Coming of Age as a Global Citizen: Final Project

This is the final project video Alyssa and I made to express what we learned about coming of age during our five weeks in London. The video is slightly longer than the assignment required, so if I had more time I would go back and make our script more concise. I wish that I had also taken more videos of the sites we visited in London, as well. Yet, I believe that the video we ended up creating accurately represents all that we learned during our time abroad.

In addition, here is the link to the video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PIznb39K-O4&feature=youtu.be

Buddha of Suburbia: Coming of Age as a Global Citizen

Karim as Biracial Londoner: Museum of London

August 4 - Day 1

This photo from the Museum of London reflects the growing multiculturalism in London after mass immigration to England after WWII in the 1940s. 

'Maybe it's because I'm a Londoner, that I love London so...' ran a popular song of 1947. Today, the face of Londoners has changed but the passion for London remains strong.

Karim as Performative Londoner: Victoria and Albert Museum

August 5 - Day 2

Tippoo's Tiger, a life size wooden mechanical organ made in the late 1700s, was not only an object of morbid amusement but it also was a metaphorical expression of the Sultan's political ambitions to overcome the British.

These costumes from the Lion King (and interpretations of Africa) reflect elegance and strength and strongly contrast the way Indians are almost mocked in Karim's performance of Mowgli in Jungle Book.  

Coming of Age as a Global Citizen: London Eye

August 6 - Day 3 

Although the come of age as a global citizen is one's ability to recognize a city for more than its surface level tourist attractions, it is here on the London Eye that some of the best photos of iconic landmarks are captured! 

Atonement: Coming of Age as a Writer

Briony as a Young Writer: British Library 

July 28- Day 1

The Magna Carta inspired many key documents throughout history, including: the U.S. Bill of Rights and Declaration of Independence. 

Coming of Age during War: Imperial War Museum

July 28- Day 2

This fishing boat, Tamzine, is the smallest surviving 'Little Ship' that helping rescue soldiers, like Robbie in Atonement, from Dunkirk in 1940. 

This Elsie Hewland painting depicts schoolchildren getting ready for nursery school; nursery schools were essential during the war for working mothers. Just as in the novel, wartime changed the lives of even the youngest Britons. 

Briony's Atonement: Florence Nightingale Museum

July 30- Day 3

Just as Briony in Atonement, as a child, Florence Nightingale was an avid young collector. Similar to Florence's collection depicted here, Briony kept her more obscure treasures in "An old tin petty cash box..." 

Florence Nightingale was famous for her work at Scutari, a Military Hospital in Turkey, during the Crimean War.  The 'Lady-in-Chief' improved medical and sanitary arrangements, set up food kitchens, washed linen and clothes, wrote home on behalf of the soldiers, and introduced reading rooms.

A Room with a View: Coming of Age as a Traveller

Lucy as Grand Tourist: John Soane Museum
July 21- Day 1

Images of bribery are abound in this satirical scene depicted in the second painting of Hogarth's Election Series, Canvassing for Votes. Those who went on a grand tour learned about democracy (fairness and morals as a culture), and bribery certainly is not acceptable! 

Lucy as Traveller: National Gallery
July 22- Day 2

In Apollo and Daphne (1470-80) by Antonino del Pollaiuolo, the image exhibits the battle between chastity and lust, as Apollo pursues Daphne and she transforms into a tree to preserve her purity. 

In The Combat of Love and Chastity by Gherado di Giovanni del Fora, love cannot penetrate the shield of chastity. The idea of the shield parallels Charlotte and her Victorian ideals in A Room with a View as she tries to protect Lucy from George. 

Lucy on Views: Tate Britain
July 23- Day 3

Rome, from the Vatican. Raffaelle, Accompanied by La Fornarina, Preparing his Pictures for the Decoration of the Loggia (1820) by Turner uses the people in the center of the painting as the focus point, showing that the people and the culture are what one should focus on when traveling. 

Palestrina - Composition by Turner (1828) continues to present the idea that as a traveller one should focus more on the journey and the experiences gained rather than the "tourist attractions", as the viewer's eye is drawn toward to the people and the road.

Brideshead Revisited: Coming of Age as a Skeptic/Believer

Charles as a Skeptic: Oxford University
July 14 - Day 1

The Great Quadrangle was indeed great. The grandiose Gothic architecture exuded wealth and privilege and really helped me visualize how the good 'ol Oxford boys, Charles and Sebastian, lived.

The Mercury Fountain in the Quad served as a great reminder of the Catholic symbolism of fountains in our novel this week. In the novel the aesthetic beauty of Brideshead draws Charles in and leads him to the Catholic faith. In a similar manner, the beauty of Christ Church's campus tends to draw one in. As we left, I heard many people in our group chatting about wanting to attend Oxford! 

Charles as a Skeptic/Believer: Eltham Palace
July 15 - Day 2

In our novel, Brideshead is an estate similar to the palace, as both of the homes "grew silently with the centuries, catching the best of each generation" (Waugh, Ch. 1). Basically, as time passed, and with each resident, these places grew and changed and became sort of a patchwork of the past. In this photo the medieval architecture beautifully clashes with the Baroque. 

Charles as a Believer: Hampton Court Palace 

July 16 - Day 3

Similar to Eltham palace, Hampton Court was also a hodge-podge of eras and styles. Here the quirky Tudor style peaks out behind the streamline Baroque style. 

I found these photos to be particularly interesting. Depending on how one looks at the palace, the different architecture causes it to look like two completely different palaces: the Tudor Palace or the Baroque Palace -- a constant battle between Catholicism and Protestantism. 

Jane Eyre: Coming of Age as a Worker

Jane as an Orphan: Foundling Museum 

July 7 - Day 1

A painting I like to call "Who Dat?" It is more commonly known as  "Foundling Restored to its Mother" (1848) by Emma Brownlow. 

Jane as a Governess: Geffrye Museum 
July 8 - Day 2

This photo depicts a leisured lady, also known as one who is compelled to sit many hours with her hands before her whilst gazing coyly at pretty pink flowers.

Start 'em young. In this painting a very young girl recieves a piano lesson. In 19th C England, decorative arts were highly valued.  

Although difficult to see, these birds incased in glass sat atop a table in a typical mid-1800s drawing room. Just as in Jane Eyre, a refined and confined Victorian woman lived like a caged bird. 

Jane as Beloved: Tate Britain 

July 9 - Day 3

"Past and Present" by Augustus Leopold Egg (1858): this series shows the discovery of a woman's infidelity and its consequences. Naughty, naughty.   

Introducing Me:

Hear ye! Hear ye! This summer Princess Eugenia Megan will be returning to the homeland to study abroad in London, England!

...But before then here is a little about myself:

A Texan through and through, I am spunky and hardworking. At TCU, I am an economics major and accounting and finance double minors and a member of the John V. Roach Honors College. Though I am analytical and rational, and, sure, I love money and find joy in data and graphs, I am not your typical economics major! I also have a wide range of other unexpected interests. Soaking in the world around me, I can admit that I love learning about anything and everything. I also love to be involved on campus, and I am an Honors Ambassador and a Resident Assistant!

Loving life at TCU. Go Frogs!

You can't live in Texas without a pair of boots! My parents surprised me with these custom boots the summer before I started at TCU. 

I also LOVE to bake and cook and eat! My cupcakes and cookies have proven to be quite popular throughout the years. Seeing the delight on the faces of my friends and family as they bite into a fresh baked good truly warms my heart.  

Mmm... frosting is my favorite!

Meet my best friend: the apple green KitchenAid mixer! My grandmother still comments about how not very many 14 year-olds ask for a mixer for Christmas...  

Last summer I even went on a "Culinary and Cultural Pilgrimage" in Europe with the Honors College, in which I studied food in various locales and how it shapes the culture. So, you can guess that I also love to travel! This will be my third summer in a row to travel to Europe, and I hope to maybe even live abroad one day. 

Italian gelato anyone? 

 As a Martha Stewart protégé, I also adore scrapbooking, painting, drawing, and crafting! 

It's no Frida Kahlo, but I had fun painting myself! I was sure to include my signature pearls that I wear almost everyday.

I am very good at making messes.

The last defining factor of yours truly is my interest in the arts. I began dancing at the tender age of 3 years old, and I began musical theatre at 10 and film and televison shortly after, so naturally I used to dream of being the next Hannah Montana. I also danced competitively in high school. Although I am currently not performing, I have altered my plans to become the next Betty White after I make my fortune in banking or law instead! One can dream.

Baby Ballerina Megan

For your amusement here are 3 unusual things about myself:

1. I collect wacky socks. My favorite pair has mermaids!
2. I didn't get my driver's license until I was 18! I was convinced that I would have a personal limo driver by that time, but unfortunately that has yet to happen. 
3. I am teaching myself to play the ukulele! I am also not very good.

Anyway, thanks for reading! I'll be back in July in London, England.

Cheers! 

XOXO, Megan