, We've got squirrels in our quad! - St Peter's College

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GeographyWelcome Freshers to the best subject at St. Peter’s—and ignore the others, as I’m the one writingthis guide! The people make the subject here, somehow Darek and Ken manage to pick agood group of us, and as there’s usually only 4 per year so it always balances nicely. You’re requiredto produce one essay a week for one tutorial (and it stays like this for all three years!) -each term is divided between four human and four physical tutorials. On top of this, the syllabusis split into two further units, Critical Thinking and Geographical Techniques. These unitsyou get extra lectures, classes and individual project work—it’s a good idea to get these organisedquite early on, but each really doesn’t take too much time. The course itself allows you tobuild on (and by build on, we certainly mean IN DEPTH) content you’ve probably covered in A-Level. But don’t be fooled, A-Level knowledge is not enough, and you’ll find out not always correct–reading is thus a big thing for geography. Although there are the countless colouring-injokes, you’ll find yourself reading quite a few books (there are certainly a few staple ones outthere) and journals. But don’t fear, you’ll find plenty of time on your hands—lectures don’t startbefore 11am! Both the tutors are really helpful, email away and they’ll always get back to you—there’s a lot of changes in store this year, including extra classes, seminars (across all threeyears) and presentations. Whilst this might seem a bit much, you’ll appreciate them in the end.Geographers are a sociable bunch with regular social events both in college and across thewhole university. In fact, the geography society is probably one of the most social 'subject' societiesin the whole university – and people other than geographers will tell you that as well –so you have a lot to look forward to! This is largely as a result of the amazing annual fieldtrip(the fieldtrips this year were Paris, Dublin and Fort William), where you spend a week away andare required to produce a project based on a title of your choice – it’s great because you haveso much freedom. This year also saw the introduction of Peter’s fieldtrips that you will be subjectedto in your second and third years—what is geography without the wellies and the clipboards!You’ve probably been set some summer work (a few essays?), get them done and beready...geography at SPC is one of the best choices you can make, and by the time Ken’s ChristmasParty swings around, you’ll be part of the family! Jo Wilkin (Finalists Rep on the JCR committee)History of ArtAll I can say is congratulations! Not simply for getting in but, rather, wisely picking a subject thatyou won’t grow to resent over the next three years. Also I can see you are clearly the most intelligentspecimens of the Art History elite for choosing a college that is so close to the departmentand allows for optimum sleeping time (making it to a lecture on time having woken up 3minutes beforehand is fully achievable). Although many people seem to believe that it is nothingmore than looking at pretty pictures, History of art is one of the broadest subjects on offerand delves into philosophy, psychology, sociology, politics, economics, theology, literature, classics- pretty much a little bit of everything (except maths thank God). Basically it’s about lookingat social and cultural changes throughout the course of history through art and tracing howtheories and ways of thinking that have come to be expressed both through art and its reception.Although that may sound a bit daunting, you don’t need to know very much to begin withand you’ll learn a lot very quickly so don’t get bogged down with the reading list (Emily and Imanaged to survive not having glanced at the thing before arriving) although perhaps a quick
look at some of the major titles would be very helpful.The workload is comparatively light by Oxford standards, and with usually just 1 essay a weekand probably the lowest amount of contact hours you will steadily become the envy of all yourfriends. This unfortunately can lead to prejudice in the form of ‘not even a real subject’ insultsfrom unenlightened students who foolishly chose to burden themselves with a science subjectsimplysmile politely, feeling both content and superior in the knowledge that such insults arefounded on pure jealousy.History of art is one of the smallest departments in the university, so not only do you feel specialbeing part of a rare and prestigious breed, but also you get to know both your tutors andthe rest of your year very well. This means you will instantly have friends outside of college aswell as inside (all teaching is departmental rather than college based unlike most subjects) andon an insanely dull note it’s very easy to keep track of all the books you need.Your first year will consist of four modules. The first is called ‘Introduction to the History of Art’which is pretty self-explanatory and gives you a broad ‘introduction’ to the discipline coveringvarious different periods and styles. The second is called ‘Antiquity after Antiquity’ which isabout exploring how the classical Greek and Roman art has been re-appropriated over thecourse of history. This is led by Gervase. who you will fall in love with. The third is called‘European art 1400-1800: meaning and interpretation’ which is the most theoretical of all themodules and looks at what effects/the ways in which we read images, but you only study this intrinity so don’t worry about it just yet. You also have the wonderful privilege of writing and extendedessay (kind of like course work as it counts as a module) on any object/painting/buildingin Oxford. Providing you manage your time, don’t leave it all until the very last minute and/oraccidentally delete the entire thing several days before the deadline (Emily Girkins), this is aninteresting opportunity for you to explore the bitter-sweet delights of unregulated research/study (In theory this requires self-discipline, but as I and Emily have none it’s clearly not that essential).Oxford Is an amazing place to study History of Art not only because of the amazingAshmolean Museum , which you will come to both love and hate over the next year, but alsothe wealth of other collections throughout the university that you will get to work with /in /around as part of your classes and tutorials- another reason why History of art is so enjoyable.If you have any questions about anything just email me at joseph.funnell@spc.ox.ac.uk or pesterEmily at emily.girkins@spc.ox.ac.uk.See you soon.MusicMusicians, as I'm sure you open-minded, up-to-the-minute music students will be aware, theesteemed philosopher Kele Okereke (of Bloc Party fame) once wrote on the obscure B-Side'Storm & Stress', "You really suffer for your art". Us musicians do seem to have a lot to 'suffer' -ridicule from acultural, philistinic students of their so-called 'real' subjects (yes scientists we'relooking at you), the manifold, untold joys of keyboard skills (you'll see. . .), as well as a plethoraof ever-growing, infinitely diverse musical works with which we feel a frequent, nagging, guiltyneed to become wholly acquainted.However, before I instil in you a horror-stricken, sinking feeling of sickening dread as to exactlywhat you have unwittingly let yourself in for, let me be the first to say that you have pulled an'applicational blinder'; you have picked what is comfortably the most enjoyable, accessible, interesting,comprehensive, varied - in short, best - course but none (keyboard skills aside).44
Page 3 and 4: Dear Peterite,First of all, congrat
Page 5 and 6: What is the JCR?Something that seem
Page 7 and 8: Emily ClarkeSubject: HistoryBest me
Page 9 and 10: (Environment and Ethics) Sinead Lan
Page 11 and 12: -As well as the Executive Committee
Page 13 and 14: Here’s the programme for Freshers
Page 15 and 16: An Oxford University tradition that
Page 17 and 18: The majority of all first year room
Page 19 and 20: You will not know which block of ac
Page 21 and 22: Informal hallSt. Peter’s is a cat
Page 23 and 24: On activating your email account pl
Page 25 and 26: As well as student loans and parent
Page 27 and 28: Short for the Junior Common Room, t
Page 29 and 30: SHOPS & RESTAURANTSDue to our centr
Page 31 and 32: PUBSWhere there are students, there
Page 33 and 34: Along with your male and female wel
Page 35 and 36: Sports and other Societies at SPCAt
Page 37: If you want reassurance, here it is
Page 40 and 41: Earth Sciences‘Earth sciences, is
Page 42: workload, learn to love differentia
Page 47 and 48: Being in Oxford, you may start hear
Page 49: PTs - The Purple Turtle bar, situat

, We've got squirrels in our quad! - St Peter's College

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