"IF YOU ARE NOT PREPARED TO BE WRONG YOU WILL NEVER COME UP WITH ANYTHING ORIGINAL" Sir Ken Robinson
"IF YOU ARE NOT PREPARED TO BE WRONG YOU WILL NEVER COME UP WITH ANYTHING ORIGINAL" Sir Ken Robinson
After Peter Thomas's session on Academic writing I felt very overwhelmed!
It has been a very long time since I have physically put pen to paper. Peter asked us to take on a task of “free writing” basically without stopping pen to paper write for 5 minutes describing what writing is to you. Switching off our natural editor and just free writing.
I didn't expect it to be so hard! I felt a strong sense inadequacy!
Which made me this week reflect on my early education and why I have such a fear of writing.
I was watching a Ted talk by Sir Ken Robinson titled "Do schools kill creativity"
Sir Ken spoke about Gillian Barbara Lynne how she was referred to a specialist because of concerns about learning difficulties or suspected ADHD. The specialist put the radio on and left the 8 year old Gillian alone with the music.
The Specialist and Gillian's mother watched through the window, she started to move to the music. The specialist said to Gillian's mother take her to dance school she's a dancer.
Sir Ken quotes Gillian: “The dance school was full of people just like me who have to move to think”.
This Ted talk really hit home with me I have constantly been told I am not academically gifted and that my talents lie outside of the classroom.
(In 2017 I got the chance to workshop with Gillian Lynne in Paris, she was so knowledgable, inspirational and had such a great energy in the studio) to think she could have been diagnosed with ADHD as a child would she have then gone on to be such a iconic legend for female choreographers?
At the age of 28 returning to education is not an easy task you are opening up areas of venerability.
Even these blogs we write there is a hesitation on my behalf about my ability to write and connect my thoughts to words.
I keep reflecting on why I have these feelings and how it relates to my practice. In my practice I am a professional dancer. I am the body which enables a choreographer to create their work. I stand sometimes alone on a stage with 2000 people watching and I feel more anxiety posting a blog of 500 words than performing an Odette solo from Swan Lake!
This reflection generated the word “Vulnerability”. I found another great Ted Talk "The Power of Vulnerability"
Vulnerability is the birth place. There is so much power to vulnerability it takes courage to be imperfect!
Brené Brown quotes "Fully Embrace Vulnerability"
So I did, a week later I decided to redo Peter Thomas's task of free writing fully embracing my Vulnerability.
In conclusion academic writing for me is a challenge but I will embrace my vulnerability and create an avenue of growth.
Links below to the Ted Talks!
The Power of Vulnerability:
Do schools kill creativity:
https://youtu.be/iG9CE55wbtY
Hello Christina,
ReplyDeleteThese are very interesting views on education and creativity. This is a recurring theme for me recently. It is interesting how we are put into an educational box and expected to conform, yet we all have different abilities that we can strengthen through alternate methods of thinking.
Embracing venerability will allow you to grow and develop your own creativity. Well done for being brave to post on your blog! You are on the right track.