The British Musuem

I had the privilege of having the time to visit such a wonderful museum. The British Museum is huge with many rooms and expeditions. It’s a little over whelming because there is just so much to look at. It would take more than one day to see everything. I decided to focus on a few things I really wanted to see and go check them out. It has around 7 million objects representing human culture and history. It was founded in 1753 in which it became the first public national museum. About 6 million people visit this museum a year. As I entered I was amazed by how elaborate and decorative it was. This museum is free to the public so they appreciate the many generous donations by patrons. The thousands of ancient statues from ancient Egypt amazed me. Not many people are able to say they have seen the Rosetta stone. The Rosetta stone is a decree with Greek, Demotic, and Hieroglyphs engraved in the stone. It is said that languages were inspired by this stone. Today when learning a language many use the Rosetta stone program. Another interesting display were pieces of the Roman Parthenon. Also there were many beautiful jewels and crowns from ancient Japan and Greece. I loved this museum because there were many interesting exhibits and things I have learned about in school. Some of the exhibits change throughout the year so I am glad I was there when such great artifacts were present. This is a must see museum and I am so glad that I decided to visit during my short month in London.

-Jennifer Bell

-Rosetta Stone

"EXTRA EXTRA READ ALL ABOUT IT"

         I was able to visit and witness an exclusive artefact exhibit at the O2 located on the Greenwich peninsula. As I enetered I was given a card with a passengers name, their class, and a little bio about them. Towards the end the vistors were able to see if his or her passenger survived or not.  I was Mrs. John Jacob Astor for the afternoon. A day in a life for Madeleine (me) would have been a life of privilege. At eighteen years old I married John Jacob Astor.  Madeleine's life would forever change marrying John Jacob. He was quite a bit older than her which was quite the scandal. Mr. and Mrs. John Jacob would board the Titanic with their personal valet, maid,and nurse. The family dog named Kitty would join them as well. On that fateful night Mr. John Jacob would not survive along with his valet named Victor Robbins.  Madeleine survived along with her personal maid and nurse. Madeleine was able to comfort a third class child by offering her scarf to keep the child warm. She survived a widow and she was now a single mother.                                          

           I really enjoyed this exhibt because of the exciting yet educational artefacts. I got to travel back in time with room recreations, compelling stories, and more than 300 artefacts. Many of the display cases had artefacts that had never had been seen. They created a ice sculpture to shape like an iceburg to demonstrate how cold it was that dreadful night. The stories and eyewitness accounts really put things into perpespective. Titanic was supposed to be "unsinkable" and it claimed more than 1,500 lives on April 15th 1912. As a young child I watched Jack and Rose take the silver screen. After reading real life stories and seeing stuff taken from the Titanic I realized its much more than a fictional love story. I got to touch a part of the ship that was taken from the wreckage. This exhibition was very successful and I enjoyed it very much. This exhibition is available to buy tickets at various prices and is open from 11 am to 6:30 pm most nights and 8 pm on the weekends. This is something for any age to appreciate. I highly reccomend this exhibit and am so glad that I had the chance to go.

-Jennifer Bell

Coming Aboard the RMS Titanic: The Titanic Artifacts Exhibit

Since I watched James Cameron’s Titanic when I was eight, I have been fascinated with the sinking of the infamous ship.  The film actually was one of the first movies to peak my interest in the film industry.  Having this interest in the ship’s sinking, I knew I had to go see the Titanic Exhibit at London’s O2 when I saw the posters advertised around London on the Tubes and streets. 

The exhibit had many items found in the ship’s wreckage along with commentary that helped put together the pieces of the ship’s demise.  Everything from the bell that was rung to announce the iceberg that was right ahead to different passenger’s personal items.  The personal nature of the exhibit was very fascinating.  They really wanted to make you experience the ship’s journey.  Different bios on notable passengers helped to grasp some context of who was on the ship along with connecting the factual information of the ship’s passengers with the story told in the film.  Many of the characters I recognized immediately, which was an added bonus as I worked to connect the fictional storyline with that of the people who really were on the ship.  There were items in different viewing cases, also, that researchers uncovered and paired with particular passengers.  One case had a woman’s perfume sample collection belonging to someone who made perfume.  Visitors were actually able to smell the scent through small holes in the glass, which provided a great experience. 

Visitors were also able to get to know one passenger personally during their time in the exhibit as everyone received a boarding pass of an actual passenger when they entered the exhibit.  I received the pass of a Mr. Kimball who was a first class passenger traveling with his wife.  Both he and his wife survived.  To figure out the outcome of your passenger, visitors needed to look at a list at the end that had who lived and died according to class or crew.  Seeing the list really made the experience come to life.

I also really liked the way that the exhibit compared and contrasted the conditions of passengers in different classes.  Different display cases had items like dishware that had commentary on how according to class the dishes had varied designs from intricate and elegant designs for first class to more simplistic yet stunning images on those for second class to ones with simply the White Star Line logo printed on it for third class.  A life-sized display of the living quarters for a first class and third class citizen provided a perfect idea of what things on the ship were like.  The interesting thing was that the third class wasn’t really too terrible as people would assume.  One of the commentaries said that those planning the ship’s events and layouts made sure to make the “steerage” (another name for third class) nice enough so that passengers would ride in those quarters since they really needed their money (averaging around 8 pounds per ticket or over 500 pounds today).

I truly enjoyed the exhibit throughout.  Getting to touch a huge chunk of ice the temperature of the water that fateful night was quite interesting, and it brought the reality of the event to life.  I was saddened to learn at the end that the wreckage should collapse entirely in the next 40-90 years due to corrosion and the pressure at the depths where it lays.  Thankfully excavators have preserved much of the ship’s contents so as to preserve the history of the wreck many years after the ship is no longer intact.

--John Barr

The London Film Museum

With my goal of working in the film industry, I had been very keen on visiting the London Film Museum during my stay in London.  The museum is located right across from the London Eye on the south bank of the Thames River.  Items in the museum ranged from movie memorabilia to interactive activities focusing on recent hit films to some from a while back. 

One of the main exhibits that I spent a good amount of time in was the Harry Potter exhibit.  The movie had an entire large circular room dedicated to the film series.  Along the walls were different activities for visitors to participate in from Harry Potter card games to Harry Potter video games.  One activity that I took part in was the photo booth, which came free with the ticket to the museum.  In front of a green screen, I chose a wizards cloak and then stood upon a wooden broomstick.  After the photographer took a few shots, I got off and chose my favorite shot.  The one I chose had myself reaching out for a snitch as I was flying through the Hogwarts Quidditch field.  In the center of the exhibit, there were cloaks from each of the three main characters and also two broomsticks and a few textbooks from the third movie.

Another exhibit that I really enjoyed was the Charlie Chaplain exhibit.  There were many scripts and memorabilia from his films and even a small theater where visitors could view some excerpts from his films.  I haven’t seen very many of his films, but I was intrigued to see things from the film industry’s early beginnings. 

Other notable items in the museum included costumes and memorabilia from the Batman Begins, Superman II and the Bourne Identity movies.  There also was a room that had some of the costumes from the new Conan movie, which was exciting.  The trailer was playing on the wall with the extravagant costumes surrounding the screen.  This movie has not even gone to theaters yet, so seeing the costumes and such made me want to see the film even more.

Overall, the museum was a very great experience.  With my passion for film, it is always nice to find great exhibits such as the London Film Museum.

--John Barr

The National Gallery

The National Gallery in London is perfectly placed. Outside of it is Trafalgar Square, with the iconic Nelson’s Column towering in its center. It is a symbol of British pride, a way of keeping the past alive. Inside the gallery, the past also lives. For art students especially, this gallery provides a perfect opportunity to see some of these paintings from the humble beginnings of the Renaissance and the artists influenced by such a famous time.


Paintings from 1200 to 1900 give an inside look into European life, influences and culture. One thing that dominates the early periods (from late 1400s to mid-1600s) is religion. The Catholic Church is very prominent in most of these paintings, and the Bible seems to provide the perfect inspiration with its stories of love, sacrifice and its teachings. Elaborate paintings tell the story of Sampson and Delilah and the “Death of St. Peter Martyr.” But, most are made original by the artist. Many feature Biblical figures as if they lived in Europe, dressing them like lords and ladies.

As time moves forward, there appears to be a shift toward landscape art and paintings portraying European life. Festivals and parties in Mediterranean-style squares or sunsets on the beach are painted with a wide range of colors, elements and styles specific to a certain region. The good thing is if you go to this museum with little to no knowledge of what styles come from where, all there is to know about a painting is written out right there beside it. This makes the paintings come to life in a completely different way.

My personal favorites are paintings that depict historic events or times. The execution of Lady Jane Grey is portrayed in a breathtaking piece. You can sense the drama within the towering piece and it calls attention to itself even when mixed with so many other beautiful paintings. The National Gallery provides a new appreciation but also a new perspective on European history and how it has influenced its people. With history and life portrayed so strikingly, it is no wonder history seems to survive here much more than in the United States.

by: Adam Troxtell

The Victoria and Albert Museum

After spending several hours in the sprawling Victoria and Albert museum I chose to focus my attention on the European sculpture rooms and the jewelry rooms. I had two immediate favorites in the European sculpture rooms. They were a set that were both created by Alfred Stevens in 1867-1868. The imposing statues are titled Truth and Falsehood and Valour and Cowardice. Truth and falsehood depicts a female truth ripping the forked tongue our of male falsehood's mouth. She towers over him and his serpentine tails flail madly at her feet. The sister to the statue, Valour and Cowardice shows a female valour crushing cowardice beneath her shield and sword. I thought it was very interesting that both of the upright characters in the scenes were female and I loved the powerful message behind both of these statues. 

The second part of the museum I focused on was the jewelry rooms. Unfortunately pictures were not allowed for security reasons, but it was absolutely beautiful. The museum boasts an astounding 3,500 jewel collection that spans many time periods from all over the world. Some of the oldest pieces were estimated to be around 800 years old. The jewelry was arranged in lit glass cases and was arranged by time period. I was particularly fond of a snuff box designed by Faberge for Czar Nicholas II of Russia. The jewelry rooms also have a unique computer system for museum visitors so that the collection can be searched by time period, stone or material, designer, or who the piece belonged to or was donated by. 

The Victoria and Albert museum's tagline states that they are "the world's greatest museum of art and design," I personally have not been to all the museums in the world, so I cannot say whether that statement is true, but I would highly recommend that anyone make a pit-stop to this museum when in London.


by Jessica Holliday

Somerset House Trust

Recently I ventured to the Somerset House. At first I believed it to be a history on the people who once owned them home, hence the name it was given. However, I found that I wasn’t quite sure on what I had ventured into. I found out the the Somerset House was a gallery and an institution by the sweet lady standing behind a table filled with flyers. When I went they were in progress of an event.

The Somerset house is one of the UK’s finest and largest 18th century building. It is a world class attraction in the arts. It reminded me a little of the Louvre. I was fascinated by the paintings but most importantly the ceiling. Ceilings can be easily over looked when someone is strolling through a gallery of various and amazing paintings. I took my time to give the ceiling some attention and was very glad I did. It isn’t always about what is inside that makes the building but the building itself. These buildings are well aged and so old when they were built they were built with more than just purpose of housing something within, but being a source of art. 

This is an image of the god, Apollo, in the middle of the sun like structure. He is surrounded by the zodiacs. 

Created by Giovanni Battista Cipriani (1727-85).

I love mythology so I’ve always taken an interest to their stories. Also, I love paintings of biblical times. Each painting takes time not only to look at but to understand. I’ve always wondered how can anyone tell what it is that they are seeing but everyone gets something different from what they are seeing. It takes time to just look upon a picture to understand the print beside it. 

This painting is of Christ and the Woman taken in adultery by Pieter Bruegel the Elder. This painting stood out by its shades of grey. I learned that it was painted as a biblical story that challenged hypocrisy and demonstrated the virtue mercy. If you look closely you can see that Jesus is writing on the ground. 

I’ve always enjoyed paintings of Jesus. There are so many and he looks so differently in all the paintings I’ve seen. Paintings are depicted on what the painter sees as well as play on the emotions of the painter. 

It was a great visit. If you go you may find that there are pictures here that you’ve seen before in another museum. Also you’ll see the treasures that the Somerset House holds that no words can describe or express. Its easy to go out and venture so that you can grasp your own understanding of the world of arts.


-Keisha Williams

Tower of London

During my visit to the Tower of London I entered into the Broad Arrow Tower. A unique name for an interesting place. Inside laid an adventure of what had taken place and what was used in case of an attack. I was guided through with instructions on the wall.

“In case of attack, assemble on wooden fighting platform.” This was a quote from one of the signs not shown here.

This wooden platform had enough space for two people to walk side by side and the back side was blocked off by a several pieces of wood stacked on one another. 

On the tables were weapons that the men who would have been stationed here to take. On this table there is a crossbow and a pocket of arrows prepared for an attack. 

As I walked across the platform I could hear the sounds of clinging swords as if men had begun to fight. The snarls of their armor and the frustration of their voice rang in my ears. It reminded me of the Pirates of the Caribbean. The voices of rough sounding me with an accent so deep I could hardly make out the words as I crossed to the soldier pointing his crossbow off the side of the castle. 

The soldier was aiming for the enemies climbing the walls. His posture steady so he wouldn’t fall over and can easily kill his enemies who dare to cross into the King’s home. 

However, in this case this is castle had only been attacked once. It wasn’t by rivals or anyone who believed to come take goods or overthrow the King. It was the peasants.  

It was June 1381, Peasants ha camped outside the Tower angered by the new poll tax everyone must pay. The people decided to march on London to complain to the young king, Richard II for his government wasn’t addressing the country’s social problems. 

By early morning, the King leaves to meet the main body rebels only to have peasants that had been outside the Tower break in. This is the first and only time the Tower is breached by attackers. By 11 am Friday 14 in June the Archbishop of Canterbury was killed. This revolt however failed.

        This was my favorite photo and a very interesting part of the Tower for me. I was amazed to learn the Tower was attacked only once. I did venture to the Zoo, the Bloody Tower, the Crown Jewels and a few other areas of the palace. It was a very educational visit and it was fun to learn about the history as well as see it first hand where it all took place. 

-Keisha Williams

The London Tower

  The Tower of London was completely different then I had expected it to be.  It might be the misconception I had of the size or the fact I really thought it was only one tower but it exceeded my expectations.  During the 1070s, William the Conqueror began building the gigantic stone towers that now hosts over two million visitors a year.  There are many towers and buildings on the perimeter that were all constructed under different rulings.  New royalties kept adding there mark accumulating what is there today.
 First stop was The Crown Jewels that were absolutely breathtaking.  Several pieces left me speechless.  They were more then just flashy jewelry but also a symbolic measure of the British Monarchy.  Most on display were used at the coronation referred to as the Coronation Regalia.  The swords, orbs and sceptres, trumpets and tunics were lavishly covered in the prettiest diamonds and jewels I have ever seen.  There was even a Coronation Spoon that is used for holding the holy oil.  The London Tower has held these jewels consistently since the 17th century.  Although many of the precious items date back thousands of years ago, many are still used in current day ceremonies.  For example, the current monarch was crowned with St Edwards crown that was made in 1661 and modeled after a medical crown from 1042-1066.  The Queen still a dresses parliament every year at the State Opening wearing it.  The Imperial State Crown has the second largest top quality cut diamond in the world right behind the one in the Sovereign's Sceptre.  I don't possibly know what I would do if I was in control of a single diamond containing 539 carats.
 The Lower Wakefield Tower was less then I expected.  History of torturing is somewhat exaggerated and was typically only used as means of interrogating and finding elicit information.  

It was abandoned in the 17th century and viewed as "barbaric."  

Without a doubt, The White Castle was the most interesting building with it's extremely preserved architect from the 11th century.  It wasn't the first tower to be built but the first of it's kind.  The Three large stories all have a different purpose.  On the entrance level, the royal armors and arms were on display from rulers like Henry VIII from 1515, gilt armor from Charles I, and and a partial re-creation of the 'Line of Kinds' dating back to 1660.  The second level has a rook called St Johns Chapel that doesn't hold the most glamour but does represent one of the most complete examples of early Anglo-American architecture in England.  One item on display that struck me was the block and axe that was supposedly used at the last public beheading, Lord Lovat, in 1747.  I wish I could of had more time to take in everything at The Tower of London considering it is a bit overwhelming with all the different exhibits.


-Taylor Gentry

The Imperial War Museum

Concentration Camp Model

Holocaust Artifacts

  Overwhelmed was my first emotion walking upon the Imperial War Museum. The building had a historical architecture feel.  Odd fact about it was it's previous purpose was an insane asylum that at one point housed Charlie Chaplins mother in 1930. I had no idea how large in informative it was before adventuring through the four levels of exhibitions.  It covers conflicts of all war history, especially those relative to Britain and the commonwealth, starting at World War 1 and ending at present day.  Everything possible from uniforms, tanks, missiles, planes, guns, whatever is relative to war they had it.
 The section I found most interesting was the third floor Holocaust exhibit.  I had visited the Holocaust memorial museum and the Jewish museum in Berlin and found it extremely interesting.  This exhibit particulary went into better detail about the actual war aspects and gave more of a treacherous visual.  There were many audio videos to listen to of ex concentration camp member telling their story and how awful times were during Hitlers reign.  Any artifacts possible were on display, uniforms, hats, worn out shoes, letters, and anything else.  One thing I hadn't seen anywhere else was the massive imitation of the Auschwitz concentration camp that had been put together from clay.  The information plaques around the walls gave descriptive details of the harsh and cruel endeavors Jews had forced upon them.
 The parts related specifically to the British wars was interesting but not as much as expected just because my lack of knowledge about their history.  It was eye opening in the fact I realized how much more there is to history I am unaware of and the troubles other nations have been through and the limits that have been pushed.

-Taylor Gentry

The Royal Mews

Scottish State Coach

Gold State Coach

  My plan was to see the new exhibit at Buckingham Palace the includes Kate's wedding dress and other memorabilia from the Royal Family but unfortunately tickets sold out and I decided to venture into the Royal Mews.  Adjacent to the Palace, the Royal Mews functions as a working and living department for members of the Royal Household.  All aspects of familiar travel are their prime responsibility.  Horse-drawn carriages are the best way for the Royal Family to be seen in public with the elaborate rich decorations and style.  The Royal Mews is mainly responsible for the special honorary occasions such as coronations, jubilees, the State Opening, the Queen's birthday, and many more.  The large part that is open to the public is visited by 100,000 people each year.  It's purpose is not to serve as museum but a working establishment involving the training of horses and care taking of carriages.  Depending on the occasion, different carriages are used to fit the attire.  For example, a Barouche is made for fine weather, drawn by light, and elegant horses as opposed to the Charabanc that is designed for group outings such as picnics.  All the carriages were beautiful but one particularly stood out and that was the Gold State Coach commissioned by George III.  It has stunning gold covering the outside and the detail is surreal.  On each corner there is a golden carved triton representing power in all it's might.  Also on display was the Scottish State Coach that the present queen had used on her 60th birthday.  The horses used to pull the carriages are Windsor Greys and there are 10 out of  30 at the Royal Mews as of now.  Eight Windsor Greys pull the Gold State Coach and have to go through large amounts of training to do so.  These horses are treated as well as the Royal Family appears to be.

-Taylor Gentry

The Tower of London

By Arlicia McGhee

  During the mini break, I had the opportunity to visit the Tower of London.  I was expecting a tower similar to those read in fairy tales like Rapunzel, instead, I was received by a medieval, royal palace.  The tower was first built by William the Conqueror in the early 1080s and has been occupied by other monarchs like Henry III, Edward I and their courts.  Not only was the tower a palace, it is best known as bloody dungeon and fortress.  What I found interesting was most famous prisoners were able to live in comfort, while others were less so.  For instance, Sir Walter Raleigh’s prison was decorated to please his and his family needs, and he was also given the opportunity to receive guest and wander the courtyards.  Unfortunately, prisoners like Henry Walpole were tortured and you can even see the imprints of messages written in the tower walls by these suffering guests.   Even though I enjoyed the entire tour, the greatest exhibit by far was the viewing of the Crown Jewels and coronation regalia.  The 23,578 gems that make up the Crown Jewels are securely protected within the tower while being locked behind a steel vault in the Jewel House.  There has only been one attempt to steal the jewels in 1671 by Irishman Colonel Blood who was almost successful until discovered at the last minute.  I was able to gaze at crowns worn by every reigning monarch and my favorite was the small diamond incrusted crown worn by Queen Victoria.  I wish I was able to take pictures of these magnificent jewels because it was a spectacular sight to see.

 The Tower of London
Saturday afternoon after walking the London Bridge, Carra Wells and I had the chance to visit the Tower of London across the street. The Tower of London is one of the most beautiful and exciting museums in London. The building is over hundred years old and holds many of Royal British history. My favorite part of the tour and I’m sure a lot of others would agree is the crown jewels. The queue was terribly long to see the crown jewels but it was worth it by the time we made it to the front. I think that the jewels are breathtaking and I would be honor to wear them. I was impressed to find out that the Tower of London was a house, a part of parliament, a prison, and a zoo that kept a varitey of exotic animals. The tower is known now to be a popular tourists area in the United Kingdom and I recommend everyone to go visit.
                                                                                   --Kaprisha Fields

Titanic Exhibit

As a girl who had a major crush on Leonardo DiCapro circa 1997 I couldn't leave London without going to the Titanic Exhibit. Jennifer, Jessica, Adam and I went back in time to 1912 to experience what life was like during the Titanic and what was found after the boat sank.


Upon entry we each were given a boarding pass of an actual passenger that was on the Titanic. My passenger was Mrs. Louis Albert Hippach who was traveling with her daughter. Mrs. Hippach had just lost her twin sons in the Chicago Iroquois Theater fires and was trying to deal with her loss by traveling. The ladies were given first class arrangements after originally wanting to board another ship and the attendents encouraging them to stay on the boat through a bribe. At the end of the tour you could look up your passenger and see whether or not he or she survived.

The exhibit featured over 300 artifacts ranging from currency to door knobs and everything in between. It taught you about the different classes on the ship and told you interesting facts about what life was like during this time. The exhibit brought you through a step by step process of everything from the building of the ship to who survived the ship. The exhibit ended with how most of these artifacts were found through Expedition Titanic 2010.

The Titanic was led by Captain Edward Smith who had planned to retired but was talked into being captain one last time. The ship had first through third class along with lots of crew members. The price of a ticket ranged from 8 pounds to 525 pounds (today these tickets would be equivalent to 536-34150 pounds). The first class were wealthy business owners. Second class passengers consisted of more middle class people such as teachers and third class were mainly European immigrants trying to go for a better life in America. As I walked around and learned about all the differences in each class I realized at the end that most of the first class people survived out of everyone, including "myself" Mrs. Hippach.

The exhibit was very fascinating and I would recommend it to all. It is at the O2 at North Greenwich tube stop.The exhibit was extended through September 29th because of its popular demand. It cost 13 pounds and the hours vary depending on the day. For more information go to The Titanic Exhibit. Although I didn't get to see "Jack and Rose" I was happy to have been able to experience Titanic for myself.

By: Amber Rutland

The National Gallery

Today I went to The National Gallery in search to see paintings by Vincent van Gough. I am happy to say I was successful with my findings. I got to see several of his paintings. Vincent van Gough has been one of my favorite artists and to see his work was an amazing opportunity.  My favorite paintings on showcase were Van Gough’s Chair, Farm near Auvers, and Sunflowers.  According to the description at The National Gallery Van Gough’s Chair was said to represent his plain-speaking power. I was really excited to see this one because I have been familiar with this work since my high school art class.  The Farm near Auvers painting is one that he crafted a month before his death, and according to the musem the art work of the sky suggests that the painting was never finished. I was fascinated with the fact that this was one of his last works and there I was staring at what he never had the chance to finish. The painting Sunflowers was a beautiful painting that I absolutely loved. According to the museum Van Gough actually had this painting hanging in his guest room for the arrival of his friend, artist Paul Gauguin.  All of his works are beautiful and his style is original. I was amazed to stand two feet away from his paintings, and I acknowledged the brush strokes and the beauty of his talent.

For more information on Vincent van Gough at The National Gallery go here.

By Jessica Thompson

The National Gallery

Today I went to The National Gallery in search to see paintings by Vincent van Gough. I am happy to say I was successful with my findings. I got to see several of his paintings. Vincent van Gough has been one of my favorite artists and to see his work was an amazing opportunity.  My favorite paintings on showcase were Van Gough’s Chair, Farm near Auvers, and Sunflowers.  According to the description at The National Gallery Van Gough’s Chair was said to represent his plain-speaking power. I was really excited to see this one because I have been familiar with this work since my high school art class.  The Farm near Auvers painting is one that he crafted a month before his death, and according to the musem the art work of the sky suggests that the painting was never finished. I was fascinated with the fact that this was one of his last works and there I was staring at what he never had the chance to finish. The painting Sunflowers was a beautiful painting that I absolutely loved. According to the museum Van Gough actually had this painting hanging in his guest room for the arrival of his friend, artist Paul Gauguin.  All of his works are beautiful and his style is original. I was amazed to stand two feet away from his paintings, and I acknowledged the brush strokes and the beauty of his talent.

For more information about Vincent van Gough at The National Gallery go here.

By Jessica Thompson

British Museum: A Window Into All That Is the Past

There cannot be many other places on Earth like the British Museum, where you can see so many things from so many different civilizations in one sitting. The building itself is gigantic, having to accommodate for so many different relics and artifacts. I was truly overwhelmed at all of these things that I had only seen in textbooks coming to life in front of me.
The museum really is too large to be seen in one afternoon, with historical artifacts from China, Japan, Australia, different parts of Africa and the Middle East, and Native cultures such as the Inca and Maya. The first exhibit I found myself in was only appropriate: Mesopotamia, the cradle of civilization. These objects (tools, carvings, and various objects of the like) dated from 6000-1500 BC; it was beyond comprehension. Centuries before anyone even knew just how big the world was and how many places it contained, these tools were used to maintain one of the world’s earliest people.

We decided to take in the ancient Egypt exhibit, and it was beyond anything I could have imagined. Most of the objects on display were used by the rich of Egypt, as the poorer communities could not afford luxuries, nor were they buried with them in tombs, which is where most of the artifacts were found. Furniture, pots, decoration, and protective relics (clay cobras were often placed in the corners of rooms to protect the house) were all on display. It was an unrivaled inside look into how the better half lived.



This is a granite stela from the tomb-chapel of important officials
who served under Pharaoh Nebamun.



If seeing objects used by ancient Egyptians wasn’t enough, we also saw actual ancient Egyptians. Mummies of all sorts were on display in one entire room. Mummies of men, women, young boys and even cats all appeared very well preserved. How well the sarcophagus was decorated could also usually tell you how high in the social ladder this particular person was; for example, high priests were easy to identify with their well-painted, extravagant coffins.

The British Museum is the best way I know of to actually see what our world used to be. The amount of priceless windows into the past found within this building is staggering, and I would call it a must see for any visitors to London. It is the best way to realize a significant appreciation for our past.

by: Adam Troxtell

Frontline Club and the ASA

If a journalist ever needs a safe haven, a place to sit and drink endless cups of coffee while staring over interview notes, a place to chat with fellow colleagues, or even a place to honor legendary journalists and their career achievements, Frontline Club should be the first stop. A public restaurant sits just below the first floor (or second floor, in the US) members only club, exclusive to journalists and fellow enthusiasts. Upstairs from the club is a set of rooms where training workshops, documentary film screenings and intellectual forums are held.

It is here, that our class full of young aspiring students (whether journalists or not) spoke with journalism industry legend and professional John Owen. Mr. Owen has held various jobs in the media world starting in 1968 at WTMJ Radio Station in Milwaukee. To name a few things on Mr. Owen's agenda, he is an international news reporter and correspondent, executive producer of Al-Jazeera's The Cafe forum program and professor of post-graduate classes at City University in London.




Mr. Owen told the class inspiring stories of taking risks in order to uncover injustices in this world of corruption, poverty, and other worldly issues reminding the students that we didn't become journalists to chase after the next Lady Gaga and follow celebrity gossip. Mr. Owen, and many of his journalist trainees and students, participate in "journalism that speaks to what a nation really is." In other words, journalists should be paying attention to the details that matter and really discover the truth in reality. Mr. Owen is a great example of a passionate journalist that has successfully adapted to this changing world and its need for information.




Following the Frontline Club, our class took an informative visit to the Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) where we listened to a presentation from Daniel Ware. We learned how the ASA's practice ensures that advertisements are "legal, decent, honest and truthful." They also have a specific code they follow in order to address complaints received from members of the public about specific advertisements.

The ASA was established in 1962 following the founding of the Committee of Advertising Practice (CAP) in 1961. Originally, the ASA covered mostly only advertisements in print, but in 2004, the Office of Communications (OfCom) delegated the task of reviewing television and radio advertisements in addition to all print media. However, the ASA does not cover things like packaging, window displays, business-to-business ads and etc.

Learning about the rules and standards of the ASA was a stark contrast to what we are used to seeing in the United States, where limitations and regulations are close to none. In the UK, alcohol, junk food, tobacco, gambling and children's ads have some of the highest restrictions. For example, an advert (as they call them here) from Burger King has to display a burger in the ad that matches the actual size of a burger purchased in store. Health and beauty adverts are also closely watched to make sure the images aren't photoshopped or enhanced unnaturally in any way that might mislead the consumer.

At the end of the day, the ASA will investigate any advert that has received even just one complaint, apply the advertising rules, make a decision and then adjudicate as necessary.

By: Anna White

Location:London, England

Accuracy, Trust and Integrity: Making News

     “The BBC stands up for quality,” British Broadcasting Company social media director Matthew Eltringham said. “We would rather be second than wrong.” Today, the BSP Journalism class made their way to White City to visit the biggest, oldest and most revered public broadcasting company in the world: the BBC. During our visit, we had to opportunity to chat with Mr. Eltringham who has worked at the BBC for 15 to 16 years and is very knowledgeable about writing effective “BBC journalism.” Providing us with insightful information about user generated content – or social media – Mr. Eltringham taught the class how to be good journalists and use social media efficiently. According to Eltringham, not only do journalists must have multimedia skills, they must be able to create a narrative, analyze material and provide content. With these abilities, journalists can communicate stories that their audience will appreciate. As director of social media for the BBC, Eltringham and his colleagues also use a great number of user-generated content (UGC) to get a firsthand on stories, as well as enhancing their material. Most of the UGC can come from social media sources such as Citizenside, Google, Linkedin and Storyful, but the BBC heavily rely on Facebook and Twitter because they are considered breaking news. Before acquiring permission to use the content and placing it on BBC website, journalists do a thorough check or screening of the information. Specifically, the journalists will get in touch with the creator of the contact and interrogate his or her knowledge of the material, as well as doing a forensic analysis of the content itself. Accuracy is a must and key to good journalism according to Eltringham. “Count to 10 before you tweet,” he said jokingly, referring to people’s quickness to communicate information rather than using judgement and brain. “The most important thing is journalists have to stand up for their stuff,” he said.

     Our last trip for the day led us to The Daily Telegraph, a daily newspaper operation – international and national – printing Monday through Saturday, which also includes a Sunday edition – The Sunday Telegraph. Here we met with witty tour guide George Newkey-Burden who showed us the massive newsroom that makes up the Telegraph. Interestingly, the newspaper is divided into three groups: features, news and advertisement. From there, the newsroom is designed like a bicycle wheel so that employees can communicate and share information with one another, thereby making it an integrated newsroom. In this wheel, the editors sit facing their department – or spokes – while their backs face the Hub: a conference room used by the editors. According to Mr. Burden, the Telegraph prints over 800,000 copies a day. Having two printing times – 9:30 a.m. and one at night – the paper has what they call “news tasters”: journalists who pick the best news to be printed for the morning paper. “It’s like going to a market,” Burden said. Also, its circulation includes over 100 countries. One thing Mr. Burden had to make clear before I departure was that the Telegraph is based on integrity and trust. “It’s a newspaper you can trust,” he said. “It’s about all things journalism has to stand for.”

By Arlicia McGhee

Journalism Mini-breaks

During the minibreak, the students of the journalism class got the chance to choose their own destination and for the first time experience a new world on their own. With all of Europe at their disposal, the most popular choice seemed to be Rome.

Five of the journalism students traveled to the Eternal City, surrounded by the remains and ruins of one of history’s greatest civilizations. One of the students, Jessica Holliday, said they “did everything.” The Coliseum was, of course, high on the list.

The trip to Rome also gave this group a chance to escape the colder weather conditions found on the British Isles in exchange for the Mediterranean sun. Despite this, they could not avoid having to cover up for a trip to the Vatican City. Visitors to the ancient and holy grounds cannot wear clothing that is higher than the knees and does not cover the shoulders. Still, they appeared to enjoy it.

One afternoon, Jessica Thompson said she was walking past some little shops and carts after rounding the corner of a street. One had pictures and postcards of local landmarks.

“I saw one with the Spanish Steps on it,” she said. “I asked the seller ‘Oh, do you know where those are?’ and he said, ‘You’re on them.’”

This is just one example of how many world-renowned landmarks surrounded the students in Rome.

Two students, Holliday and John Barr, decided to look further back in the past with a trip to the ruins of Pompeii and the volcano that destroyed it, Vesuvius. Holliday took photos of actual citizens of the city frozen in molten ash and rock, still with the facial expressions of the moment they died.

Some students stayed behind in Dublin to enjoy the city a little bit longer and see the Irish countryside. Miranda Stewart said the Guiness Estate was a wonderful experience.

“Our tour guide called it [Guiness Estate] heaven,” Stewart said. “The countryside is beautiful. The Irish people were friendly, and amusing.”

They also visited Galway for a chance to get away from the more popular tourist areas and get a real Irish experience.

Another destination for journalism students was Edinburgh, the capitol of Scotland. Anna White said the city was one of the most beautiful she had ever seen, but it did require a lot of walking.

Some of the sights within the city to see were Edinburgh Castle (photo to the right), which sits in the center of the city as a shining beacon of Scottish past. In fact, this part of the city, the ‘Old City’, is where Edinburgh began. A trip outside the city gave students a chance to visit the Highlands and Loch Ness (sorry, no sightings of Nessie.)

In the northern stretches of the continent, some students traveled to Amsterdam, Belgium, and Germany. Taylor Gentry began her journey in Amsterdam, residing in a boat-hostel on one of the cities famous canals. There was much to see in the Netherlands, such as the Van Gogh Museum that featured his actual self-portrait. Visits were also paid to the Anne Frank House and the Heineken Brewery where attendees got a 4-D film experience about how the world famous beer is made, bottled and shipped.

“It was so much prettier than I could ever have expected,” Gentry said about Amsterdam. “There was just really pretty architecture. And the people were so nice.”

On her next stop, Gentry went to Berlin where she saw parts of the Berlin Wall now decorated with murals and signs of love or peace, known as the East Side Gallery. The part that had the biggest impact was the Holocaust Monument and Jewish Museum. The museum featured Jewish history from before the Holocaust and provided an inside look into Jewish life in Europe. Although the trip was a success, it did not come without its difficulties.

“Berlin was the biggest language barrier,” Gentry said. “No one spoke English at all. No taxi drivers did, no one.”

Whether they traveled to the continent, stayed in Ireland, or even came back to London to experience the city like never before, all of the journalism students came back with new stories and new experiences to take forward with them for the rest of their lives.