"And about that word aesthetic... it means 'to perceive.' The philosopher John Dewey once remarked that he was unable to define the word aesthetic, but that he did know its opposite was anesthetic. That is the aesthetic development teaching artists most value- waking people up from the somnolence propagated by our aggressively anesthetizing commercial culture, to see the beauty, meaning, humanity, courage and joy around us."
- Eric Booth "Teaching Artists in the Arts Learning Ecosystem" from The Music Teaching Artist's Bible, Oxford University Press, 2009. pp. 22.
It is not just the teaching artist's job to create awareness of aesthetics as defined by Booth. It is all of our jobs, when we become aware of such structures and confines, to draw awareness in a gentle and thoughtful way.
Sunday, October 3, 2010
Professions
"We live in a time when you are a teaching artist if you say you are. That, incidentally, is the original meaning of the term profession-- what you professed a vocation rather than earned a degree or certification."
- Eric Booth, "The Music Teaching Artist's Bible," 2009
In the transition from the west coast to the east, one of the conversations with which I've most struggled is the "who are you, what's your job" one. I miss the west coast mentality that did not ask this question as though it was what most defined you. For those of you who feel aligned with me, I say we rally and take back the traditional intention of the word profession and choose to be what we profess. Not what our company-issued business card says.
- Eric Booth, "The Music Teaching Artist's Bible," 2009
In the transition from the west coast to the east, one of the conversations with which I've most struggled is the "who are you, what's your job" one. I miss the west coast mentality that did not ask this question as though it was what most defined you. For those of you who feel aligned with me, I say we rally and take back the traditional intention of the word profession and choose to be what we profess. Not what our company-issued business card says.
Not learning.
"Not learning tends to take place when someone has to deal with unavoidable challenges to her or his personal and family loyalties, integrity, and identity. In such situations there are forced choices and no apparent middle ground."
"Not-learning and unlearning are both central techniques that support changes of consciousness and help people develop positive ways of thinking and speaking in opposition to dominant forms of oppression."
-Herbert Kohl in "I Won't Learn from You"
When have you witnessed someone actively not-learning? I know I have, at times, felt resistance to that which another said and kept that grudge, thus working very hard to reject all that they were saying. How interesting that not-learning is such an active process. How can we, when offended or wounded by the words of another work to create change with this energy? How can we redirect it to address the roots of the problems in the offensive or alienating words of another rather than actively disengaging? Or is this act of disengaging alone a strong and meaningful message?
"Not-learning and unlearning are both central techniques that support changes of consciousness and help people develop positive ways of thinking and speaking in opposition to dominant forms of oppression."
-Herbert Kohl in "I Won't Learn from You"
When have you witnessed someone actively not-learning? I know I have, at times, felt resistance to that which another said and kept that grudge, thus working very hard to reject all that they were saying. How interesting that not-learning is such an active process. How can we, when offended or wounded by the words of another work to create change with this energy? How can we redirect it to address the roots of the problems in the offensive or alienating words of another rather than actively disengaging? Or is this act of disengaging alone a strong and meaningful message?
Saturday, October 2, 2010
Art is for... ?
Art for art's sake
vs.
art for something else.
This distinction has ping-ponged around my brain for several days. Is art-- for the beauty, catharsis, and space it lends its creator-- enough to justify it? Or does art need to be for something-- a community, a mission, a lesson, etc.?
Your thoughts welcome.
vs.
art for something else.
This distinction has ping-ponged around my brain for several days. Is art-- for the beauty, catharsis, and space it lends its creator-- enough to justify it? Or does art need to be for something-- a community, a mission, a lesson, etc.?
Your thoughts welcome.
Decolonization. Of the mind.
"Representation is a crucial location of struggle for any exploited and oppressed people asserting subjectivity and decolonization of the mind." -bell hooks.
How has your mind been colonized? What beliefs are so entrenched in it-- in society-- that perhaps are tacitly stealing your power?
In reading a few bell hooks writings of late, I've increasingly taken note of sexist tones coloring language that roles off the tongue of well-intentioned individuals in my life. I've been asked to describe new concepts in layman's terms or to my "grandmother" or "mother." I've yet to be asked to break down a difficult subject "as though I was explaining it to my father." What is the subtle message telling those who hear these phrases?
How has your mind been colonized? What beliefs are so entrenched in it-- in society-- that perhaps are tacitly stealing your power?
In reading a few bell hooks writings of late, I've increasingly taken note of sexist tones coloring language that roles off the tongue of well-intentioned individuals in my life. I've been asked to describe new concepts in layman's terms or to my "grandmother" or "mother." I've yet to be asked to break down a difficult subject "as though I was explaining it to my father." What is the subtle message telling those who hear these phrases?
On wisdom.
"We do not receive wisdom, we must discover it for ourselves, after a journey through the wilderness, which no one else can make for us, which no one can spare us, for our wisdom is the point of view from which we come at last to regard the world." - Marcel Proust
This quote rings very true. The other day I was sitting with a former colleague who expressed a desire to truly narrow what he wanted to do professionally in his life before going to graduate school. His words were familiar. I said those words last year before making this grad school leap. What I didn't realize was just how much that didn't really matter. Sure, I'm not studying chemical engineering, but I've discovered that as long as one throws the ball in the general direction of the field there will be many beautiful and interesting things along the way.
I told my friend this. I told him also that I'm starting to understand that life is, in fact, long (should we be lucky in health and safety), and that we do, in fact, have time to do loads and loads within all those years (even if they do get faster as we go).
Thanks, grad school.
This quote rings very true. The other day I was sitting with a former colleague who expressed a desire to truly narrow what he wanted to do professionally in his life before going to graduate school. His words were familiar. I said those words last year before making this grad school leap. What I didn't realize was just how much that didn't really matter. Sure, I'm not studying chemical engineering, but I've discovered that as long as one throws the ball in the general direction of the field there will be many beautiful and interesting things along the way.
I told my friend this. I told him also that I'm starting to understand that life is, in fact, long (should we be lucky in health and safety), and that we do, in fact, have time to do loads and loads within all those years (even if they do get faster as we go).
Thanks, grad school.
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