Unit 3: What remains?

Strongest memory from U3 – a moment from class that remains in your mind? 

• Meeting different artist-academic practitioners was really eye-opening this unit, in terms of how people are bridging these two fields. I facilitated the conversation with Athina Vahla and this was particularly memorable for me, because it pushed me beyond my comfort zone (she asked more from me than I was anticipating) and I was surprised how much I enjoyed the process. I often struggle to take up time and space in these forums – I don’t always feel my contribution is worthy – but taking on this role, I felt validated and empowered to enter a dialogue with Athina and as a result I got much more out of her session. What’s stayed with me is her commitment to finding ways to represent conflict and struggle in her work (the value of this); her advice to develop a strong central discipline and then build/play with it; and the idea of speaking ‘to’ & ‘with’, not ‘about’, in intercultural contexts. 

What readings/materials had the biggest impact on you, do you remember best and why? (Either from the course reading or that you found yourself prompted by the course)

• Ethical Aesthetics /Aesthetic Ethics: The Case of Bakhtin (Sevda ÇALIŞKAN): Marsha recommended this reading during a session on ethics. It set me on a path of considering personal responsibility that became a frame for my submission during this unit – I wrote several blogs inspired by it. 
• Another key reference was the podcast series ‘Lights On’ by Annaka Harris – recommended by Sarah – which exposed me to new ideas about consciousness, which further shaped my thinking and stoked my curiosity. 

Were there any moments that ‘caught’, where you felt friction, felt personally challenged or like you learnt something, grew or changed?

• I felt friction when editing my video. The conversation I’d had was quite personal – both for me and the person I was having the conversation with. I had to make decisions about how much to reveal/conceal and this process felt more personal than I’d anticipated. I felt a weight of responsibility on behalf of my conversation partner and doubted my instinct to reveal more of her part of the conversation than mine, although on reflection, I feel this was appropriate, given I would be sharing the work with people who know me. It led me to reflect on how we seek consent in these situations and the ethics of authorial control in dialogic art. 

Has anything happened outside of the course that wouldn’t have happened if you weren’t enrolled in MAIP?

• I generated a lot of momentum around my idea to make an Archive of Decisions before I had to accept that it was beyond the scope of this unit’s submission. There was a lot of thinking and idea development, conversations, blogging and planning that didn’t make it into my final submission – although I’m sure it did all help to make it a more substantial and firmly rooted project. I had conversations with friends, family and collaborators about the idea, and about decisions that have stayed with them, which I wouldn’t have otherwise had. Several people – including strangers – shared details of decisions they have taken with me. It felt generative and like the idea connected with people. All of which has left me wanting to return to the idea. 

What skills or knowledge do you feel you’ve developed this term? 

• I’ve gained experience building a project up from the seed of an idea – putting a structure in around a concept and exploring different possible shapes and futures for a project (anticipatory competency). It also feels like the first time I’ve been so personally invested in an idea and I think this has come from learning to follow and trust my instincts, and to value my own interests (something I’ve seen other students do and have felt my work has been lacking). I feel I’ve exercised more creativity.
• My blog has been a key part of my process this term – a space for reflection and critical exploration, where I can let ideas develop and work through my process. It’s been really useful to have previous posts to look back on and to see and understand my trajectory better. 
• From facilitating Athina to having conversations around decisions, I feel like I’m developing skills in holding these spaces – although I have a lot more to learn. 
• I’ve developed some technical skills in audio and video editing (and identified a need for better equipment).

What lessons have you learned from your peers this term? 

• I was inspired by Lilia’s work on kitsch this term – the thoroughness and clarity of her process; the way she went really deep on her theme; and in particular the way she held space and navigated difference during the group and one-to-one conversations she held.