Just thought I'd write a short post to keep in touch and not leave it too long since the last one. I want to get in the habit! I'm writing this pretty late, for me, so I might think it's waffle tomorrow but there's only so much waiting for a good time you can do. Bear with me.
At the moment I'm struggling to understand the big philosophical theories and ideas to be honest. I think I do but then if I imagine trying to explain the meaning of Ontology, for example, to someone else, and be able to use it in a context, Then I'm not so sure. Definitions are one thing but really understanding…. Perhaps I actually do understand it or… maybe I'm giving it a different meaning and missing the point.
Any tips greatly appreciated. I'm just trying to read about the same ideas in different books to see if it will come together.
Finding time to keep in touch with and respond to everyone's blogs and linked-in discussions is sometimes tricky, although they're always really helpful and interesting reading, so this week I'm much more in the mind set of just 'throwing my hat into the ring' and writing a quick reply to things. That means that sometimes I will read things I've written and wish I'd phrased things differently or got my meaning across more clearly somehow but I think something is better then nothing, much as I'd like to carefully compose my thoughts! It sometimes quite liberating to just 'nail your colours to the mast' so to speak. A colleague once told me to do that when assessing work and I think she meant 'be clear on your rationale and have conviction' although not 'to defiantly hold onto your beliefs until the end'! I've just looked it up. Nothing like a good idiom!
I'm not teaching dance at the moment as I'm still on my maternity leave and I haven't seen any live performances either so it's quite strange thinking about it all so much without the daily trickle of thoughts, observations and experiences that I usually get at work. It's a bit isolating but I'm teaching some Pilates to adults and many of the things I'm thinking about for my research are relevant to all physical teaching practices. Particularly feedback and it's relationship with confidence and performance. More on Linked-in soon.
Finally, my 9 month old baby daughter had physio today and we noticed a lateral bias which seems to be making learning to crawl a bit more difficult for her. Really interesting to see this so early, and what we can do to help her balance herself up! She cried when we tried to tempt her to roll onto the other side with her favourite toy, as if to say this feels so awkward! I know the feeling.
This comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteI have just seen this Rose... I'm responding quick so please don't think I'm a stalker! I love the way you have just put it out there. I seem to be clinging to any form of communication as things are hotting up for me and at times I panic. I am going to put proper pen to paper now and I have a mound of books, pictures, notes, taped conversations and I am having to distill it all. Yes I too found all those theories a challenge, and spent many an hour looking up Ontology and metaphysics! I also struggled with somatic and paradigm! And getting mixed up with ethnography and ethnomethodology? There were more...they do seem Hugh! I got so wrapped up in it all my proposal became a bit swamped by it all and I wasn't clear on my methods. I realise in hindsight but I keep saying "its the process," and it truly does evolve constantly. As far as I know Ontology is sort of the nature of being, existence, reality...what is it all about? Like those conversations you have at the end of the evening after a few bottles of wine! Preferably with a professor of philosophy. I'd like to ask do we all have our personal ontology? Can it be subjective?
ReplyDeleteWhat do you think?
Lovely too to hear of your daughters development. It is such a lovely time when they try to roll over. It takes all their might then they get stuck on their belly
Best wishes
Mary
Thanks Mary, good to hear from you. Sounds like you're enjoying it all. I hope I can come down to meet people for final presentations. Yes, it's all the ologies and isms that bog me down. I'm sure I confusing one for another but I'll keep going. Yes, Ontology is a branch of Metephysics isn't it? Do you, or anyone else recommend any module 2 key text that might be particularly helpful on this kind of stuff? Hope you're good.
ReplyDeleteThanks. Keep up the stirling work!
I'm gonna have a good think and look at my books. I did a lot of googling and encyclopaedia brittanica and then that would lead me to one thing then another. I think the handbook mentions quite a bit that can lead you to research areas like Plato's ideas and Aristotle. Religion comes into it too! It's so vast!
ReplyDeleteI started my introduction today 100 words down a few thousand to go! Speak soon
M
I really agree about what you, Rose are saying of not always having the time to think everything through. I have also struggled a bit for having time to do it all, and then decided not to post anything or a comment because I do not have time to revise it as much as I want to. Maybe I will just post the comment anyway next time:) Also I got a bit nervous reading your post, since all the words were new to me, then I realised that you are Module 2 and I calmed down a little. I certainly understand the feeling of isolation from dance when you are on Maternity leave. It was the longest year of my life (but also in a good way). Now she has just turned three and loves to come with me to work. I hope you are well:)
ReplyDeleteMaria