I've got a month of rocket workshops coming up and I wonder wether I should go ahead or not, what with war on the agenda.
Though some token physics is communicated, the workshops are intended as an and art and craft workshop, with the decorated models constructed from paper and card by primary school kids. Informal discussions about the benfits (or not) of space exploration, and aspirations for the future, form part of the debriefing. But arguably they are missiles, some with video cameras mounted in them, so the military associations are obvious. I've always believed that I promote a peaceful use of new technology, which is why I created the workshop, but am I kidding myself? I got a lot of stick after Sep 11, with lots of objections varying from "you shouldnae be daen' that" to "red rag to terrorists", but it's difficult to get people to state exactly what their objections are in a useful way. I suppose my worries are less about offending people who object purely to promote their own correctness, than kindling an interest in weapons, and their design, in impressionable kids. I've always been careful to nip any camouflage motifs and sectarian slogans in the bud, but is that enough, and is it enough just to present the workshop as a creative versus destructive use of this technology against the backdrop of war? Anyhoo. I managed to get through this whole mail without using my favourite word - fuselage. Pity, it's one of the great words. I'd be grateful for your opinions. Cavan _________________________________________________________________ Worried what your kids see online? Protect them better with MSN 8 http://join.msn.com/?page=features/parental&pgmarket=en-gb&XAPID=186&DI=1059 ------------------------------------------------- a m b i t : networking media arts in scotland post: [EMAIL PROTECTED] archive: http://www.mediascot.org/ambit info: send email to [EMAIL PROTECTED] and write "info ambit" in the message body -------------------------------------------------
