Category Archives: Life

Education Systems

Posted on by under Theories and Philosophy

Sir Ken Robinson at the Creative Company Conference. Photo: Sebastiaan ter Burg

Earlier this year, Ashley Perry, co-ordinator of Communications and Social Relations at RMIT introduced me to Ken Robinson’s theories of education and creativity, through this RSA animated lecture video.

Not only do I think what the RSA have done with this lecture and a number of other lectures by academics and experts around the world is a great method of communication, but the topic of this lecture by Ken Robinson in particular is also very relevant and powerful in relation to my life and the lives of others I know.

To start off, Sir Ken Robinson is a world renowned expert in education, creativity and innovation, he has been involved in numerous international education projects and a number of organisations over the years.

 

Here’s some more detail if you’re interested in Robinson himself:

Sir Ken Robinson’s bio: http://sirkenrobinson.com/?page_id=10

Wikipedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ken_Robinson_(educationalist)

 

I’ve followed Robinson on numerous social media sites and have watched a number of his talks and presentations since seeing this video clip, and his theories and ideas make more sense each time.

Personally, creativity is something that I used to have redundant amounts of. After going through high school, that creativity was greatly diminished and replaced with superfluous amounts of knowledge that could be memorised and called on if needed in an assessment. While I’m not saying I learnt nothing from school (this is not true at all), I am positive that my own creativity and problem solving ability was stemmed as a result of the public education system.

It is interesting to conceptualise a public school running differently, using alternative methods of teaching, introducing the kinds of concepts that Robinson talks about frequently. Sure it would take a lot of work and it would be a difficult project to get up off the ground rapidly (our current education system has been built into our genes and culture for years), it could definitely work. The only way that this is going to happen however, is through action.

Upon entering my Bachelor of Communication (Media) at RMIT, I didn’t really know what to expect from Networked Media. Now that I understand how it operates, I am thrilled to have a chance and opportunity to take advantage of a method of education that is less about inequality between student and teacher and more about promoting creativity and knowledge. It’s an exciting prospect to think that this sort of education could eventually become wide spread, and while it’s not a complete reform to traditional tertiary education, it is definitely a step in the right direction.

Robinson also takes part in TED talks, a concept developed by the organisation TED. They publish all their organised presentations and talks online and promote discussion and critique of the content through online forms.

 

Here are two of his talks which are well worth a watch if you’re interested in creativity and education in any way:

Sir Ken Robinson: Bring on the Learning Revolution!

and

Sir Ken Robinson: How to Escape Education’s Death Valley

 

 

The Barbershop

Posted on by under Culture

 

Photo: slworking2

I have an interest in traditional and classic lifestyles and the ways of yesterday that sits nicely in my character alongside contemporary technology and media. While we are all caught up in new and exciting technologies and possibilities there are many forgotten practices of the past that are being left behind.

While modern society grants us opportunities to immerse ourselves in a far more varied and diverse world, a lot of the time the ease in which activities can be performed or services can be obtained takes away from the richness that has long been embedded in our existence.

One activity such as this is a trip to the barbershop. While Australia has never had such a robust engagement with barbershop culture as America, it seems very hard to get any sort of enjoyable experience out of a haircut (Well, for me anyway). With the price that you pay to get a little off the top (sometimes in excess of $20), shouldn’t we expect some kind of enjoyable experience?

In this video from The Art of Manliness, we see Brett McKay, the site’s creator, visit Razorback’s Barbershop in Long Beach CA. The video tells the story of the barbershop, and details the heritage that belongs to barbershop traditions and the masculine vibe that it carries. Traditionally, a barber was a male who was trained to cut men’s hair, using old school tried and tested men’s products that made you feel like a man.

To be quite honest, when I get a haircut I rarely find a barbershop (or hairdresser) that satisfies me. I end up looking nothing like I wanted to and smelling beautiful and perfumed. The worst bit is to get this result, I have to endure conversation and gossip about topics that I am not interested in talking about. It seems that the old traditions have been lost and the rich experience that used to be part of getting a haircut seems to have vanished.

It’s a shame sometimes, that we lose this quality of life and experiences. It’s something that I wish we held onto more as a society sometimes. It’s old school, most of the time, that is a good enough reason for me to give it a go or become interested. Luckily I have one barber that I found who can create a slight replica of this authentic experience. That will have to satisfy me while my search continues.

King Kong

Posted on by under The Arts

Two tickets to King Kong the musical.

On Thursday the 1st of August I’m going to see the Melbourne Production of King Kong at the Regent Theatre. This is exciting for me as I have not delved into the world of stage performances much, but have been to numerous school productions and read plays throughout high-school and enjoyed them thoroughly. From what I have read, the show is incredibly crafted and visually stunning.

King Kong Review – The Age

Most expert reviews have said similar things to this review from The Age, that it is an amazing show, however without the puppetry the show would not stand up on it’s own. I don’t particularly have any knowledge of theatre however, so I’m sure the show will be entertaining and thoroughly enjoyable. Perhaps even a first step into a long history of theatre-going.

Interestingly enough the review from The Age criticised the use and treatment of women in the production, saying that it was ironic from a story that critically commentated on the abuse and poor treatment of animals. This is something I haven’t heard yet, so it will be interesting to see how the show pans out. I will post my own “review” of sorts after I have seen the show.

Disclaimer | Background image: Emma Gawen
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