20 January, 2012

Open course from famous univeristies

http://open.sina.com.cn/index.shtml has the web link "Open Course" created. It provides access to many good lecture series from various well known universities with Chinese Transcript added to the video.

Here is one that I would like to recommend:

耶鲁:罗马建筑

讲师:E.E.Kleiner
学校:耶鲁
E.E.Kleiner是耶鲁大学艺术史与经典讲座教授、 耶鲁大学开放课程首席审查者,是耶鲁大学原副校长助理。她有许多关于罗马艺术的著作,其中包括罗马雕塑(耶鲁大学出版社)。

http://open.sina.com.cn/IntroductiontoRomanArchitecture.html

本课程是对罗马及其帝国伟大建筑和工程奇迹的介绍,其重点是城市规划和个别的古迹以及他们的装饰包括帝国的壁画。 罗马、庞贝和中央意大利发展将突出显示。

If you like to look at the original video from Yale University, here is the link I found via google:
  • Introduction to Roman Architecture | Yale History Lecture

    academicearth.org/lectures/intro-roman-architecture22 Oct 2009 - 43 minYale Professor Diana E E Kleiner lecture on Introduction to Roman Architecture from the course Roman ...


  • Lecture Description

    Professor Kleiner introduces the wide variety of Roman buildings covered in the course and links them with the theme of Roman urbanism. The lecture ranges from early Roman stone construction to such masterpieces of Roman concrete architecture as the Colosseum and Pantheon. Traveling from Rome and Pompeii across the vast Roman Empire, Professor Kleiner stops in such locales as North Africa and Jordan to explore the plans of cities and their individual edifices: temples, basilicas, theaters, amphitheaters, bath complexes, and tombs. The lecture culminates with reference to the impact of Roman architecture on post-antique architectural design and building practice.

    Course Description


    Course Index

    1. Introduction to Roman Architecture
    2. The Founding of Rome and the Beginnings of Urbanism in Italy
    3. Technology and Revolution in Roman Architecture
    4. Civic, Commercial and Religious Buildings of Pompeii
    5. Houses and Villas of Pompeii
    6. Habitats at Herculaneum and Early Roman Interior Decoration
    7. Painting Palaces and Villas in the First Century A.D.
    8. Exploring Special Subjects on Pompeian Walls
    9. Augustus Assembles Rome
    10. Roman Tombs
    11. Nero and His Architectural Legacy
    12. The Colosseum and Contemporary Architecture in Rome
    13. Imperial Palace on the Palatine Hill
    14. Civic Architecture in Rome under Trajan
    15. Hadrian's Pantheon and Tivoli Retreat
    16. Roman Life in Ostia, the Port of Rome
    17. The Baths of Caracalla
    18. Roman North Africa: Timgad and Leptis Magna
    19. Baroque Phenomenon in Roman Architecture
    20. The Rebirth of Athens
    21. Architecture of the Western Roman Empire
    22. The Tetrarchic Renaissance
    23. Rome of Constantine and a New Rome
    24. Discovering the Roman Provinces and Designing a Roman City
    I like to follow the links systematically in 24 weeks, and learn something I like in 6 month's time!

    Join me if you like to be e-classmate!

    Cheers!
    Dexterine Ho Soo Miang

    18 January, 2012

    On failures

    Be of good cheer. Do not think of today's failures, but of the
    success that may come tomorrow. You have set yourselves a difficult
    task, but you will succeed if you persevere; and you will find a joy
    in overcoming obstacles.

    -- Helen Keller (1880-1968) American Writer

    17 January, 2012

    Learning by reflection and imitation etc...

    By three methods we may learn wisdom: First, by reflection, which is
    noblest; Second, by imitation, which is easiest; and third by experience,
    which is the bitterest.

    -- Confucius (551 BC - 479 BC) Chinese Philosopher

    05 January, 2012

    Slow vs standing still

    Be not afraid of growing slowly, be afraid only of standing still.
    ---  Chinese Proverb