Through doing this activity I learnt that everyday I do seem to notice extremely similar things while I do my everyday routine of either getting to work or Uni. This involves noticing the time, or what clothes I will wear for the day and I only seem to notice the faces of people I know. Throughout the past 2 weeks, by reading John Mason and Daniel Shields readings, and throughout class discussions, as well as doing this activity, I have learnt that what I notice of my nonfiction surroundings, is extremely selective and this activity has taught me that it is actually quite hard to even think of something to notice that I unknowingly ignore everyday. Once I decided on something I would notice, eg. ceilings, with the help of Hannah, as I did over think this activity a bit too much, I originally thought it would be easy to remember to mark and record each time I came across a ceiling. However what I have learnt and what is also mentioned in John Masons’ reading, is to try to subconsciously notice a feature that does not have an effect or influence on my actions is hard to do. For example in the morning I did remember the exercise when I was in my home and did take videos of multiple ceilings, however during the day I went to Chadstone Shopping Centre and I completely forgot to record ceilings the whole time I was there until the last minute when I remembered.

My videos definitely capture what I set out to notice, as I did film 10 second videos of ceilings that I came across throughout my day. However if I had decided to film ceilings on a day when I had Uni on, that would make for a more interesting set of videos. I did notice the majority of my videos, although they were different ceilings in different houses, they do look very similar. Of course they were also different ceilings included also, and it is interesting to review recordings because there are elements to some ceilings I wouldn’t have seen or noticed otherwise if I didn’t film it. Looking back at the compilation of videos, the different sounds and lighting whether it be natural or high key does make for an interesting video. As prior to doing this exercise, I would not have noticed now different environments even if they are similar such as two houses can still be so different not just visually, but in an audio sense as well.

A couple of questions which have evolved for me about noticing and nonfiction throughout doing this work, is why is it such a struggle to try to record and remember something to notice that one usually ignores. And another question is does the brain naturally highly select what the brain draws attention, and does not draw attention to, in terms of nonfiction,  or have we as human beings overtime become more ignorant to viewing only aspects of our nonfiction?

Sequence 01 from Maddie Hewson on Vimeo.

So far, I understand nonfiction to be reality. Anything in the world that is not pre planned and literally what is real and authentic. David Shield’s chapter called ‘reality’, does perfectly capture the true essence of nonfiction, with numerous quotes from sayings of people, or quotes from texts such as autobiographies and biographies from famous or well known sayings or people. At a first glance the reading appears extremely random with no order to it, however I have come to realise that nonfiction does have no order to it, as there is no plot or storyline that comes with nonfiction. Throughout the discussions in class about nonfiction and noticing, as well as participating in the activity of filming on a Go Pro verses an iPhone, I have realised nonfiction is everything. When using the GoPro it is evident the GoPro will film everything it can within the width of its lens, it will not choose to focus on anything specific, unlike when using an iPhone, as we try to capture specific objects or people. Therefore I believe nonfiction is the reality of where a person is, and that a GoPro can capture more of the overall nonfiction, and the iPhone only captures aspects of the nonfiction. I have learnt so far that our nonfiction is controlled by what we notice, both nonfiction and noticing work hand in hand, as a quote from David Shield’s ‘reality’ “the world is everything that is the case”, does relate to this concept, that nonfiction/the world is everything, and us as humans notice only aspects of that everything. As mentioned in John Mason’s reading, our brains are highly selective and us as humans would not be able to cope if we could notice every aspect of reality/nonfiction all at once, yet it is still important to aim to notice different aspects to nonfiction one does not usually notice.

My understanding of noticing is that it has many different aspects to it, as many different types of noticing fall under the word, ‘noticing; itself. As a result of being involved in class disucssions and after reading John Masons’ ‘Researching your own Practice’ the disciplines of noticing, I have learnt and am aware that as humans, we notice specific things intentionally. As mentioned in John Mason’s ‘Researching your own Practice’ we are more likely to notice things intentionally, when these things will influence our actions. This could be reading signs for directions, or as obvious as intently noticing a teacher talking (Professional noticing). Therefore when objects are around us that don’t influence our actions, we tend to not notice these objects. Throughout the John Mason’ reading it writes how noticing is not deliberate, although one may chose to want to focus on one particular person or object but there is no guarantee that noticing will actually happen. For example, just like the exercise we are undertaking as a class, to notice something, mark and record it, Mason writes, although we say to ourselves ‘tomorrow I shall notice’.. it does not mean we will always notice that one thing all the time, as this “only makes a contribution to the likelihood of noticing.” Therefore it does require effort and focus to mark and record one particular thing to notice. This is perhaps because of another idea discussed in class and in the reading, the idea of selective noticing. As our brains would not be able to cope if we could notice absolutely everything, therefore the brain and what the brain pays attention to is “highly selective, and for good reason.”- John Mason. I have therefore become to realise in these two short weeks so far, that noticing is inevitable and almost all the time humans notice features in their day that “will influence their actions”, and when trying to purposely notice otherwise, it can be very difficult.