Product not production

I attended an interesting Skype on Wednesday , where we spoke about artefacts. 

I shared that after conversations with Adesola I have learned that the artefact needs to be something that represents your inquiry but in a different way. If one person  was to read the essay and the other to look at the artefact , they would share the same message. 

I feel that an artefact needs to be 3 dimensional. Not literally , but there needs to be more depth than just one idea. You need to make your idea and artefact ‘POP ‘ 

On the Skype call Serena said that she was going to choreograph and dance a routine with no music. Instead  of music she would use a voiceover that she would record herself. That to me sounds ‘3D’ which is a great idea  

I interviewed 5 people during my inquiry process . So I decided to create 6 books. Each one a pop up book representing key themes that emerged from the interviews.

The sixth book is my own thoughts and reflections.

There were a few questions on the call about how perfect the artefact needs to be. Sophie wanted to perform a dance but was concerned about the lighting ,angle and the fact it wouldn’t be filmed in a studio due to Covid.

I explained that I have learned that the importance is in the product and not the production. By this, I mean that it is the thought process, meaning and message that is important. The actual production of it is not as important. It is obviously important to maintain as much professionalism as we can but perfectionism is not something we will be marked on  .

 

Instagram V Reality

 ‘Instagram versus reality’ I’m sure most social media users have come across this phrase in the past. But what does it mean and how does this hold relevance for a blog post connected with my BAPP?

Firstly, what does it mean ?

Usually two photos would be displayed. A perfect example would be trying to get a photo of a baby. The perfect photo is the one you put on Instagram , and ‘reality’ is perhaps displaying one of the many photos that did not quite make the edit !! Showing that so much work goes into getting the perfect photo. And it hints at not believing that the Instagram photo is as perfect or easy as it seems. 

How does this connect with my BAPP?

As I have completed my inquiry now, and have begun the reporting, I have continued to reflect on my own career. 

My Inquiry topic is ‘Does career transition exist for professional dancers?’

I am semi retired and so have reflected upon my own experience so far. It made me think back to module one where I was able to be indulgent and talk about my own career. I remember looking through performance photos whilst doing module one , and thinking ‘wow what amazing times !’. However , to quote another saying ‘ the grass is always greener on the other side.’ 

It seems so temping to want to go back to a life of performing. I looked so glamorous on the photos!! And I was really lucky to travel the world, but behind each photo is a story.

 A photo is just like snapshot of one moment in time. The photo doesn’t tell you the story before and after. The photo doesn’t tell you the struggle it may have been to look like that , or the photos that were discarded in favour of that particular one. It doesn’t show the vigorous rehearsal schedule , the fatigue or personal worries you may have. 

It made me consider how realistic photos are? And that it is only through social media being so big now , that we sometimes get to see a snapshot of something that isn’t always perfect. Something that is a little more real. 

Either way , it is always wonderful to remember the good times of any professional contract , job and experience. But from now on I will try to take a more balanced view as so many times we project an image that might not necessarily be the most accurate representation. It is worth remembering this when we go on social media and scroll down to see so many perfect pictures. We don’t know their before and after. It may lt be all that it seems.

Word counts

 It’s been a while since I have blogged but I have been busy cracking on with my research report. When I first saw the word count , 5500, I thought oh no!! I am going to struggle to fill that. However, now I have ‘found my flow ‘ , I am finding the opposite is happening !! I’m almost at my word count and withso much more to write !

This also happened to me in modules One and Two. I had the initial panic of how I would reach the word count but in the end found myself trimming it down so it met the word count !! 

I thought it would be useful for others reading this blog , to just confirm exactly what a word count does and doesn’t cover  

The word count usually refers to the main body of your text, eg the main essay. It does not include the title page or the bibliography. 

The main body of your text is from where you actually start to write the essay up to the end. This would include citations , possibly graphs, charts , diagrams , quotes, headings etc. 

Within the BAPP course there is usually -10% allowed under word count and +10% over the word count. It is always necessary to double check on each module though !!

Most word processor programmes in computers have a feature built in , so that you can easily see at a glance where you are up to with your word count. Make sure you select the main body of text to get it right. 

 Best of luck !