Pandora's Box

Watching the TED talk from Professor Giovanni Corazza from the University of Bologna that Helen posted on her blog this week, made me think about this image that I have used in creating dance work shops. Pandora's box. As Professor Giovani explained, most of us sit in our safe little boxes, scared to venture into the unknown. We are frightened that we might be tested and found wanting or in other words 'get it wrong' As John Green suggested in a video that Adesola posted, we tend to think everything in our lives are a test!

I am now embarking on module two of the MA course in Somatic Studies. I believe  I spent most of the first module worrying that everything I wrote or blogged about might be wrong. I needed the reassurance of a traditional 'wrong or right' marking system. It wasn't until I had finished the module and reviewed my professional practice that I realised that I had been effectively working on my own and exploring possibilities for years. I had already climbed out of my 'safe' box.

Like Pandora, I was curious and so I had unleashed what was within. However unlike Pandora's box, which was filled with the miseries of the world, my box was full of unanswered questions and ideas.
I could go to workshops, conferences, meetings and even have coffee with other teachers, where we discussed and exchanged ideas regarding professional practice. I could read books.
Along came the internet!  Suddenly the world seemed to be opening up. Chances to discover other ideas and practices that were happening elsewhere in the world. Making more connections. In other words Connectivism. Throwing our theories and ideas into the world wide web and finding responses. Blogging, social media groups etc.

Finally Professor Giovanni used the word 'Suspended' he also advised the idea of 'long thinking' So, yes, we are suspended in a life of thinking about our theories. Hopefully somewhere in our busy lives we can even act on some of them and find another piece of the jigsaw.