This has helped me to look at dance and my engagement in dance, the way it makes me feel and my bodies engagement in learning dance and bodily knowledge.
In the book 'The Body Social' (A.Synnott, 1993) it has a chapter on senses it reads-
Are the senses invalid or valid ways into knowledge? Are they morally good or bad? Are they means or ends in themselves Are they all equal, or are some more privileged than others? If so why? And most importantly how do the answers to these questions affect how we live our lives? Equally, how does the way we indicate what we think of (or feel) about the senses? Indeed do we live similar or different sensory lives? 'The Body Social' (A.Synnott, 1993).
Reading through this section of the book has made me think about bodily knowledge and dance knowledge, leading me the questions.
Reading through this section of the book has made me think about bodily knowledge and dance knowledge, leading me the questions.
What kind of knowledge is dance?
What is dance knowledge?
I think looking back at my previous questions they are all trying to justify dance and its place within education, I already know it is beneficial from my own personal experiences so why not delve deeper, this will allow me explore my assumptions and give me a deeper understanding of myself and my profession.
Hi I replied to your comment on my blog: Here is a copy of what I wrote:
ReplyDeleteSounds like a good process. Some of the things you have come up with here are a lot of what my PhD is about. It does make sense (to me!). I found a resonance with my dance experiences in the notion that we are embodied beings not made of a mind and body.
Pragmatism sees meaning in action. Dewey wrote:
'ideas are statements not of what is or what has been but of acts to be performed.’Dewey (Human Nature and Conduct)
I believe the mind is the reflective action of the body.
What kind of knowledge is dance is a little problematic because people can't agree on what Knowledge is and it is here in terms of body / mind, Practice / theory that the biggest differences exist.
It might be better to ask what (specific) people 'feel they have learnt from dancing', or 'When or how do people feel their physical body is involved in experiences that they feel they gained knowledge from'!!! (a bit long winded)
Adesola