleged to embark upon. I view my role as an instructor as your guide through this particular part of your journey. Throughout the journey, I will be holding the apple, and along the journey, I will offer you bites. The best measure of success is how much of that apple has been eaten by the end of the journey.
Words carry power. 'Art', in its various forms, has the power to shape, to influence, to inspire. It is important to take what you learn and "do" something with it; inspiration breeds creation. I encourage my students to examine the "voices" that they are being introduced to, and in turn, find their own voices and to uncover their own truths. 'Art' and 'words' are best used to inspire and enlighten--to invite in, not to attack and alienate.
I use a multi-media approach to teaching and offer students the opportunity to examine issues through various formats (literature, film, essays, art, etc.), which act as prompts for academic writing. I also offer students the opportunity to create something new from what they learn-- to record their own experience with and interpretation of the various texts that we "visit". I ask students to think outside the proverbial box-- to step away from the black and the white and into the gray area. I invite students to make the most of their journey and strive to become scholars.
There is no "perfect" teacher. We are all human; we don't "know it ALL", but we do devote our lives to striving for enlightenment, in pursuit of scholarship. Each of us has a personal story for how we got here, and mine starts with Dr. Bryant W. Bachman. He was a great man who helped me to uncover my meaning in life: "To seek and share knowledge".
I hope that all of you will experience the kind of inspiration that I felt in my college experience. I also hope that if you stay in contact with the Professors that inspire you-- I do think they will appreciate it. Sadly, he passed away in 2008. It is my goal to impact lives the way Dr. Bachman did, and it is my sincere hope that all of my students experience that kind of inspiration at some point on their journey through college.
My Bio:
On 7.11.97, I married my best friend, Scott Domingue. He is the Director of Acute Care at Presbyterian Hospital of Plano. We have 3 beautiful children: Claire (6.26.00), Reece (9.19.01), and Lennon (2.14.14). Claire is a JV cheerleader at Denton HS; Reece is a ballerina and attends McMath MS; Lennon is our little Valentines Day baby, and yes, he is named after John Lennon-- a man who stood for art, imagination, and peace.
I was born and raised in rural south Louisiana in the heart of "Cajun Country". My parents came of age in the 1950's, my siblings in the 1960's/70's, and my Italian grandmother (who was born in 1910), lived just a sidewalk skip and hop away from me-- so I was exposed to a variety of culture and history while growing up. The 1980's/90's was a great time to grow up, and the pop culture of the time often creeps into the courses I teach; I learned from it, so I teach by it.
I started my studies at The University of Louisiana, Lafayette before I even graduated from HS. I earned my B.A. in English in 3 years. I also have an M.A. in English and did Ph.D. work at ULL under the instruction of some fantastic professors who "wrote on my soul." My husband earned his B.A. in Nursing and M.B.A. from ULL as well. We moved to Denton, Texas in 2003 for a job opportunity and have been here since. I've been teaching at NCTC for 11 years and am very passionate about the work I do.
A few of my favorite quotes:
"The best art comes from indiscretion." -Tennessee Williams
"Be curious, not judgmental." -Walt Whitman
And...
“The first study for the man who wants to be a poet is knowledge of himself, complete: he searches for his soul, he inspects it, he puts it to the test, he learns it. As soon as he has learned it, he must cultivate it! I say that one must be a seer, make oneself a seer. The poet becomes a seer through a long, immense, and reasoned derangement of all the senses. All shapes of love suffering, madness. He searches himself, he exhausts all poisons in himself, to keep only the quintessences. Ineffable torture where he needs all his faith, all his superhuman strength, where he becomes among all men the great patient, the great criminal, the great accursed one--and the supreme Scholar! For he reaches the unknown! ....So the poet is actually a thief of Fire!” -Arthur Rimbaud
A few of my favorite things:
Movies: The Breakfast Club, A Nightmare on Elm Street, The Doom Generation, The Matrix, Sixteen Candles & many, many more!
TV Shows: Million Dollar Listing, Shark Tank, ER, Family Ties, Queer as Folk
Music: Marilyn Manson, Nirvana, The Beatles, Radiohead, Ryan Adams
It is fair to say that my teaching philosophy is a compilation of what my professors instilled in me as they "wrote on my soul".
I view college as a journey, one we are priveleged to embark upon. I view my role as an instructor as your guide through this particular part of your journey. Throughout the journey, I will be holding the apple, and along the journey, I will offer you bites. The best measure of success is how much of that apple has been eaten by the end of the journey.
Words carry power. 'Art', in its various forms, has the power to shape, to influence, to inspire. It is important to take what you learn and "do" something with it; inspiration breeds creation. I encourage my students to examine the "voices" that they are being introduced to, and in turn, find their own voices and to uncover their own truths. 'Art' and 'words' are best used to inspire and enlighten--to invite in, not to attack and alienate.
I use a multi-media approach to teaching and offer students the opportunity to examine issues through various formats (literature, film, essays, art, etc.), which act as prompts for academic writing. I also offer students the opportunity to create something new from what they learn-- to record their own experience with and interpretation of the various texts that we "visit". I ask students to think outside the proverbial box-- to step away from the black and the white and into the gray area. I invite students to make the most of their journey and strive to become scholars.
There is no "perfect" teacher. We are all human; we don't "know it ALL", but we do devote our lives to striving for enlightenment, in pursuit of scholarship. Each of us has a personal story for how we got here, and mine starts with Dr. Bryant W. Bachman. He was a great man who helped me to uncover my meaning in life: "To seek and share knowledge".
I hope that all of you will experience the kind of inspiration that I felt in my college experience. I also hope that if you stay in contact with the Professors that inspire you-- I do think they will appreciate it. Sadly, he passed away in 2008. It is my goal to impact lives the way Dr. Bachman did, and it is my sincere hope that all of my students experience that kind of inspiration at some point on their journey through college.
My Bio:
On 7.11.97, I married my best friend, Scott Domingue. He is the Director of Acute Care at Presbyterian Hospital of Plano. We have 3 beautiful children: Claire (6.26.00), Reece (9.19.01), and Lennon (2.14.14). Claire is a JV cheerleader at Denton HS; Reece is a ballerina and attends McMath MS; Lennon is our little Valentines Day baby, and yes, he is named after John Lennon-- a man who stood for art, imagination, and peace.
I was born and raised in rural south Louisiana in the heart of "Cajun Country". My parents came of age in the 1950's, my siblings in the 1960's/70's, and my Italian grandmother (who was born in 1910), lived just a sidewalk skip and hop away from me-- so I was exposed to a variety of culture and history while growing up. The 1980's/90's was a great time to grow up, and the pop culture of the time often creeps into the courses I teach; I learned from it, so I teach by it.
I started my studies at The University of Louisiana, Lafayette before I even graduated from HS. I earned my B.A. in English in 3 years. I also have an M.A. in English and did Ph.D. work at ULL under the instruction of some fantastic professors who "wrote on my soul." My husband earned his B.A. in Nursing and M.B.A. from ULL as well. We moved to Denton, Texas in 2003 for a job opportunity and have been here since. I've been teaching at NCTC for 11 years and am very passionate about the work I do.
A few of my favorite quotes:
"The best art comes from indiscretion." -Tennessee Williams
"Be curious, not judgmental." -Walt Whitman
And...
“The first study for the man who wants to be a poet is knowledge of himself, complete: he searches for his soul, he inspects it, he puts it to the test, he learns it. As soon as he has learned it, he must cultivate it! I say that one must be a seer, make oneself a seer. The poet becomes a seer through a long, immense, and reasoned derangement of all the senses. All shapes of love suffering, madness. He searches himself, he exhausts all poisons in himself, to keep only the quintessences. Ineffable torture where he needs all his faith, all his superhuman strength, where he becomes among all men the great patient, the great criminal, the great accursed one--and the supreme Scholar! For he reaches the unknown! ....So the poet is actually a thief of Fire!” -Arthur Rimbaud
A few of my favorite things:
Movies: The Breakfast Club, A Nightmare on Elm Street, The Doom Generation, The Matrix, Sixteen Candles & many, many more!
TV Shows: Million Dollar Listing, Shark Tank, ER, Family Ties, Queer as Folk
Music: Marilyn Manson, Nirvana, The Beatles, Radiohead, Ryan Adams