Different Beginnings, Different Perspectives: Skype Discussion 23.09.20 (08 15am)

The Skype discussion group I participated in this morning has actually been one of the most valuable ones I have attended. This may be because I am embarking on module 3, the final module, and therefore feel more comfortable and confident in voicing my ideas and contributing to the discussion. Perhaps it was because there was a natural flow of interaction between students and Adesola, where everyone engaged and openly shared their thought processes. 

I will briefly scan over what ideas we discussed and then move onto the main feature that I have taken away with me from the Skype. 

For some artists, such as dancers or actors, being told what to do has become the norm. The step-by-step process of learning choreography or scripts portrays the idea of being given the answer. However, you begin to realise and understand that there is no point in having a definitive answer or being told what to do. The skills we learn, critical thinking, self-reflection, communication, how to research, conceptualizing theories, data analysis, are there to take with us when we finish the course. There is no end 'goal', which may make students feel lost. Yet, use your everyday life as a way of applying the process of learning into your practice. 

• Another tip I mentioned that others absorbed to NOT define your practice by your current job or contract. Think of the bigger picture, a wider perspective of yourself and the world. 

• Adesola delved into the phisophy of words themselves. What does practice mean? What does start mean? What do the actual words correspond to? How do you interpret their meaning? 

• A great visualation to have for the correlation between the mind and body is to imagine it as a spectrum. Do you believe the mind and body are separate? Are they linked? How much do they work together? Do we learn things mentally or physically? I touched upon the idea of Martha Graham's muscle memory. This is a great topic to explore in module 1 and throughout the course and beyond! 

• FYI: You do not have to agree with everything said in the discussion. 

• You can continue book appointments with Adesola and Helen on the doodle poll, especially if you missed out on doing that in the welcome back tutorials. 

Back to the title of this blog post! Different beginnings, different perspectives. 

I am starting module 3 with a different starting point than I expected. When I was planning my inquiry in module 2, I was under the presumption that I would interview my colleagues in my ballet company, complete my written report and hand in whilst on tour, and complete module 3 during Christmas performances. I did state a plan B in my module 2 assignments, "in the case of Coronavirus affecting this aspect etc....". Plan B it has become. I have adapted to start module 3 with a different beginning, but this has not disrupted my inquiry topic. In a sense, covid-19 and lockdown is a lens (like in module 1) where some parts of my process will be under that tinted-colour lens. My literary research and data collection will come from a different perspective than initially planned. What is important is that I am self-aware of my position within the inquiry itself, as I am an insider-researcher. My position in the data collection process may affect interviewees answers, emotions and approach to the process. Their perspective towards my questions could be different to what I am expecting, and the analysis of the results will open my mind up to opposing thoughts. 

Please comment any thoughts or ideas. Have a lovely day everyone!