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Feingold Gallery: Student Soul

Feingold Gallery:
Student Soul

 

 

The design of this gallery is aimed at encouraging conversation involving both immediate and reflective thought, individual and collective. Rather than starting by reading comments of others, please first put your own immediate thoughts in the on-line forum below. This way, we'll all be able to see how much similarity and difference there is in our initial reactions and interpretations of the images. Then go back to see what others have said about this image and add whatever new thoughts you have as a result of that. More general thoughts about the collection of images and/or this exhibit as a whole are welcome in the on-line forum on the exhibit home page.

 


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Student soul comment

Submitted by Paul Grobstein on Thu, 10/16/2008 - 10:29am.
I wonder how many people, regardless of their differences, actually have something of these feelings about school?
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School seems to be a great

Submitted by LauraC on Thu, 10/16/2008 - 4:10pm.
School seems to be a great source of pain for the artist. The feelings of a "tortured student" don’t resonate with me because school has always been, and at some times, the only comfort in my life.
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held down, being watched

Submitted by merry2e on Thu, 10/16/2008 - 7:04pm.
held down, being watched (leather straps jumped out at me right away), scrutinized, not being able to get out...
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No choice and no end in

Submitted by Riki on Fri, 10/17/2008 - 8:57pm.
No choice and no end in sight.
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The yearning to embrace

Submitted by ysilverman on Sat, 10/18/2008 - 8:46am.
The yearning to escape societal constraints pressed upon us (even by people who are "successful" within the terminology of those constraints). There is always a focus on the people who "fail the system" or "for whom the system fails." But what about the people who succeed in the system? Who end up confined/stuck in it?
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The image of the electric

Submitted by Paige Safyer on Sun, 10/19/2008 - 5:48pm.
The image of the electric chair is extremely frightening, it is a reminder of the past and of physical pain.  It represents a finality that is disturbing.
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The feeling of being

Submitted by Sophie F on Sun, 10/19/2008 - 8:58pm.
The feeling of being scrutinized (there are two sets of eyes that I am able to see) and judged and punished without an escape. Perhaps, self-inflicted punshment, too?
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Trapped

Submitted by kmanning on Mon, 10/20/2008 - 7:37am.
Trapped within his own mind, able to see that more exists to be learned and experienced, but unable to access it.
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There is an apparatus for

Submitted by akerle on Mon, 10/20/2008 - 10:10am.
There is an apparatus for torture but no actual torment occuring.  Greatest irony, perhaps, of "angst"- we are more tortured by fear and possibility than a real physical destruction.
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The soul wants

Submitted by mstokes on Mon, 10/20/2008 - 10:13am.
death--an escape from inspection and introspection...
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I don't relate much to this

Submitted by ryan g on Mon, 10/20/2008 - 12:22pm.
I don't relate much to this image.  I'm not a miserable student...
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Seems like delayed

Submitted by Ljones on Mon, 10/20/2008 - 2:40pm.
Seems like delayed gratification to the extreme... school can't possibly be giving him as much back as it seems to be taking away.
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Looks like fear of failure

Submitted by MartinBayer on Mon, 10/20/2008 - 2:59pm.
Looks like fear of failure ending his imprisonment in school. 
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Response to Ryan's comment

Submitted by dfeingold (not verified) on Sun, 11/02/2008 - 10:59am.

Ryan, thank you for your reflection on "My Tortured Student Soul". Your reflection is very poignant from the standpoint of showing how individuals can have such diverse education experiences. I am very happy that you have been able to benefit from your past and present schooling in such a positive manner. You are very fortunate in not having had to suffer or go through your education as a miserable student. Realize however, that there are many students who have not been able to have the positive experiences that you have had in your studies. Even if you cannot relate to this image, you still have an opportunity to understand the challenges that perhaps even some people you know may have to endure: Disabilities are not the only thing hidden from others--so is the pain.
df

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You're absolutely right

Submitted by ryan g on Mon, 11/03/2008 - 10:11am.
You're absolutely right about the opportunity to understand the issues that others face.  I find that it has been one of my greatest challenges in this class to try and conceptualize how it must feel to personally deal with a mental illness or to have a family member who is dealing with one.  I find it especially difficult because on top of my lack of experience, it is usually something that you cannot even see, unlike a broken leg or a bruise.  As you noted, many people hide their struggle from others.  I apologize if my comment came off as blunt or thoughtless.  I was trying to record my gut reaction, first thoughts from viewing each of your images.  This particular image, at the time of viewing, didn't particularly connect with me - probably because I am at a stage of my life where I am pursuing my academics with a different type of purpose than I have in the past.  However, I have not always approached my studies with enthusiasm and in particularly trying times (last week) I can relate to this image more.  
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No problem

Submitted by dfeingold (not verified) on Mon, 11/03/2008 - 3:07pm.

Ryan,
No problem--I admire your candor, honesty and confidence in having expressed your point of view. In addition, it appears that you are doing some good, self-reflection, which is not always easy! Keep up the good work...
df

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