For EDCP 504A -Review of Research in Art and Education- we have been tasked with keeping a note book that details our progress through course. The journal will be a documentation of my thinking process and the evolution of my ideas, allowing me to better examine thoughts and ideas I collect through the course more clearly. So, how better to begin this process that by looking in detail at the very beginning. Nothing should go unnoticed, and on reflection, even the purchasing of this journal held information that may have gone unnoticed without a moment of reflection.
After half and hour of browsing the
selection on offer at Staples -other stationary stores are available-
I picked out a notebook that, to be honest, was a little pretentious.
But I liked its foe leather and suggestion of academic worth. Next,
I spent time looking for a pen that I thought would give my writing
that certain jenesequa, finally settling on a calligraphy pen. Back
at my desk I began to go over this process, which at first could have
been seen as a throw-away action; simply myself going through the
motions. However, I have come to believe that no action is made in
isolation, and that even the most simple of activities holds valuable
information for those willing to invest the time to investigate
properly. For example, why did I choose the journal I did? As I began
to ask this question to myself, I started to realise that I was, in
fact, trying to compensate for something. The book had to look
academic, important, authoritative. Why? Well, I think that, in some
way, I was tyring to address the inadequacy of what I felt would
eventually be written inside it. My fixation with the pen I would
use was also trying to compensate. If the writing was pretty, then
maybe they won't notice that my idea aren't very good.
Are my fears founded? Possibly not. I
have a tendency to be overly self critical and my glass is typically
half empty. But, if the process of simply buying the journal can
lead to this kind of personal insight, then I'm certainly -and quite
uncharacteristically- optimistic about my ongoing journey with this
new companion.
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