This campus session took place on the 18 October 2011 and it was led by Miss Adesola. The title of this session was ‘Viewing the familiar as unfamiliar’.
There were three important elements to this session. The first was to Observe, to look at what we have just done. The second one was to Notice, to pay attention to it and the third was to reflect, to evaluate what we have done.
This was a very interesting concept and very enjoyable session. At first I was a bit doubtful about some of the activities because they were very different and unique, but, after doing these activities I then realised the benefits it had to do with the session and with our professional life.
Most times we go about our every day life and we do not notice a fraction of what we see or of what is happening around because these things may not have any benefit to us. We only notice and start to reflect on things that have some sort of benefit to us.
There was one activity that I have done numerous times at stage school, college, university and drama school. It is the activity where we worked with a partner and we had to balance two sticks using one finger at either end without dropping it. We had to move the sticks constantly using different heights and shape (with out using vocal communication). Adesola added a unique element to this activity by making us clap every time the stick drops. I found this particular element hard because I hate failing and in someway I am ashamed to fail especially in front of someone or in a group. By adding the clap when we fail (by dropping the stick) Adesola is encouraging us to accept and celebrate our failure because that is the only way that we can learn from our mistakes. By learning from your mistake, you can gain the experience you need to succeed. I think that this was a very valuable element to this exercise.
I will try to bare this in mind the next time I fail. Even though I’d always evaluate myself and my action; I tend to be my own worst critic and be really harsh on myself. From this task I will learn to celebrate my failure more and be less critical (this will be very hard) of myself.
Later we had to be in a group of three and find three items (any items) with a paper that has a little hole. We had to look at these items through the hole. Then we had to write either words to describe the items or a poem. What I found fascinated about this exercise is that my group wrote a poem about the three items I chose; which describe some of my personality. I guess sub-consciously I was choosing items that relates to me even though I thought I was just choosing random items. Also other group choose similar items to each other.
Our final task was to form another group of three/four and write down one of the many points we discussed in the session for those who did not make the session. Our group members were Phil Carroll, Charlie Ballard, Hannah Kenneally-Muir and myself. Our group decided to tackle ‘viewing the familiar as unfamiliar. We did this through thought provoking pictures. It is basically view something that is familiar to everyone however; at the same time it can be unfamiliar to everyone because each of us has a different interpretation depending of our life experiences, mood, lighting and angles of the subject/object.
Here are three pictures we took. Look at these pictures and write down your thought on it. Then check out my thought (reflection) and see if we observe and reflect the same thoughts on each of the pictures. After that you can visit Phil, Charlie and Hannah’s blogs to view their take on these pictures.
What does this build mean to you at first glance?
I see a very grand and superior building with many apartments. The people who live these apartment have very little interactions with each other.
What are your initial thoughts?
I see someone entering a cold, dark soulless place, where their are unsure of what they might find.
How does this picture make you feel?
I see this opulent and playful stair case as warm and inviting. I can imagine children and adults having hours of fun sliding down the barristers.
Please comment your thoughts and opinion on both the pictures and the session. I hope you found this very useful.
If you need any help or more information please contact me and I will do my best to help you out.
Sorry about the delay, I was very busy with auditions and fight my flu.
Stay safe and health.
