Update: Grad School

I think an update on my progress with my graduate degree is over-due, so here's the basic update. Basically, I am receiving mostly "A's and B's", with exception for an "F" I received because I didn't withdrawl from a class before the the cut-off date. Unfortunately, they can't over-ride that class, so my GPA will suffer from it. Now, I'm taking that same class, and will most likely receive an "A" for my efforts. But, I'm about a year and a half down with my program, and now it's time to focus on my Thesis and Directive Study Program with my Instructor (i.e., Advisor).

This began me thinking about my Graduate program (in general) at the Academy of Art University. Well, this Spring 2007 Semester, I am taking a few courses, which include an Account Planning and Branding course. I have been looking quite forward to these courses, considering that my emphasis will lay here, and find that these two courses will be crucial to my future success.

So, each week I log into class, expecting to learn something new, hoping to discover some new method or insight into the art of branding and the management of it. Instead, I've become really discouraged lately as it's just become a sort of typical Internet Discussion Board where everyone involves sort of just discusses their own personal feelings and experiences with brands. Rather, I would have preferred to attend a more professional course, wherein I could acquire skills that I could eventually walk away with and feel good about the money I invested.

I think it's great that we can have the luxury of a 21st Century Dialogue--which creates opportunities for different colors, cultures and worlds away to communicate via positive dialogue in ways that would have been impossible a few short years ago. And from time to time, I see a few glimmers of genius from each student, but I think it would be idealistic of me to think I could gain a great deal from my fellow classmates. Don't get me wrong, I thoroughly appreciate and value each of my classmates' opinions and enjoy reviewing their respective assignments, but they are for the most part based on a limited knowledge of the subject. I would hazard a guess as to say that most of my fellow students come into this class, not as experts but as pupils from a wide variety of disciplines. Including myself in that. As a result, these few courses on Account Planning and Branding, our assigned books, and a couple of related classes, make-up the base of our knowledge.

I would have personally prefer to receive more Account Planning and Branding specific information from experts in the field, regardless of whichever format that were to present itself in....videos, case studies, Instructor's comments and experiences, etc. Because I believe that once I can learn the proper Account Planning and Branding skills, then applying them through the watchful eye of my Instructor, coupled by the creative input from my fellow classmates, would be essentially become the proper balance in helping me to succeed as I move out into that "real world". Because when I finally venture out into that real world, employers will be calling upon me to provide accurate branding strategies for whatever means in order to propel that business.

Being that my this is a graduate course, I would have expected the weight of the course to be revolved around providing answers that have already been fleshed out by experts in the field, rather than theoretical discussions using our current feelings towards brands. I am afraid that when I walk away from this course I will have only learnt a great deal about Advertising in general, but only the basics of this what brands are and how they function, something that I am very interested in at the current moment.

Having said that, I am strongly considering a post-Graduate course dealing specifically with Marketing (e.g., Branding, Advertising). There are two programs that I am considering at this time, and the leading of the two is in Monaco, namely the Master of Science in Luxury Goods and Services (MScLGS), which is a 10-month course completed in five 7-week terms. The program is designed for recent graduates and professionals who wish to acquire knowledge and skills specific to the luxury industry. The MScLGS seeks to produce innovative and imaginative managers who can fill senior positions in strategic planning, identity and brand management, product policy, new product development, and product portfolio management in the luxury goods market.

So, who knows... that's where my head is at the moment. Thought I would share it.

Easter in Austria

Today, I received my official working permit, so I'm now part of the Austrian and European community. I had to wait 2 months for it, and I've decided to kick of this celebration using the religious holiday of Easter. Easter in Austria is observed for a few more days that in America, so a week off seems like a good idea. Before I left, I wanted to share with you some of the traditional aspects of Easter, as I've also gone ahead and attached a few photos from last year's celebration.

Easter in Austria: Food
Food plays a prominent role in any holiday, and Easter is no exception. The pig has always been a symbol of good luck and prosperity among Indo-Europeans and the age-old custom of eating pig or boar meat is still alive, also you might find lamb on the menu, or rabbit...and not the chocolate kind. (This was a shock on my first Easter here, and I had to inform my girlfriend that us Americans don't typically eat the Easter bunny.) In addition pastries and bread also figure prominently into Vienna's Easter fare, Easter bread with raisins is baked in twisted or braided strands and with the coffee later the traditional Sachertorte might be served. At many Easter dinner tables you will find a basket of dyed eggs and of course a nice wine from the so-called "Austrian Tuscany" regions of Styria. And of course, a lovely centerpiece, typically made from a pussy willows mixed with spring flowers like tulips with and beautiful hand painted Easter eggs hanging from them. Easter dinner like other meals in most parts of Austria are a time to slow down and enjoy the time with family and friends, so sitting at the table for five or six hours at a time is not uncommon. Another part of the culture I had to adapt to.

Easter in Austria: Some Of Their Symbols And Customs
If you look back through the centuries at some of the symbols and customs associated with Easter, curious origins emerge. In the early days of Christianity, the church incorporated many pagan rites of spring into its Easter celebrations as it struggled to gain acceptance as the primary religion in Europe. Pagan rituals using bells, drums, bonfires, processions, and dancing, all once employed to drive away the bad spirits of winter and celebrate spring, were adapted by early Christians to celebrate Christ's Resurrection instead.

Easter in Austria: Fires
In the Alpine provinces of Austria, Easter fires burn on mountain peaks after sunset on Holy Saturday, and bands of musicians go through the towns, playing sacred hymns. They also burn crosses in the region I will be visiting, and I can assure you that it has nothing to do with the Nazism or Kl Klux Klan worshipping. Many of the rituals pre-date the 1940s, and the fire is seen as light. Granted, I was shocked alittle when I first saw it. They are sometimes called Judas fires, because effigies of Judas Iscariot are frequently burned in them. The Easter eve bonfires predate Christianity and were originally intended to celebrate the arrival of spring. The burning effigy once symbolized winter.

Easter in Austria: Passion Plays
Before the invention of the printing press, the church relied on visual aids such as paintings, sculpture, and even theater to teach the illiterate the gospel and to spread the faith. Passion plays focused on the events surrounding Christ's Crucifixion and Resurrection. These plays were popular in the Middle Ages, but by the second half of the 18th century, largely forbidden. In Austria though, they can still be seen. The oldest from 1613 is performed in Erl in Tyrol every six years, as well as in Thiersee, also in the Tyrol, and for 200 years at the Roman quarry in St. Margarethen in the Burgenland. These plays, however, are performed during Lent or Easter, nor are some perfromed year.

Well, I hope you enjoyed reading this, and Happy Easter to you all!

Douglas Franz-Josef I

As of today, I become an official member of the Austrian and European Union community. I was fortunate enough to obtain both a residence and working permit in Austria, and am quite relieved. The process took about 2 months, but today it has finally ended. I will begin to take courses in German on April 10th, and my first day of work begins shortly thereafter on May 2nd.