COMMON READING PROGRAM INFORMATION

Text:  Fast Food Nation by Author Eric Schlosser

Ringling College of Art and Design is excited to announce the implementation of a Common Reading Program for all new students.  The common text will enrich your first-year experience by giving us all something provocative to think and talk about together and address in our work.    This year’s text selection will be Fast Food Nation by Eric Schlosser.  Schlosser is a correspondent for the Atlantic Monthly.  He has received a number of journalistic honors including a National Magazine Award.  All new students will receive this text free of charge during Orientation and will be assigned a discussion group meeting time.  Attendance is required during this session at Orientation.  This will be a great opportunity for you to meet some of your fellow students.  Fast Food Nation was selected as the common reading as it encourages students to think about their everyday actions within a larger context.   “Fast Food Nation is a groundbreaking work of investigation that will show students how one industry has changed the face of America---and the world.” (Harper Collins Publishers, 2008).  The issues the book raises—about fast-paced life, globalization, clever entrepreneurship, the body, animals, and the food industry are ones we all need to think about as we also, as artists and designers, change the face of the world.  Assignments in various studio and Liberal Arts courses and co-curricular programming will be linked thematically to this reading.  These will give you the chance to strengthen your writing and refine your sense of social responsibility as an artist or designer.  These are two of the goals in Ringling College’s Quality Enhancement Plan (QEP). 

Additionally, we hope to bring the author to campus at some point in the academic year. 

We all look forward to an interesting year of curricular and co-curricular events linked to the very important themes raised by this text!

COMMON READING PROGRAM INFORMATION

Text:  Fast Food Nation by Author Eric Schlosser

Ringling College of Art and Design is excited to announce the implementation of a Common Reading Program for all new students.  The common text will enrich your first-year experience by giving us all something provocative to think and talk about together and address in our work.    This year’s text selection will be Fast Food Nation by Eric Schlosser.  Schlosser is a correspondent for the Atlantic Monthly.  He has received a number of journalistic honors including a National Magazine Award.  All new students will receive this text free of charge during Orientation and will be assigned a discussion group meeting time.  Attendance is required during this session at Orientation.  This will be a great opportunity for you to meet some of your fellow students.  Fast Food Nation was selected as the common reading as it encourages students to think about their everyday actions within a larger context.   “Fast Food Nation is a groundbreaking work of investigation that will show students how one industry has changed the face of America---and the world.” (Harper Collins Publishers, 2008).  The issues the book raises—about fast-paced life, globalization, clever entrepreneurship, the body, animals, and the food industry are ones we all need to think about as we also, as artists and designers, change the face of the world.  Assignments in various studio and Liberal Arts courses and co-curricular programming will be linked thematically to this reading.  These will give you the chance to strengthen your writing and refine your sense of social responsibility as an artist or designer.  These are two of the goals in Ringling College’s Quality Enhancement Plan (QEP). 

Additionally, we hope to bring the author to campus at some point in the academic year. 

We all look forward to an interesting year of curricular and co-curricular events linked to the very important themes raised by this text!