Nyx Goldstone

Yesterday the book requirements were posted for my school.  …Yay?

This semester is book-light for me, since I took a couple of easy art classes. I planned on re-taking Claudia Suzanne‘s Ghostwriter Certification Training class, but that schedule and my schedule didn’t mesh. So, I’m not gonna be as burned out this semester, which is still a yay! I managed to squeeze my way into both photography and the required ceramics class before I can take a wheel-throwing class. I love wheel-throwing.

So, what am I doing to get ready for the new semester?

Well, I started yesterday by working the internet hard and finding the best deals in textbooks. One of my housemates had previously sent me a link that worked wonders. Textbook Price Comparison isn’t the end all, be-all of textbook searching, but it gave me a good place to start. My range came out to between $130 and $213, depending on if I wanted to go to sites I didn’t know and trust such as Course Smart and Textbooks Now or if I had to buy all new from the school itself.

My next step is one where I sit and wait impatiently for all my end-of-year tax info stuff to come in. I hate waiting… I just want to fill out the stupid forms to tell the Government that I make no money so they can confirm to FAFSA that they need to give me money so I can go to school. You’d think this would be really easy. Actually, once you’re past 24, it is.

My dad refused to help me through school, so I figured I’d work full time to pay for that full time schooling. I bombed that. Still, at 23, the Government needed my parents’ tax information because I was still classified as a “dependent.” Yeah, kids, that’s right. They’ll not only need but base your award on your parents’ taxes until you’re the ripe old age of 25. I was rejected every year for FAFSA because my dad made too much, which was the salt in the wound since I had to fight every step for my dad’s tax info and I was paying for everything myself.

I think I digressed…

So, yeah, the big things are no where near done, but I’m busying myself with little things: school supplies, making sure I don’t forget my schedule, griping about how there’s only two weeks left before I have to start school again…the usual stuff!

I don’t think I can take TechCrunch seriously anymore. Then again, I don’t think I ever have.

This morning I was catching up on my LiveJournal friend’s page after avoiding it for November and December (NaNoWriMo eats my Friend List’s souuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuul!). I came across a post from Jakkal whom I love and adore for her art and quick wit. I especially love her “Don’t Do This” tag. It was that tag that lead me to the article that would cement my view on TechCrunch for now and probably forever.

Now, keep in mind that I went to the Los Angeles County High School for the Arts. For 75% of my high school career, I was surrounded by aspiring artists of every type from dance to music to visual art. 500 people ranging from 13 to 18 struggling for a career in their chosen art field, training for hours at a time. In the end, it’s all subjective. Did the teacher enjoy teaching you enough to enjoy your art to want to stick their neck out for you? Did the right person show up at the right performance at the right time? Did you choose the right piece to put in the gallery?

DeviantART reminds me a lot of when I was in high school. Most of it are kids who are terrified to know the truth about the creation they put a piece of their soul into, and yet are braving the harsh cruel world to find out. In fact, I seriously believe that the internet is an even harsher place then the competitive environment I got my critiques in. In cyberspace, there is no risk of having etching acid thrown at you for being a complete and total arse. Even so, in the end, it’s all about who views the piece and what they think of it.

Every form of art is subjective. What makes one trumpet player better than another? What makes my work nothing and Chris Sanders’ wonderful? It’s all personal preference. I love KhaosDog’s artwork, and the article writer used Khaos’ most recent piece as a prime example of mediocre artwork. I don’t think it’s mediocre. Actually, I think it’s kinda great. Unfortunately, I don’t have some high profile blog to put that in. What’s worse is this TechCrunch writer is supposed to be writing about technology. DeviantART is an art site. At least if he would have picked something steampunky or tech related, he’d have some leg to stand on.

As hypocritical as it sounds, I guess everyone with access to the internet and a blog feel they have the right to be a critic.