Post first project, indeterminacy, Barth and Eco:

I knew this would happen. I knew I would fall behind, that I would have observations that went un-recorded, that I would sweep up days into a single post. We discussed the Introducing Postmodernism book and pulled out of it a number of terms and ideas that we need to revisit. This time round I had them post to Canvas their ideas before the conversation, and most did, that allowed me to circle back and create a more complete list. The plan is to see how much of this material we can cover. So far we are developing a good list of terms and ideas, similar to, but different from the last time I taught the class. Some arise from our discussion of the projects and some I know that I need to add, or add as they come up in discussion.

The postmodern dance material I find a great place to start, mainly because of the video and explanation of the Solo Olos piece. We started with an indeterminate exercise in which I broke students up in to three groups and hand them cards with a list of words on them. The task to create something about a minute long we could watch. Wonderful solutions – all different, and yet all created with the same material. Then into the conversation about the dance material. I have to admit that having many more dancers in the room this time round made me a bit nervous talking about this since I really only get it from the outside as an observer. But good conversation about the Trisha Brown piece.

I started the next class with an indeterminate sound piece loosely based on the drinking and hooting piece but with phone numbers, claps and stamps. Mildly interesting. The Cage piece is a much better example – but we will get to the later in the term. The conversation about the Eco material was OK, the Barth story a bit flat. I got the sense that either no one had read it, or no one wanted to talk about it. I think we came to a good place with it by the end. Hopefully we can swing back to these ideas with the Monty Python film.

As I felt the last time I taught this class – it just doesn’t seem to be jelling. The ideas are there, the comments in class and canvas writing suggests that they are getting the ideas or at least wrestling with them, but I don’t feel like the class has an identity yet. Part of that may be how we spread out in the room, but part may also be how I am approaching the conversations. It will be interesting to see what happens as they tear fairy tales apart on Thursday. I then essentially haver two days after to discuss the projects and digest the Hassan article – two good review points where we might be able to get a bit more group activity going. As always with classes like this, I need to trust the process in that it is a growing knowledge of ideas and not one that hits immediately.